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| Britain |
| Britain First |
| 2004-09-24 |
| The conclusion of a very depressing article from the Spectator. The decline of Christianity not only helps to explain the crisis of conservatism in Britain. It also forms part of the wider process of covert Europeanisation. Many of us still fondly imagine that we have more in common with 'our American cousins' than with our Continental neighbours. It may have been true once (though I find it hard to say exactly when). But it is certainly not true now. Travel to the United States and then to the other European Union states, and you will see: the typical British family looks much more like the typical German family than the typical American family. We eat Italian food. We watch Spanish soccer. We drive German cars. We work Belgian hours. And we buy second homes in France. Above all, we bow before central government as only true Europeans can. And perhaps nothing illustrates more clearly how very European we are becoming than our attitudes to the United States. Asked in a recent poll to choose between the two candidates for the presidency, 47 per cent of us favoured John Kerry, compared with just 16 per cent who backed George Bush — at a time when Bush was more than 10 per cent ahead in the American polls. On the legitimacy of the Iraq war, too, the British public is now closer to Continental opinion than to American. All this suggests that Tony Blair's devout Atlanticism may actually represent the special relationship's last gasp. For a strategic partnership needs more to sustain it than an affinity between the principals and the self-interest of a few professional elites. It requires a congruence of national interests. It also needs some convergence of popular attitudes. By both those criteria, the Anglo-American alliance is surely living on borrowed time. The Iraq war may not have destroyed Mr Bush and Mr Blair. But it has surely laid bare the asymmetry of the relationship between Washington and London. If the special relationship were a transatlantic flight, they would be in the cockpit. We would be the sleeping passengers. It is surely time to get our foreign policy up off the flatbed. Niall Ferguson is Professor of History at Harvard University and a Senior Research Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. His latest book is Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire, published by Penguin. |
| Posted by:Mrs. Davis |
| #11 I am trying to figure out what I eat that isn't non domestic in it's origins except mexican food? (I live in California you know that place that was part of Spain for 400 years so "mexican food" is domestic) It's not like we have beaver and buffalo at every meal here. I drink Guiness beer and Grant's Scotch wiskey for god sakes. I watch British and Canadian programs on my TV and read the GD BBC and AFP. I think the ivy leauge prof is a twit. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-09-24 10:45:55 PM |
| #10 These "differences" with the US can easily be dispelled, as can the "attractions" between Britain and the Continent. For example, compare Britain and the US, culturally, around the time of World War I, as a mental exercise. Then compare them again around the time of World War II. Not really focusing on the War, per se, but of the cultures of the two places at those times, versus how they are today. You will note that the Americans and British are now far *more* alike than they used to be. And, if anything, you could say that the Continentals have become more "British" in their culture, than the other way around. Where in middle Europe could you go and find the innumerable and unique local costumes that were daily wear not too long ago? But now they all wear "modern" fashion, popularized in Britain. The British have been eating "foreign" food for a long time now, but it is a post WWII phenomenon on the Continent. Even the British versions of English are becoming more homogenous and more understandable to Americans, as a rule. And while British Europhiles crave to blur the differences with the Continentals, the Eurosceptics share a happy bed with the Americans, wave the flag of St. George, and know for a fact that their kinsman who defeated Napoleon are still head-and-shoulders above those who dwell east of Gibralter. (N.B.: The British Armies' 1st Foot Guards were recently sent to Paris to march in parade celebrating something. With subtle British wit, as the 1st Foot had defeated Napoleon's Honor Guard at Waterloo. One in the eye to the Frogs.) |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-09-24 8:31:19 PM |
| #9 Sorry-my mistake. :) |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-09-24 5:26:34 PM |
| #8 #6 - What gave you that impression? Love the porridge-wogs and all that but I'm Derbyshire first, England second. Oh, and I live and work in London for my many sins. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-09-24 5:15:34 PM |
| #7 Even if you accept that the British have more in common with their European neighbors than their distant cousins across the sea - the conclusion of this article is completely unsubstantiated. The Iraq war may not have destroyed Mr Bush and Mr Blair. But it has surely laid bare the asymmetry of the relationship between Washington and London. Excuse me? So I guess it passes at Harvard these days to write up a little example about how - because they say toe-mat-oh and we say too-may-toh - that a conclusion leap of this magnitude can be reached. I've seen better documented analysis here on rantburg comments. |
| Posted by: 2B 2004-09-24 5:02:19 PM |
| #6 Howard, I've gotten an impression from the last few months' comments that you live in Scotland. What is Scotland like these days? Do Scots feel the same about America as Brits? |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-09-24 4:51:07 PM |
| #5 Prior to this presidental election how many Brits and for that matter Americans really knew anything about John Forbes Kerry? It will be bollocks for U.S. if Mr. Snob from the 60's were to be elected. I call it Bush 53%, Kerry 46.3% and the fraction of a percent% vote goes to 'others' |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-09-24 4:46:38 PM |
| #4 'Jerry' meant as term of endearment same as Englander-Tommy-schwein. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-09-24 4:38:45 PM |
| #3 Yeah, Jerry, and we'll wake up one day too. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-09-24 4:37:09 PM |
| #2 47 percent for Kerry, 16 percent for Bush huh? And the rest votes Nader or Buchanan??? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-09-24 4:35:28 PM |
| #1 And we speak fookin English, even though the food portions may be smaller. Bollocks. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-09-24 4:33:19 PM |