Yeah. Not bad advert though. Loads of cameos. Brian Blessed couldn't be missed, but that was Ray Mears holding the wind indicator, if I'm not mistaken. Shilts next to Charlton on the podium.
And of course, if we really wanted to be picky about things, surely an advert about the England team should involve an English brewery..? Not a Danish firm. I wonder if they have a similar advert for every market they sell to, where the country involved is in the European football competition..?
My Boss is the same, he only let us get the England Flags out last time when it was pointed out to him that it was I, an Indian, who had taken them to work in the first place and I was hardly likely to be being racist against myself now, was I?
Saying that every xenophone is a patriot is like saying every rapist is a person, in this instance it doesn't lend credence. Xenophobia that manifests itself as hatred and physical violence towards other nations and its people is rooted from more sinister origins than patriotism. Sad that some will not show patriotism for fear that it may be misinterpreted.
What are these more sinister origins then? The basis of any discriminatory opinion towards people who are different from you is founded on a belief that your "kind" is better than theirs. A hatred or fear of foreign people (the definition of xenophobia) can only stem from a misguided opinion that your nationality is better than theirs, i.e. patriotism. I am not saying that patriotism is always a bad thing. I have made it clear that the vast majority of patriots are totally innocent and not the least bit xenophobic or racist, but patriotism doesn't do any good to balance out the harm which it causes. There is essentially no point in being patriotic as it is merely a blind, pointless allegiance to a piece of land. A far more sensible way to look at it would be to say that there are things about this country that I like and appreciate, but there are also things which I dislike. If I could, I would certainly change a lot, and if you really think about it I'm sure you would too.
Again, you are labelling patriotism as a form of discrimination. Why shouldn't people be able to show their love for their country? We show undenying love for the saints, is that xenophobia to other supporters? It is the same concept, but because ENGLAND is involved with patriotism, people immediately tarnish them with the brush of a racist/xenophobe. As a patriotic person, I have no problem with other people from all walks of the globe displaying love for where they come. I do not see this as xenophobia to where I come from, and neither should anyone else.
You are totally missing the point. Show me where I have labelled patriotism as a form of discrimination. I'm getting tired of reiterating my point that patriotism is fine in the vast majority of people, but leads to discriminatory opinions in a small minority. If you're not going to read my posts properly, please don't reply.
Can I just point out that football supporters are not exhibiting xenophobia. They are showing partisanism. Without going into reasons, I also have to agree with Joe's general argument here.
If it's such a small minority of people, why are you so exercised about it? Surely you should celebrate in the knowledge that the vast majority of patriotic displays are good natured and non xenophobic. Have a beer, or would the occasional alcoholic tarnish that for you? I love the Cross of St. George; far better than the Union Flag! ps. Don't tell those Irishmen, with their tricolours, not to wave their flags. After all, IRA members supported the tricolour(another small minority)
Without going into detail, I think you have also managed to miss the point. However, I'll let Joe have his own debate.
The (original) point seems to have been that the sight of the Cross of ST George makes Uncle Joe uneasy, due to association with "racists and nationalists". Have I got that wrong? Is this the only walk of life where a tiny minority gets to be used to justify PC disapproval of legitimate harmless exuberance. Probably not! "Come on you Reds!" - Oh no! That makes me uncomfortable. I disapprove of the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
I don't have a problem with supporters of the English national team wearing the flag of their birth to innocently represent their pride as EVERY other country does the same, although I can completely understand Joe's argument about it being hijacked by extremists to represent their abhorrent, hateful xenophobia and racism. It is true to say that there is an strong element of extreme right-wing thugs that follow the England football team that misguidedly think they are fighting for England, how else can you account for the singing of War themed songs such as the great escape theme and bombers flying over Germany, every time I hear them it makes me cringe.
I like the Heineken one myself. with Mohammed Rafi belting out Jan Pehechan-Ho, while everyone else seems to be having a jolly good time.
The ITV "Dreams" adverts ahead of Euro 2012... [video=youtube;cPR6qCF9dAM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPR6qCF9dAM[/video]
I agree; and that has nothing to do with waving a flag! Interesting that the anti German sentiment for Euro '96 was built up by the left-leaning Daily Mirror (Achtung Surrender) - a racist tabloid? Or is that sort of thing OK for certain sections of the political spectrum? As for the Great Escape theme; I'm sure that was a tune which became popular after England's unlikely qualification for a major tournament(cant remember which) when England had to win or draw in Italy in the final game. I also remember Saints fans celebrating yet another escape from the Premier League drop in the same manner. Its continued use is largely due to the unimaginative and repetitive dross banged out by the England(Sheffield Wed) band. At least they're not singing the Horst Wessel Lied - though you'd get the impression that waving an ancient, respected symbol representing Europe's oldest nation state, is the same thing.
Why would I celebrate the people who aren't racist or xenophobic? That should be a default position, not an admirable one. Being tolerant of all races is not an accomplishment, it should be the societal norm. Patriotism does not in any way have positive effects on society. It is, at the very least, a waste of time.
From a purely musical point of view, IMO no-one could write better military marches than the Germans.
