Fortunately SLB an increasing % in our society are more tolerant now than they ever were - and genuine multi-culturalism is a good thing. I think the Romans and many other historic empires realised the strength of having "outsiders" come in and be absorbed into their civilisation and so strengthening it. Tokenism is generally not good nor is reverse discrimination - it breeds resentment when best for position should win - however it is hard to see how women for example would have been able to start to break throughthe glass ceilings without clear anti- discriminatory laws. The one thing I would like to see is the ending of printing lots of public leaflets etc in languages other than English. Anyone who wants to live in our country should be prepared to learn our language. NOt only does that help them but it also reduces the stigma faced by those wh cannot do so. When I contemplated moving to France I would not have dreamed of expecting the French to publish leaflets in English for me
I remember the late John Peel in one of the "Grumpy" programs complaing that as he drove home from recording in London he would be listening to music on the car radio. Then all of a sudden the music would stop and there would be a traffic report. What really got to him was that he didn't know how to stop the radio doing it. He knew that is was possible but couldn't find his way through the menu.
Not a lot of sympathy there - it is one button and if you cant be bothered to learn how to use a fancy radio then you shloud not have one
I get really irritated by seeing a dot over a capital I and signs which say "your" when they mean "you're". When I see poor grammar in places like this it doesn't bother me nearly as much. I suppose it is because it is not formal in any way and we can all make silly errors.
Leo, they don't, but lots of functionaries love to practice their English on you. This can lead to very strange conversations, where I practice on them while they do the same to me.
The thing that really gets my goat is this. Imagine two intelligent young people, both 18yrs old, similar background, but following different paths in life. A Has a long record of burglaries to his name. Funding a Class B drug habit. As he's got older he's moved into pub culture too and gets violent with excessive drink. Threatens people in the street and has started to get ABH etc to add to record. The burglaries have also yielded a new market in stealing cars using the keys gained from burglary. One night his aggravated burglary nets him a car but it is reported and he triggers an ANPR and has several squad cars in pursuit. A police helicopter is mobilised and after a long chase, abandoning his stolen car he is located in a field's undergrowth by a dog unit. He goes to magistrates court, then in referred to crown court. He is defended by legal aid funded defence team. However, he is convicted and faces 18 months sentence. With good behaviour he'll be out in a year and under the eye of the Probation Service. He is expected to continue in this line of activity throughout his life. B Worked hard at school, passed A levels and is accepted onto English degree at university. Enjoys a fun social life, likes a drink and party, but has never bothered the police. Has always wanted to be a teacher to serve his community and inspire other children, from a similar difficult background as his, to greater things. Which one has cost society hundreds of thousands of pounds to date? Which one will end up costing the country millions of pounds across their lifetime? Which one will contribute the most to society in the future? Thinking of those answers, answer this: Which one deserves to be saddled with debt he may never in his life be able pay off? With this sort of logic we may as well tax fruit and vegetables and use the money to subsidise the price of cigarettes, there ain't much of a difference logically.
The less/fewer thing does get me . I was talking to a teacher recently who didn't know the difference and in fact told me they "are the same" .
Do I detect a slight unhappiness with the UK justice system,legal system ,Taxation System and pretty much anyother UK system!!! If I was an emmigration consultant, I think I would be targeting you!
I love living in the UK. But we need to radically redress the balance from the takers from society, to the givers. It is not acceptable to continue like this. People make choices in life, and the consequences need to reflect the actions. How do we expect people to make the right decisions when things are so badly unbalanced as they are, to favour the wrong decisions?
SLB - in a similar vein, consider this: Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home. This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks. They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out. They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them. A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education. Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request. Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens. Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls. There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to. The "criminals" would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay ã900.00 per month and have no hope of ever getting out. I suppose that doesn't really fall into the 'little things' category - but, boy does it bug me!
