Britain and anti-European sentiment

grenache

I was watching BBC News the other night, it featured the crisis in Greece and how there was a possibility of her quitting the single currency. The reporter then asked ordinary British folk on the street how they felt about the Euro now. Needless to say, the views expressed were predictable: "proof that a single European entity under German control will never work" and "glad to have stuck with the Pound - dont need Europe controlling every part of our economy" were two of the responses. Another woman laughed at "the French and their stupid weak currency".


To me these responses were ill-informed and childish. Like anything that is new, the Euro was bound to experience a few teething problems along the way. It is how it deals with these events that is important. The Euro will take time to establish itself as a well respected currency on the world markets, but it WILL do so, of that i have no doubts.

Once again this report highlighted for me the inordinant level of anti-European sentiment (not just for the currency) that is prevalent in contemporary Britain. Why do so many people on our neighbouring island have such a dislike for their neighbours in Europe? If its not the Tories churning out their anti-ECB spiel, then it's the BNP and their cronies. Britain, to its detriment, will always seek closer ties with America than it ever would with France or Germany. Even though i regard it as having more in common with the latter two countries than it does with the US.

You see the same old Europe bashing every time in their magazines, you hear it on Harry Hill, Have I Got News For You, etc. "The French are arrogant, the Germans are dour, the Spanish too noisy," etc. Is it the island mentality that turns them into ultra Brits? The fact that they fought alone against the tide of Nazism, to preserve the rest of us from a life time of apple strudel and fascist salutes?

Or can it be explained as a hangover from the days of Britain's empirical might?......

All thoughts on this issue are welcome!

Boskowski

The British seem obsessed with Germany in particular I think a lot of it has to do with pride and inferiority complex.
The British always had been on the top of the pile over the course of their Empire but after WW2 they realised only for Germany being lead by a mad man there were a goner. They know if Hitler had contained the war in Europe they wouldn't have stood a chance and they don't like that thought. As no one would.
Hence their every attempt to stymie the Germans. They weren't one bit happy about reunification either. And in fairness they have a very valid reason and it's up to Germany to prove to be a dependable, liberal, democratic long term partner which so far they have proven to be.

If one can go as far as to prescribe generalising character traits to a nation/race the British always seemed to have an arrogant affinity to their Empire glory days and their own greatness. Why else would they still be talking about Trafalgar and Waterloo?

Balmed Out

How about
Ireland and anti European resentment
Ireland and anti British resentment
Holland and anti German resentment
etc
etc

Your coming from a very skewed view where in Ireland we have a massive amount of British press and tv exposure. There are lots of Europeans who take the piss out of the British and have messed up views of them too.

On a whole the British are fairly open minded and well meaning. As for links to the US thats only natural and the same can be said about the whole English speaking world. Its not just the disporia that leads to Irelands close relationsip to these countrys.

As for the BNP come on now. France has the front national and just about every European country has something similar.

Perhaps the pot is calling the kettle black.

mike65

An another Brit bash straw man thread.

grenache wrote: »

I was watching BBC News the other night, it featured the crisis in Greece and how there was a possibility of her quitting the single currency. The reporter then asked ordinary British folk on the street how they felt about the Euro now. Needless to say, the views expressed were predictable: "proof that a single European entity under German control will never work" and "glad to have stuck with the Pound - dont need Europe controlling every part of our economy" were two of the responses. Another woman laughed at "the French and their stupid weak currency".

Plenty here think likewise, as people see Germany apparently benefiting from
Irish pain. As regards other commentary well so what? read After Hours/Politics when the Queens visit comes up (every 20 mins or so) stupidity and ignorance abounds.

grenache wrote: »

To me these responses were ill-informed and childish. Like anything that is new, the Euro was bound to experience a few teething problems along the way. It is how it deals with these events that is important. The Euro will take time to establish itself as a well respected currency on the world markets, but it WILL do so, of that i have no doubts.

Once again this report highlighted for me the inordinant level of anti-European sentiment (not just for the currency) that is prevalent in contemporary Britain. Why do so many people on our neighbouring island have such a dislike for their neighbours in Europe? If its not the Tories churning out their anti-ECB spiel, then it's the BNP and their cronies. Britain, to its detriment, will always seek closer ties with America than it ever would with France or Germany. Even though i regard it as having more in common with the latter two countries than it does with the US.

You see the same old Europe bashing every time in their magazines, you hear it on Harry Hill, Have I Got News For You, etc. "The French are arrogant, the Germans are dour, the Spanish too noisy," etc. Is it the island mentality that turns them into ultra Brits? The fact that they fought alone against the tide of Nazism, to preserve the rest of us from a life time of apple strudel and fascist salutes?

Or can it be explained as a hangover from the days of Britain's empirical might?......

All thoughts on this issue are welcome!

Humour tends to be based on experience and memory and things that tap into a "hive mind" (thats why some comics are very rich).

Whats an Ultra Brit? The BNPs recent results in the local elections were very poor, their "Euro-success" a couple of years ago was on a reduced vote.

Finnbar01

I don't think it is anti-european but anti-EU, and yes there is a difference. I am strongly against the EU because of it's inherent complexity, silly directives, corruption, overbearing bureaucracy etc.

On the other hand, I adore Europe. With it 2000 years of culture,history,christianity, science, architecture etc. The EU is a paradoy in and of itself and I see it as anti-european.