By the way, did anyone notice that Tony Blair is leaving? ;-)
One of the things that has amused and saddened me in the response to his speech yesterday is the self-hatred the British seem to have cornered the market on. As usual, Mr Blair made a stirring and compelling orator. He's always been very entertaining to listen to. I thought it was well-judged and a fine speech in the circumstances, and readers of this blog will have no confusion about my general opinion of the man.
But the reaction I have seen again and again is utter contempt for the patriotic sentiments he expressed. Tony Blair being unpopular now, I can understand. But how does that translate into the self-loathing that would pour scorn on our own nation? If you think the British should wander around in sackcloth and ashes, perpetually making amends for daring to exist, why on earth should it bother you whether TB acted in this country's best interests or not?
5/11/2007
Shock news of the week.
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5 comments:
I read about Blair on Yahoo news.
Hi,
Well, I’ve been reading and re-reading the various hate blogs that are purportedly written by Conservative Councillors hailing from various parts of Britain, mostly from the London area. These so-called Councillors are probably paid stooges sitting in prison cells with nothing better to do. Apparently, there’s no law against stealing another person’s identity if the impostor gains no financial rewards, but merely ruins the reputation of the owner of the name he has stolen.
At least, with a definitive departure date, Tony Blair has shut these charlatan bloggers up once and for all. Yesterday and today’s pages are unusually insipid and lacking in content.
Regards,
Coral
Do you mind me saying I think you're being extremely generous in your assessment of his oratory? :-) He's a great manipulator, i'll grant you that - but to me he's always only sounded unutterably fake. Impeccably timed and choreographed, but i dunno about 'fine' ...
And what was all that "hand on heart" business about ?? As if it makes it okay to lie to parliament and people, just because he believed he himself was doing the right thing. He's only ever believed in himself, is his problem. Talks endlessly about his devotion to "the good of the country" but in reality he's only had his eye on his own legacy. And if people point out that that is in fact a shameful legacy consisting of a damaged country and a chaotic international situation, i wouldn't read that as self-loathing ... more just realism ... :-)
but that's just my 2p :-)
Totally agree with your Campolo post btw!
Yes, I probably am being quite charitable towards him, I had warmed up to him considerably in recent months.
I think the places I'd heard slamming him for the patriotic elements were the kind of voices that normally wouldn't have a good word to say about being British anyway - the sort of people who pour scorn on any notion of 'British Culture'. Disagreeing that he's done anything worthwile and has actually caused a bit of a mess is one thing, but that wasn't the kind of thing I meant.
Thanks for the comment, though, it's not often I get told I'm being too nice about Tony Blair :-D
>>... warmed up to him considerably in recent months ...<<
??
yikes!
you really must have been pretty poorly :-D
Be interesting to see what Gordon Brown's socialism is like tho, compared to TB. It won't have escaped you he's the son of a manse :-) -- assuming he gets in of course! I have a friend who's convinced David Cameron will be the next PM - and in Scotland, that shows some triumph of wishful thinking :-)
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