Britain, Doctor Who, Anti-Semitism, Multiculturalism, LGBT, And Other Stuff

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Britain: A Changing Nation (Pic— The Social Jungle)

by Neil Bamforth

Given the necessity of ensuring the titles of contributions need to be internet friendly – or something like that – the editor may well have had to amend the title of this latest bit of waffle from me. In case he has, the title was Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes, and I do hope the David Bowie song can somehow be incorporated a la video at the end.

There is an old saying that goes “With age comes wisdom”. Like most old sayings it is, of course, absolute bollocks.

“With age comes confusion” would be a far more apt and accurate saying.

The first time I heard the abbreviation LGBT mentioned, for example, I thought somebody had opened up a fast food joint to rival TGI Fridays or something. On the other hand, I mused, perhaps someone had invented a new cocktail with a Gin base? Anyway, eventually, I gathered it meant Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender.

Mind you, even when I realized this I remained, initially, bemused. Transgender? What the hell did that mean?

Clearly, over time, I discovered what it meant albeit I am still slightly bemused by it, although sympathetic to those in that category.

When I was a child change didn’t bother me mainly because I didn’t even know it existed. Everything was normal – well, apart from Brussels sprouts obviously.

As a teenager, as we all did, I developed the ability to be critical. How could my pals sister not see that David Cassidy was not on the same musical planet as David Bowie?

That’s the thing when you are young. You form an opinion and, clearly, it is the right one. ‘Old’ people haven’t a clue. They are living in the past, at least mentally. Perhaps there is some truth in that I suppose.

My Grandad lived through two world wars. His generation was almost always subservient to authority. Politicians, wealthy people, company managers. Anyone in authority had to be respected and obeyed. He was extremely discombobulated by my rebellious tendencies and never could understand my determination to disobey school teachers or, later on, tell managers what I thought of them.

I am beginning to understand his bewilderment I think.

When the gay community took the word ‘gay’ to replace homosexual I understood. They needed some good PR. Older people – well, not the gay ones obviously – still thought of homosexuals as perverts. After all, it hadn’t even been legal until fairly recently at the time.

Being young I completely understood and sang along happily to Tom Robinsons ‘Glad to be Gay’ hit record, banned by the BBC, regardless of being staunchly heterosexual myself.

I was young. I got it.

Now I am my Grandad. I am often bewildered and discombobulated by the change.

If the internet was only just starting up I would not have a clue and, probably, it would frighten me a bit. As it is I am often alarmed by the speed of advance of technology. I am now firmly in the category of ‘old people who haven’t a clue’. Not that I am necessarily old by today’s standards of course. I am younger than my mother obviously. Otherwise, it would be just weird.

Some of us reach an age when we prefer the status quo. Not the band, good as they were, I hasten to add. We prefer things to be as we know them. It feels comfortable. We don’t like change for change’s sake, albeit it may only be our opinion that some change or other is for change’s sake.

We feel confused when we say things in innocence and are condemned, usually by young people although not exclusively, as being racist or phobic or just plain dumb. Some old people undoubtedly are one of the aforementioned or even all three, but many of us are merely confused why our world is changing so quickly.

Here I am assuming that I am not dumb nor any of the above. No doubt I will discover otherwise 😉

One change that has absolutely shocked me is that, apparently, young people – I always assume surveys regarding young people mean people under 30 but, at my age, that sounds terrifyingly young now – more and more of them are tea total. Yes. It’s true. Not necessarily that they are all addicted to tea but, more startlingly, they are foregoing the pleasures of alcohol.

What????

It’s bad enough that smokers like me are often shunned and banned from pretty much everywhere but what next? When these young people, or some of them at any rate, become our leaders will they ban beer?

I think I have suddenly realized why so many old people are not afraid of death. Who the hell wants to live in a world run by young people banning beer?

They just might you know. When we go out for a meal with my daughter and her partner she frowns at me when I order another beer. I mean to say, it’s only my third or fourth! Well, possibly fifth or – oh all right, I’ll have a coffee then.

Obviously, there are more serious changes that have happened and, probably, will happen than smoking bans and potential beer consumption restrictions but, if I dwell on serious issues here I may need a beer and, so early in the day, I would get frowned at again.

Multiculturalism, a female Doctor Who (good as she is), pubs closing down all over the place, political correctness, the onward expansion of the EU, Oldham Athletic getting relegated, Muslim sex gangs preying on vulnerable young white girls, anti-Semitism returning, millions dying for want of food and healthcare – oh, yes, that isn’t a change is it? Well, you get my drift?

The world is changing rapidly. Britain is changing rapidly. My street is changing rapidly.

I don’t like it. I increasingly like the status quo – including the band.

Bugger this. I’m off to LGBT for a burger and chips.

In Case You Missed It: In Britain, It’s All About Trump, Diplomacy, and Brexit

About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.
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Diane G
5 years ago

Among my most annoying changes-that-are-thrust-onto-you–new versions of Windows!!!

5 years ago

MadMike likes to change my title also Neil. It’s a fight neither of us will ever win. It won’t change.

jess
5 years ago

If all you oldz start going on about, pull up yer pants, go get a haircut and get off my lawn while you turn down your music I am finding new internet friends, Just letting you all know right now.

Neil Bamforth
Reply to  jess
5 years ago

Typical kids…they get bored around us oldies 😉

Reply to  jess
5 years ago

LOL LOL!! Funny you should mention music. I was just talking to Holte yesterday and was telling him I was no longer a big music fan, at least not the music I once listened to. I’m now into the classical music game, like Wagner, Beethoven, orchestras and shit :-). As to lawns, I just installed several floodlight units to deter thieves from sneaking across my lawn at night trying to steal my worldly goods. As to pants, well, I’m pretty good in that department, although I did walk into my classroom last week with my zipper down. Good thing there was a podium to hide behind.

Holte Ender
Reply to  Professor Mike
5 years ago

As far as music goes, I’m stuck in the 20th century. Start playing jazz, blues, or rock and roll and things can get seriously out of hand.

jess
Reply to  Holte Ender
5 years ago

Well all that rock and roll music leads to dancing and then other things you know.

jess
Reply to  Professor Mike
5 years ago

Beethoven rocks. One of the very first piano pieces I learned was a Beethoven piece. My favorite piece to play, to this day, is Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Jess looks to her piano and tips her hat to mom because she made her practice piano even when she did not want to.

Neil Bamforth
5 years ago

Worrying when half the toys you had as a kid are now classed as antiques!

Listening to Status Quo with a beer or three…makes me feel better if not younger 😀🍺

Reply to  Neil Bamforth
5 years ago

You’ll feel less than better tomorrow 🙂

Glenn R. Geist
5 years ago

Everything constantly changes, but at my age that’s always bad, since the fact that I’m still alive and still able to function at some modest level is subject to that constant change. That’s not good. That’s why I prefer to live in the past. In the past I was young and cool things were cheaper when you didn’t have to buy them in an antique store.

Reply to  Glenn R. Geist
5 years ago

“In the past, I was young and cool things were cheaper when you didn’t have to buy them in an antique store.” As Jess would say: ‘ayup.’

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