John Cleese Upsets the Offended Generation
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John Cleese, the British actor and comedian has upset some people after remarking on Twitter that London is no longer an ‘English city.’ Quite why such a clear statement of fact should be deemed offensive, can only be explained by the offended generation themselves. It is no more a racist comment than saying High Crompton, where my mother lives, is almost exclusively populated by white northern people or the South London district of Brixton is predominantly populated by people of African Caribbean descent.
Facts are not racist. New Delhi is in India and populated by Indian people. Brasilia is in Brazil and, guess what? Most of the people living there are Brazilians.
How about Sofia? Is it racist to say Sofia is populated mainly by Bulgarians?
Now some cities across the globe are not populated predominantly by, for want of a better description, the currently indigenous people of the country.
I say ‘currently’ as, historically, there aren’t that many truly indigenous people around. The native Americans, the Australian Aborigines and so forth are, as far as I know, along with a few others.
Most of us, in Britain, are actually descended – if we go far back enough – from Romans, Danes, French and, oh dear, Germans.
Our Royal Family is particularly German, having found it prudent to change their surname to Windsor from the Germanic Saxe Coburg when WWI kicked off.
Over several decades, London, in particular, has been a popular destination for immigrants from pretty much everywhere. As a result, the demographics of London in 2019 are :
59.8% White 18.5% Asian 13.3% Black 5% Mixed race 3.4% Other
Given that the 59.8% White includes all Europeans, including a particularly high number of Eastern Europeans, in 2011, 45% of the population of London were actually indigenous – in other words, English, Scottish or Welsh.
Therefore, as a matter of fact, London, in terms of demographics, is not an ‘English city’ in the sense that a huge majority of people living in it are ethnically British through several decades of descent. An increasing number are ethnically from elsewhere on the planet, whether immediately or from first to around third or fourth generation descent.
John Cleese has explained – mainly for the benefit of the offended generation – that his Twitter post was not racist, but rather cultural.
He was pointing out that London is no longer, culturally, primarily British.
It isn’t. That is not racist, it is a demographic fact.
He then went on to say that he prefers English culture on the quite reasonable grounds that he is English. He also points out that he prefers it to, say, a culture that supports the genital mutilation of women – a problem that seemingly reoccurs in the London area time and again.
“I suspect I should apologize for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing,” he wrote, responding to one Twitter user, who told him she “can’t stand Englishness”.
“But in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money-oriented than the one that is replacing it.”
The offended generation have gone to war with Cleese. London Mayor Sadiq Khan leading the charge – no surprise there then.
The British Liberal left, who tend to make up the vast majority of the offended generation, clearly just don’t get it do they?
Stifling debate on poorly controlled immigration or the failure of some immigrant groups to adequately assimilate into British society is divisive. It drives such debate ‘underground’. It feeds on the hungry far right desire to cause further hatred and division.
John Cleese chose to state the obvious, for some reason, on his Twitter account. He neither incited hatred nor violence against anybody. He simply pointed out a known fact, and opined that he preferred London as a predominantly English cultural city.
Well? He would wouldn’t he? He is English. And the problem is?
He is entitled to his opinion and to express it. The offended generation think otherwise.
The offended generation are the ones who will increase intolerance and hatred, simply by attacking and attempting to stifle even the most mundane comments that they don’t approve of.
I’ve changed their name to SOG’s. The Stupid Offended Generation.
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No need to say owt in reply to Cherries then. Cheers Glenn! 😁
You’ve been sussed Cherries 😂😂😂😂
Oh and about Nevis. It’s a tax haven. don’t complain if your Inland Class Warfare Revenue mafia drives anyone successful out of your Mean, Unpleasant Land.
Most people – meaning you and your ilk. Please read this man’s history and your own for that matter. Y’all have a tradition of trashing your best people if somehow, through a lifetime of work and talent, they make good. What have you done lately? Did you turn down a peerage on principle? were you offered one? How may good causes have you supported?
So he married his English wife on Mustique and so his opinion doesn’t count. Your millions in support of liberal causes?
I’m sure you’ll all have a laugh in your soon to be third world country.
Most people think Cleese has become an arse-ole too!
As he lives in the Caribbean and USA somewhere his opinion counts for nothing.
London is a diverse cosmopolitan city always has been and why people come here but some people just want to be little Englanders hence brexit 🤢
Jess – looked n mailed back xxx
Got it in one Glenn.
Boy, do I need to get over there n buy you a 🍺🍺🍺🍺 or four 😀
With that I agree. It’s a bit like saying New York isn’t an American city with its hundreds of languages and ethnic restaurants and neighborhoods. It’s been cosmopolitan for a very long time, but I think his initial entry was about dramatic changes in culture, lifestyle and economic decay in small towns whose charming Englishness is their main stock in trade and the pride of the residents. England though is insular. There’s a question of their right to be so and to enjoy being so. I can’t answer it, but I understand it and I respect democracy as well as the mandates of reformers.
In my neighborhood, I know Turks, Morroccans, Frenchmen, Chinese, Germans and others. They are very much part of our community. Americans with accents. There are many Guatamalans too and some Mexicans who work on farms and ranches but who also own businesses. They face resentment to put it mildly and I’m not proud of that or any other form of bigotry.
In my last town there was a large influx of European Muslims. A mosque was built a few blocks from my house. Beautiful building. No problem. Soon there was a powerful movement and lawsuits to remove the holocaust from school curricula and the public library – a problem.
Maybe this is what Neil is talking about. Newcomers who respect local culture get more respect. Want to build a Hindu temple? I’ll contribute. I might even attend. Want to tear down public education and institute religious law? I’ll fight you. For me, that’s the whole of it. I suspect it is for Neal too.
I love people who come here to change their lives – those who want to change my life? Not so much.
Glenn : You say it perfectly.
Jess / Bridget : Geographically it is, culturally, in many parts, no more.
Glenn mentioned Little Italy and so on. London has, for example, Southall – on my doorstep. It’s 90+% Asian and it’s a dump. It could, and should, be so much more – a kind of Little India or something, but no, it’s a dump. It’s as though the people there don’t care as long as they have a better quality of life financially than in India. Lots of my Asian Southall friends agree – in fact, several who are 4th and 5th generation now feel more affinity for England than India and are making great strides to turn Southall, one day, into Little India. It’ll attract tourists for one thing. The food there is already amazing, even if it is a dump.
That is like the city. We have everything too. Oh and I left you an email, can you look at your email please.
What? Did you email the old bean? I am devastated, as I thought I was the only one who enjoyed email privileges from The Jess. Sigh…
Don’t be jelly. I was just sending nude pics like the guys do to me. Not really, I needed some info only he could give me about something, you were entirely useless to me for this info otherwise you would have gotten one but I am going to send you one in just a second so look out for one in a minute or two.
..and I wait and I wait…
It’s there now or should be. I’m chilling right now and running kinda slow 🙂
Um duh, London by its very geography is a very very VERY British city, there is no getting round that FACT at all. ARe there different cultures there AYUP but he can’t go round making shit up about it’s not a British city because that’s some nuclear level bullshit when it is in fact demonstrably false. I said that last part in my best Bridget Jones voice so you know.
Yup! A very British city. I was born there and I’m a very British bloke tha knows 🙂
I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure I will – the word “culturist.” That would be someone who has an attachment, love, appreciation of and longing for a culture in general or of a certain period thereof. As with any romantic attachment, it’s not always rational as we see with the MAGA maggots, but I recognize it in myself too. I long for the America of 100 years ago although I know it’s impossible and so many of the new concerns and obsessions and fears have changed the culture beyond recognition and many feel there’s no place left for them in this obscenely commercialized and programmed country.
No, for me it’s not racial. There’s endless room in my nostalgic vision of empty highways and road houses and drive-in’s – of deserted forests and fishing holes. Plenty of room for China Town and Little Italy. Plenty of room for friends and associates and collaborators of any and all backgrounds who respect the culture – they’re American fixtures. But being, like all of us, a product of a culture; a part of a culture, I don’t like to see it lose its essence, its flavor or its music and I don’t like those who want to eliminate the parts of it I like and respect and want to preserve. I accept additions. I don’t like subtractions for the most part. Bring on the tacos, but let me keep my fried green tomatoes.
So much of that “offended generation” is simply making a prejudiced portrayal of what others consider patriotism in its best sense. I see little constructive in wanting to tear down certain architecture because it reminds someone of slavery, for instance. I resist those who tell me I can’t see anything good in the 1950s because there was more social inequality then. I don’t want to burn cathedrals because there used to be an inquisition either. Why should I accept people who think squalor is virtuous and success suspicious and don’t trust anyone over 30?
So in my own personal opinion, I like a lot about my huge country and my little country town the way it is and although I don’t care if half the residents are black and the rest Hispanic; as long as they see themselves as Americans, as long as we don’t raise it to the ground and put up apartment blocks, the more the merrier. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise.