Was John Cleese right ???

[topten]

John Cleese said that in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?

Because I took my two grandsons to the London Eye 20 or so years ago, and because the youngest loved trains went down on the train.
On arriving in London and not knowing how to get to the Eye, seeing a man on the other side of the road I left my wife with the kids and went to ask directions from this man, after asking him several times and being ignored went back and told my wife. Anyway we found the Eye and all the rest of the tourist parts. When back at work I was lambasting this man for ignoring me several times, calling him ignorant and so forth and one of my work mates said "He probably couldn't understand a word you was saying, he would be foreign."

[Chriswright03]

Don't know but you have posted this three times.

[Mr B]

To be sure, to be sure to be sure!

[topten]

Don't know but you have posted this three times.

Don't know how but hey there are Moderators, right?

[Chriswright03]

Fairly sure you can delete them if no one has posted though. They aren't here all the time and would only be aware if someone reported it.

[turtle]

John Cleese said that in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?
."

He may have a point...... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21511904

[David]

Excellent post

[johnerebus]

The question asked was , "in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?" My question is, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

[David]

Yes he is right but the same can be said for most big cities

[topten]

The question asked was , "in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?" My question is, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

To you it obviously doesn't matter so why bother with your thoughts on the subject.

[Johnny Lee]

Maybe he should have said , Most of the UK.

[frontalman]

People are much the same wherever they come from in my experience.

[Keithcaley]

People are much the same wherever they come from in my experience.

You're not wrong there!

[johnerebus]

Dear Top Ten you replied to my posting, "To you it obviously doesn't matter so why bother with your thoughts on the subject." My reply to your question is, "To wind up the easily wound up." Next question please?

[Keithcaley]

Dear Top Ten you replied to my posting, "To you it obviously doesn't matter so why bother with your thoughts on the subject." My reply to your question is, "To wind up the easily wound up." Next question please?

[johnerebus]

Not having been answered I'll pose the same question again, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

[Keithcaley]

Not having been answered I'll pose the same question again, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

OK, I don't think that it does matter, to me at any rate...

It might matter if you are concerned about the ethnic makeup of the population, but I grew up in a Port City (Hull) and we became accustomed from a very young age, to dealing with all sorts of different nationalities and 'belief systems' etc, and we soon learned that the colour of a person's skin, and where they're from matters hardly at all!

[jofra]

Perhaps what matters is your opinion of John Cleese and his opinions....

[topten]

Not having been answered I'll pose the same question again, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

I posed the subject you gave YOUR opinion.
Now you can go back to your usual scan of posts to find where the cheapest Efes is or baked beans

[Groucho]

As he's from Weston-Super-Mare, and spends most of his time living in the USA... I guess he's probably an effing hypocrite.

[Welldigger]

Ok let’s reverse this for a moment; you’re standing in Girne harbour and a local walks up to you from behind and asks you a question three times in Turkish. Because you don’t understand Turkish you neither reply nor turn around as you are totally unaware that this person was talking to you.
The only problem I see here is your lack of willingness to learn the local language. You are a foreigner in a foreign country, there’s nothing wrong with that.
One could argue that “is Girne no longer Turkish Cypriot”??? To be honest, who cares as long as people are polite and respectful of the country they choose to live in.

[David]

The point he was making was that too many foreigners living in another country are liable to change the culture of that country be that good or bad, times change and the UK in particular is a global country like most others, its a part of modern life and is normally embraced by most people

[wrymouth]

We are all immigrants whose forebears have been coming to the British Isles for thousands of years. Our so called "English" language reflects this and we are all the richer for it.

[Groucho]

As a major port city for hundreds of years, London's cultural influences have come from far-flung nations of many hues.. That he finds that a problem for his luvvy pals says more about him than it does London. Seeing that he then chooses to live in the USA makes his protestations seem a tad hollow.

Methinks he should resist the urge to become he embodiment of the Little Britisher Basil Fawlty he portrayed for 12 episodes.

[frontalman]

I was talking to a Turkish Cypriot friend in Lefke on Saturday. He said that he, and a few of his friends, went into a bar in the Lapta area some time ago (he couldn't remember which one). They were the only people in there who were not British, he believes. One of the Brits close by said to another "Who are they?", referring to the TCs to which his mate said "They are foreigners", which my friend found quite amusing and took in good spirit.

[Sallywebstersnipples]

The question asked was , "in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?" My question is, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

It matters if you are one of the indigenous population that is now in the minority in your own town, a bit like Turkish Cypriots?

[David]

I think that was the point he was making

[JoandJelly]

Yes London is an English city. It is in England.

[Hedge-fund]

The question asked was , "in his opinion London was no longer an English city is he right ?" My question is, "What does it matter if he's right or wrong?"

It matters if you are one of the indigenous population that is now in the minority in your own town, a bit like Turkish Cypriots?

Exactly

[jofra]

If one ethnic group desert a city (or part thereof) - because they choose to live in other areas - and the "vacuum" is then filled by another ethnic group....
who is responsible for the creation of that "vacuum" and the ensuing filling by another ethnic group?
This has occurred throughout history - consider ancient cities that have had "xx quarters" (choose your nationality/race/religion) back to (for example) Moses in Egypt - also consider what "English/British" is comprised of - possibly the greatest mongrel race in the world....
....Veiled racism? I think so.....

[Groucho]

If one ethnic group desert a city (or part thereof) - because they choose to live in other areas - and the "vacuum" is then filled by another ethnic group....
who is responsible for the creation of that "vacuum" and the ensuing filling by another ethnic group?
This has occurred throughout history - consider ancient cities that have had "xx quarters" (choose your nationality/race/religion) back to (for example) Moses in Egypt - also consider what "English/British" is comprised of - possibly the greatest mongrel race in the world....
....Veiled racism? I think so.....

Exactly, the population of London has shrunk from its heyday, it is likely that increased property values encouraged Londoners to cash in. Thus creating the vacuum.. but it is doubtful whether John Cleese or his pals were ever real Londoners or are they just glitterati who feel entitled?