The Welsh

[CaptainBazza]

Just a neutral observation, you understand?

The Welsh live in Wales, the English in England,
It's an arrangement convenient and grand,
But despite that,
There's the odd spat,
Where many rude gestures are signaled by hand.

Algernon.

[lateagain]

Having said that please don't start a thread on the French.......

That's altogether another bone apart.

[rufuskins]

Isn't it strange that within the United Kingdom it would appear that there is ground swell of opinion in support of a break up, whilst within Europe there appears to be a desire amongst some to create a United States of Europe!

I make this comment as I believe that several candidates for leadership of Plaid Cymru are advocating independence for Wales.

If nothing else one would have thought that history had taught us that when push comes to shove nationalism always beats socialism!

Alec

[lateagain]

Isn't it strange that within the United Kingdom it would appear that there is ground swell of opinion in support of a break up, whilst within Europe there appears to be a desire amongst some to create a United States of Europe!

I make this comment as I believe that several candidates for leadership of Plaid Cymru are advocating independence for Wales.

If nothing else one would have thought that history had taught us that when push comes to shove nationalism always beats socialism!

Alec

Wave a flag and a lot of folk will follow passionately ....right up to the point they realise the admission to the party is going to cost them a lot!

The trouble is Alec all the media feed us is a bunch of "grandstanding" self serving politicians. Did you see any serious economic analysis of the implications of further devolution? Have you seen any serious discussion as to what levels devolution might be taken, how this would be funded, who'd pay for it in the long run? The media seems to shy from these issues, but then hard facts aren’t sexy and don’t raise circulation or viewing figures.

Face it the Welsh vote in favour of devolution (how many years back was that now?) was passed by the smallest possible majority. If you'd listen to the rhetoric beforehand you'd have expected a landslide?

It seems to me as an Englishman born and bred, but happy to be part of the United Kingdom that the current apathy amongst the majority of people towards politics is in no small part due to the 180 degree swings of the past few years? In England just look at what has happened in the last 30 years. BTW forget the parties involved it's the actions that matter.... First Thatcher's Government ended all the major metropolitan authorities that had been successfully (mainly?) running the larger cities in England and now 30 years later "Dave" wants to devolve facilities back to localised authorities? Of course youngsters probably hail these "new initiatives" (if they care at all?) but old dogs like me are left asking "why did you meddle in the first place?".

Geoff

[dorlan]

<snip>
I make this comment as I believe that several candidates for leadership of Plaid Cymru are advocating independence for Wales.<snip>

They've been doing that since Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925!

Oh dear... and it was all going so reasonably as well...

Sometimes I despair at the attitudes in the open forums.

Ash

I have to agree in this instance!

What has political decisions concerning regional government in England, to do with thread discussing Welsh culture?

[lateagain]

The thread was started by a member who gives Belgium as his location. I would hope that everyone in the UK know what the Welsh miners did for the UK and what the politicians who were spurred on by trying to improve their lot did for all of us? That is just as much a part of our culture as Welsh Male Voice choirs.

Sadly with the level of education I see around me today that's probably wishful thinking....

To remove politics from a debate about the Welsh when they have, as a race, played so great a part in the UK as we know it today is like joining the Flat Earth society?

Geoff

[theokus]

Isn't it strange that within the United Kingdom it would appear that there is ground swell of opinion in support of a break up, whilst within Europe there appears to be a desire amongst some to create a United States of Europe!

Will never work...(I live in Belgium)
It was a political decision, it was forced upon the people.
The people had no participation.

If nothing else one would have thought that history had taught us that when push comes to shove nationalism always beats socialism!
Alec

Take care with that nationalism.
(two wars is enough)

[theokus]

The thread was started by a member who gives Belgium as his location. I would hope that everyone in the UK know what the Welsh miners did for the UK and what the politicians who were spurred on by trying to improve their lot did for all of us? That is just as much a part of our culture as Welsh Male Voice choirs.

Sadly with the level of education I see around me today that's probably wishful thinking....

To remove politics from a debate about the Welsh when they have, as a race, played so great a part in the UK as we know it today is like joining the Flat Earth society?

Geoff

Was me Geoff.
That pops up everywhere.

We also had many miners in the region (Limburg, Belgium).
Also many foreigners who work in our mines came after the war (1946 and so on).
But our miners were treated almost as gentlemen in comparison with those of Wales....
If I see poverty in the past(?) and also how hard and unsafe those people had to work for a few cents.
Did "The Prince of Wales" have to work that hard??