Tag Archive: xenophobia


Solidarity against the bigots

Filed under: Good causes, Humour, Music, Poetry, Politics — Leave a comment
January 1, 2021

Asian Dub Foundation made the inspired decision to use a brilliant anti-UKIP sketch by UK’s best stand up comedian Stewart Lee to make a danceable statement against bigotry.  

The anti-racist message, coupled with the fact that all profits go to the Kent Refugee Action Group, is directly aimed at the narrow-minded xenophobes celebrating Brexit.

Comin’ Over Here launched a courageous (and ultimately successful) bid to knock off the fetid mainstream fodder of Ed Sheeran and Mariah Carey off the coveted number one position on the January 1 ITunes & Amazon download charts.

Lee admits that, as a 52-year old man delivering his definitive rant, he felt like Alan Bennett fronting Public Enemy but can now boast to his kids that during the Covid War he heroically mimed to Anglo-Saxon poetry in an empty warehouse.

Who amongst us can say they did as much?

 

 

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Why we don’t need strong men as leaders

Filed under: Gender, Italy, Politics, Television — 1 Comment
January 29, 2017

deep-not-macho

A strong leader stands in an un-drained swamp.

“It’s so easy to laugh,
It’s so easy to hate,
It takes guts to be gentle and kind”
Lyrics by Morrissey to ‘I Know It’s Over’ by The Smiths

A recent survey carried out by the newspaper La Repubblica  found that 80% of Italians think the country needs to be run by “un uomo forte” (a strong man). In 2006, only 55% of the populace subscribed to this view while 60% held this belief in 2010.

This rising trend is worrying and depressing on many counts. It indicates that more and more voters are willing to be represented by leaders solely on the basis that they adopt strong opinions and maintain a posture of decisiveness.

On the surface this may seem logical and uncontroversial. After all, who would want a leader to be weak and indecisive? The problem lies with what exactly is meant by the word ‘strong’. Continue reading →

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TEACHING ENGLISH TO JOHNNY FOREIGNER

Filed under: Music — Leave a comment
April 14, 2011

Image from The How to be British collection by Martyn Ford & Peter Legon (Lee Gone Publications)

Johnny Foreigner:
1. Anyone who isn't British.
2. Anyone likely to be given a metaphorical 'bloody nose' by a plucky Brit.
(definition courtesy of Urban dictionary)

Images of British Culture and the role of English Language Teachers

In 1998 Lord St John of Fawsley stated in the British House of Lords that alongside the common law and parliamentary government, English language and literature was the greatest contribution to world civilization. He added that “at the heart of all three lies the idea of liberty. I do not believe that we can export our institutions indiscriminately, but by informing people of how they work and flourish, by imparting thoughts about them, we can enhance the chances for freedom elsewhere”.

English language teachers applying the communicative method actively seek to show language in context through the use of authentic texts. This means that material has to be selected to illustrate not only fundamental grammar structures but also to depict images of Britain through its culture and customs.

If, as Lord St John Fawsley strongly suggests, these images are chosen with a view to selling the cultural superiority of British culture, it contradicts any notion that teaching English can be politically neutral. Continue reading →

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