St George Vs Diwali
Discussion
I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet this morning. It seems my kids, who are six and seven, know nothing of St George, yet are well aware of Diwali. Is this right?
I'm tempted to have a word with the school, who do a superb job in every other respect in educating my kids.
If I do have a word, how do I broach the subject tactfully?
Now I've not sudddenly become a fully paid up member of the BNP overnight, but it feels to me that in the rush to be PC our own heritage and traditions are getting overlooked.
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
[small]And please try to keep it on track, I don't want it to descend into another bashing Johnny Foreigner thread ;)[/small]
I'm tempted to have a word with the school, who do a superb job in every other respect in educating my kids.
If I do have a word, how do I broach the subject tactfully?
Now I've not sudddenly become a fully paid up member of the BNP overnight, but it feels to me that in the rush to be PC our own heritage and traditions are getting overlooked.
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
[small]And please try to keep it on track, I don't want it to descend into another bashing Johnny Foreigner thread ;)[/small]
BliarOut said:
I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet this morning. It seems my kids, who are six and seven, know nothing of St George, yet are well aware of Diwali. Is this right?
I'm tempted to have a word with the school, who do a superb job in every other respect in educating my kids.
If I do have a word, how do I broach the subject tactfully?
Now I've not sudddenly become a fully paid up member of the BNP overnight, but it feels to me that in the rush to be PC our own heritage and traditions are getting overlooked.
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
And please try to keep it on track, I don't want it to descend into another bashing Johnny Foreigner thread
what the hell is Diwali?
It's good that they know about Diwali as Hinduism is a peaceful religion - and this should be encouraged in my book. Saves them from contracting dissentry going travelling in India when they are 18...
In my opinion if they teach St Patricks day etc then they should talk about St George. if they don't then I personally don't think it is comparable. because on'e religious (and falls under 'RE') but what's the other. it's hardly interesting history..!
>> Edited by baskey on Wednesday 7th September 11:25
In my opinion if they teach St Patricks day etc then they should talk about St George. if they don't then I personally don't think it is comparable. because on'e religious (and falls under 'RE') but what's the other. it's hardly interesting history..!
>> Edited by baskey on Wednesday 7th September 11:25
Well I don't see the problem - St. George was a person, whereas Diwali is a religious festival celebrated by millions of people worldwide. Perhaps it would be relevant if your kids didn't know anything about Easter.
Quite apart from that, what's there to know? He was a Lebanese soldier who fought in the Roman army and died a martyr. There's not much more to it than that.
Quite apart from that, what's there to know? He was a Lebanese soldier who fought in the Roman army and died a martyr. There's not much more to it than that.
r988 said:
I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet this morning. It seems my kids, who are six and seven, know nothing of St George, yet are well aware of Diwali. Is this right?
I'm tempted to have a word with the school, who do a superb job in every other respect in educating my kids.
If I do have a word, how do I broach the subject tactfully?
Now I've not sudddenly become a fully paid up member of the BNP overnight, but it feels to me that in the rush to be PC our own heritage and traditions are getting overlooked.
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
And please try to keep it on track, I don't want it to descend into another bashing Johnny Foreigner thread
what the hell is Diwali?
hindu festival of light.
i have no idea beyond that. i wasted my time learning about myths of knights slaying dragons..
BliarOut said:
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
No to the first and yes to the second.
But you know we couldn't possibly do anything to celebrate British or English culture because that would be jingoistic and nationlistic and quite possibly fascist too, and before long little Jimmy would be shaving his head and tattooing 'NF' and a swastika on his forehead, because thats what St.George stands for, didn't you know?
Now you'll have to excuse me, I must get those St. Patricks day party invites out very early for next year...
When I was in school, (albeit a while ago), there wasn't much in the way of |English, or british history. WWe never did the civil war, never did the Kings/queens. Never did thje 1st, or 2nd world war. never did anything about Saxon, Norman, and Viking invasions. they seemed to choose to do all that when you chose your history module, later on, at a time when I chose geography. We did do romans, and visited Chester, which was just down the road, when I was in primary school...
AlexH said:
But you know we couldn't possibly do anything to celebrate British or English culture because that would be jingoistic and nationlistic and quite possibly fascist too, and before long little Jimmy would be shaving his head and tattooing 'NF' and a swastika on his forehead, because thats what St.George stands for, didn't you know?
How would you like to celebrate English culture?
AlexH said:
Now you'll have to excuse me, I must get those St. Patricks day party invites out very early for next year...
You do know that St. Patrick's day is nothing to do with celebrating Irishness and all to do with just getting pissed, don't you? If you really want your own equivalent, why not have a party on St. George's day and get blind drunk? No-one would care. The PC police wouldn't come and break it up, no matter what you think.
JagLover said:
If you want your kids to have any knowledge of British history or culture you will have to teach them yourself.
British History and culture begins and ends with Second World War! We studied loads about that in school (in school from 1984ish to 1998). i also studied viking and norman invasions, a bit of the great war, some romans, not much about the civil war, i know about how we repressed the irish.
i was never taught about The Empire. that'd be interesting - rhodesia and things!
Ecks Ridgehead said:
But you know we couldn't possibly do anything to celebrate British or English culture because that would be jingoistic and nationlistic and quite possibly fascist too, and before long little Jimmy would be shaving his head and tattooing 'NF' and a swastika on his forehead, because thats what St.George stands for, didn't you know?
How would you like to celebrate English culture?
AlexH said:
Now you'll have to excuse me, I must get those St. Patricks day party invites out very early for next year...
You do know that St. Patrick's day is nothing to do with celebrating Irishness and all to do with just getting pissed, don't you? If you really want your own equivalent, why not have a party on St. George's day and get blind drunk? No-one would care. The PC police wouldn't come and break it up, no matter what you think.
Sorry but I don't agree with your statements about St.Patricks Day. It might have become that for all the Brits and Americans and others who have large Irish communities and just use it as an excuse for a p1ss-up, but from huge amounts of media coverage I've seen over the years, I think for alot of Irishmen it still is used a celebration of their Irishness, and good luck to them.
Not really sure how I'd like to celebrate English culture*, but that wasn't my point; the fact is that it would be nice if the wish to do so didn't then attract accusations of nationalism/jingoism etc from certain quarters, who wish to make patriotism a dirty word.
*But wouldn't say no to a bank holiday on 23rd April!
baskey said:
BliarOut said:
I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet this morning. It seems my kids, who are six and seven, know nothing of St George, yet are well aware of Diwali. Is this right?
I'm tempted to have a word with the school, who do a superb job in every other respect in educating my kids.
If I do have a word, how do I broach the subject tactfully?
Now I've not sudddenly become a fully paid up member of the BNP overnight, but it feels to me that in the rush to be PC our own heritage and traditions are getting overlooked.
So, am I a GOM or do I have a point?
And please try to keep it on track, I don't want it to descend into another bashing Johnny Foreigner thread
what the hell is Diwali?
hindu festival of light.
i have no idea beyond that. i wasted my time learning about myths of knights slaying dragons..
Tis not myth,tis true,tis only this last day of sat that he slayeth his recent red dragon
AlexH said:
Sorry but I don't agree with your statements about St.Patricks Day. It might have become that for all the Brits and Americans and others who have large Irish communities and just use it as an excuse for a p1ss-up, but from huge amounts of media coverage I've seen over the years, I think for alot of Irishmen it still is used a celebration of their Irishness, and good luck to them.
Fair enough.
AlexH said:
Not really sure how I'd like to celebrate English culture*, but that wasn't my point; the fact is that it would be nice if the wish to do so didn't then attract accusations of nationalism/jingoism etc from certain quarters, who wish to make patriotism a dirty word.
*But wouldn't say no to a bank holiday on 23rd April!
But why not just celebrate anyway? There's nothing to stop you celebrating St. George's day, as long as it's done within the bounds of the law, same as any other celebration.
The reason I asked how you'd like to celebrate is that I was wondering what you feel that you couldn't do if you wanted to. Want a party on St. George's day? Have one. Want to sing "God Save The Queen"? Go ahead. Want to watch "Zulu" with all your mates? Knock yourself out.
I am glad we are in the position that we can't celebrate being English. it shows that we're on the top of the heap!we don't have to go around moaning about being down-trodden and exagerating the benefits of our one successful export or celebrating the failure of some martyr (nee victim).
:-)
:-)
baskey said:
I am glad we are in the position that we can't celebrate being English. it shows that we're on the top of the heap!we don't have to go around moaning about being down-trodden and exagerating the benefits of our one successful export or celebrating the failure of some martyr (nee victim).
:-)
Same argument I've used myself in the past!
I remember the last St Georges Day, and the pub landlords got a bit miffed becasue they were granted late liscenses for st Patircks day, but were refused for St Georges day. A local butcher got into a bit of a rage as he was told to take down his St georges falg from outside his shop, as the council had recieved a complaint from the Mosque over the road. This was local to me, and in the local rag. its lots of incident slike this that get on peoples nerves, more than anything else.
St George was a guy who did not slay a dragon, because they don't exist.
St Patrick's day is a cynical marketing ploy from brewing companies that has been heavily promoted in recent years.
Diwali is a Hindu religious festival that many councils seem to believe is more popular than Christmas - how many Hindus are there in the UK? Not really that many.
All the above are as valid, or unvalid as each other, but to choose one over the other is wrong. Kids should either know about them all, or none.
>> Edited by alexkp on Wednesday 7th September 12:07
St Patrick's day is a cynical marketing ploy from brewing companies that has been heavily promoted in recent years.
Diwali is a Hindu religious festival that many councils seem to believe is more popular than Christmas - how many Hindus are there in the UK? Not really that many.
All the above are as valid, or unvalid as each other, but to choose one over the other is wrong. Kids should either know about them all, or none.
>> Edited by alexkp on Wednesday 7th September 12:07
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