Oh! How the Mighty Have Fallen

[j.sabourn]

Ref #9... Pleased you said jolly boat and not Gay boat. John. Cheers John Sabourn

[Neville Roberts]

Same over here the place is inundated with YANKS I wish they would all go back to where they came from .

[alf corbyn]

its unfortunate that many of the African countries we educated and civilized did not have the intelligence to stay under our rule. they would have been better fed and their wives and children would not have been starving and possibly riddled with aids. they chose independence so why are we still feeding them?.

[Keith at Tregenna]

There is already talk on changing the Union Jack, how may this effect the Red Ensign ? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2518570/In-flap-flags-If-Scotland-goes-flag-does-rest-UK-wave-Here-variations-familiar-theme.html K

[Roger Dyer]

Hindsight I know is a wondrous thing...........No doubt hopeful of a smooth transition following independence of her former colonies, Britain would, surely, have been aware of the potential for ensuing political unrest. Tribal factions within many of the African nations had been in conflict for centuries, long before British settlement. Did Britain (and other European colonists) really beieve that following independence the memory of traditional enmity would/could be erased ? If they did then they were sadly mistaken. It does lend some credence to the view that, in many cases, we Brits were only too happy to relinquish control. Unfortunately, it is now apparent that such action was akin to leaving children in charge of the sweet-shop.

The sad truth is, for so many of the millions of Africans who rejoiced when gaining their longed for 'freedom', independence would only signal years of civil unrest, persecution and genocide. Following Ghana in 1957 other African nations would soon gain their independence. In 1964, it was Kenya's turn, where political unrest ensued, largely brought about by Communist influence. Uganda, too, had gone the same way and, later, the despotic leadership of the lunatic, Idi Amin, would result in the death of thousands of innocent men, women and children (his own people). In Zimbabwe, responsible for single-handedly destroying the welfare of an entire nation, the ruthless Robert Mugabe (aged 89) by virtue of coercion, corruption and rigged elections, still clings to the power he has held for 26 years. I think it highly probable that when he dies or steps down (which is unlikely) there will be much blood-letting to follow. Elsewhere, other non-British colonies have experienced similar unrest. In 1994 in Rwanda, a former Belgian colony, the long-running enmity between the Hutu and Tutsi tribesmen reached a climax in the genocide of more than 900,000 men women and children of both tribes.

Nowadays, most of Britain's former colonies in Africa have dispensed with the Westminster system of government in favour of a Presidential system. Some are able to enjoy a degree of security, free from civil unrest, but there are still one or two leaders who see merit in the example set by Mugabe.............and so it goes on. Will it ever end?


........Roger

[happy daze john in oz]

I remember seeing a show on TV maybe it was on a history channel.The scene is in parliament an MP is putting the question to some cabinet member " We are raping these countries all over the world of their assetts what are we giving them back" or words to that effect.The person replying in his wisdom said."We will make them British and give them British passports".It was then pointed out to the guy who made this statement that this would give these people all over the world the right to come into Britain."Rubbish " he said "These people wont leave their lovelly warm climates to come here".That is just the basics of it I have tried to find this on Hansard but no luck.
Regards.
Jim.B.

Ther was a syaing many years ago made by some of the Western Oriental Gentlemen, 'Queen Victoria very good lady give us all British passports'. Maybe that is where it all began>

[EIFION]

Are you including Australia , New Zealand , Canada , the USA in your countries requiring hand outs John? All are former colonies of Britain . personally I think they are doing all right as independent states don't you?

[happy daze john in oz]

hey all do very well as independent states for one reason, they are all democracies where the vote is fair, open and honest. those at the very top do not have their hands in the till and are not open to coruption at the same level as some nations.
Read an article at the weekend about Zuma, South African president, spent over $20 million on his mansion in S.A. and has four houses in other countries. Yet half the people still live at the very bottom of the pile.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Captain.
It used to be to the victors the spoils but in this case it's to the losers the spoils.
Cheers Des