http://britologywatch.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/what-can-the-internet-tell-us-about-british-values/ Resisting the efforts to impose a unitary British value system and identity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:44:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://britologywatch.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/what-can-the-internet-tell-us-about-british-values/#comment-1054 David Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:14:58 +0000 http://britologywatch.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-1054 Thanks, K2. Thanks, K2.

]]> http://britologywatch.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/what-can-the-internet-tell-us-about-british-values/#comment-1053 K2 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:40:25 +0000 http://britologywatch.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-1053 Once again David 'in a nutshell'. Great. I think your phrase ''British' values in their particularity' sums it up. These of course are ENGLISH and it is just these particularities that we have affection for. The abstract ideal 'concepts', beautiful as they are to any compassionate human being, have more to do with the French enlightenment than with English tradition. It just so happens that some (by no means all!) of our historical particularities (fortunately for us) have coincided with these admirable philosophical values. But your key point remains: it is the particulars that are held in affection by a people and a nation. That is precisely why the government struggles to find 'core British values' that are held in affection by anyone. The fact that Brown is well aware of this is illustrated by his attempt on several occasions to label the Magna Carta as 'British'. What a sad joke. Your point about a haemorrage of faith in the UK democratic process is probably the most important. Having an internet debate in the name of 'consultation' looks exactly the same to me as the numerous 'consultations' about development and planning. Result: delay by 1-2 years then original plan goes ahead. Once again David ‘in a nutshell’. Great. I think your phrase ”British’ values in their particularity’ sums it up. These of course are ENGLISH and it is just these particularities that we have affection for. The abstract ideal ‘concepts’, beautiful as they are to any compassionate human being, have more to do with the French enlightenment than with English tradition. It just so happens that some (by no means all!) of our historical particularities (fortunately for us) have coincided with these admirable philosophical values. But your key point remains: it is the particulars that are held in affection by a people and a nation. That is precisely why the government struggles to find ‘core British values’ that are held in affection by anyone. The fact that Brown is well aware of this is illustrated by his attempt on several occasions to label the Magna Carta as ‘British’. What a sad joke. Your point about a haemorrage of faith in the UK democratic process is probably the most important. Having an internet debate in the name of ‘consultation’ looks exactly the same to me as the numerous ‘consultations’ about development and planning. Result: delay by 1-2 years then original plan goes ahead.

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