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For most of my 81 years, starting during World War II, I have held Britain in the highest esteem. I have studied British literature and history while both a student and a teacher in university. For years, I faithfully read The Manchester Guardian almost daily [on paper in the library at the university where I taught]; For years I was subscribed to Punch and a couple of British motorcycle magazines; I owned six British motorcycles; and supported a Welsh football club.
Over the past 30 years or thereabouts I have taken my annual holiday in Europe. Except for visiting old friends in The Netherlands, France, and Italy, they have all been to the U.K. , from Inverness to Hayling island, and from sea to sea.
Until recently, the "special relationship" between our two countries has been a matter of deep satisfaction and some pride. Without identifying it as such, I considered both Britain and the British automatic and mutually faithful friends [Please, those who will be tempted to mock those statements, move on without comment, thanks.]
I believe firmly that the overwhelming majority [probably close to "totality"] of Americans have the same attitudes. Personally, I have never heard a single negative comment from an American about Britain and the British.
I discount the boorish, but vocally silent, incivility of the previous President, for example, regarding the bust of Churchill [which the present President corrected as one of his first acts] and for worse treatment of visiting British dignitaries. It is small consolation that the previous president has treated fellow Americans worse on occasion.
To my major point.
In recent times, it is clear to me, the attitude of many [too many] Brits toward the United States has declined precipitously, too often to downright insulting hatred. Note that my lifetime study of philosophy enables me to put that all aside as something over which I have no control.
However, when that reaches British persons of high political rank and affects what I consider vital aspects of our countries' relationship, it becomes worrisome at least. That is full upon us now.
Here we have a British Prime Minister publically and insultingly attacking an American President for "retweeting" references to years-old activities of Islamic terrorists committing unspeakable acts. Note that that retweet has not caused one person to be tortured or killed. This, while she ignores the most vicious contemporary attacks by Islamic terrorists on her own citizens and those of the Continent.
I cannot help wondering whose political ass she is kissing -- from the Islamic terrorists or Islamic rulers, to the powers that be in the European Union, mollifying them about BREXIT?
Is she doing this so forcefully to make it difficult, if not impossible, to reach a new bilateral agreement with the United States on trade and economic issues -- an agreement which would work decidedly to the benefit of the U.K. -- pointedly to one no longer ruled by the despots of the E.U.?
Or am I missing the point completely because she is, with too much subtlety for me, actually working against the very BREXIT result she is legally bound to bring into being?
I am fully aware that many [most? all?] of you do not see the powerful influence of your anti-Trump and increasingly anti-American media, but I live with it every single day here in the states, so it is far easier for me to see the same bias -- and always with the same words telling the same falsehoods -- over there.
Candidly, when I first heard of your Prime Minister's rant about my President's "retweet," I thought that she did not have her priorities in order -- the retweet of videos which show the coldest truths about terrorism compared with the endless stream of even worse terroristic behaviour all over Europe -- but now I have to wonder whether she knows full well what she is doing, and that is killing BREXIT, or at least working to get the U.K.'s relationship with the E.U. back in line with the European globalist power structure which she has supported in the past. That would entail stopping the possibility of a far-reaching trade agreement with the unspoken assumed enemy of both the E.U. and a new global system.
We're knee-deep in shit with no bottom on the bucket we're all standing in, and too many powerful forces keep shoveling more in. Or having their puppets doing it for them.
There is neither point nor need for background "music" in club-created team videos on the official site. For Heaven's sake, please someone ask them to stop it!
Try to watch the "interview" with Bony, today's offering. Three or four notes repeated endlessly throughout the whole piece make it difficult to hear him clearly, and to understand him, especially with his accent.
Perfect example of the film-maker being more concerned with his artsy presentation than with letting the audience in on the secret.
For those of you who have never seen the glorious story on video of the glorious end of Barnstoneworth United, here's a link. The quality of the video is not great, so if anyone can give us the URL for a clearer video [in full, please] post it below. Thanks.
O.K., Ice, I gave you a "thumbs-up" because I think virtually all of your observations are very well thought-out and logical -- except perhaps for one.
You wrote in part, ". . . a few decent January signings and we could be ok."
I worry much about that, as most of his difficulties so far have been an inability to pick and play a settled first team side, and having a few more very high cost -- but not earth-shattering -- players will only start his endless fiddle-f'kin' around with changing players -- his worst managing behaviour and something I'm hoping has ended forever after today.
N.B. I said that "I worry about it" not that I am predicting it.
My "best shot" is hard to put into words that would not be construed by some as ad hominem. I assure you that they are NOT.
You are so firmly entrenched in your opinion that there is nothing I can possibly say to change it; but gladly, changing your opinion [and anyone else's, for that matter] is miles from my interest and intention.
If you do not see why he was one of the best, if not the best, football player on the pitch today, without my "stating the case for him," I won't chance being seen as offending you. But that's O.K. with me. I think he is easily both of those in his technical skills, rare comprehension of the action going on everywhere on the pitch, obvious deep understanding the game of football from the perspective of the middle of the pitch, and quite enviable game management.
[To my fellow PlanetSwans posters: these are my opinions alone.]
1. Mr. Clement: it is well past time that a first team be identified and started regularly in order to allow them to begin functioning as a unit.
2.. With two exceptions (below), today's starters should start every game through the end of December. The exceptions are that Fernandez should come back in, and, if fit, Abraham should replace Ayew.
3. Regarding Mesa, please ignore the self-identified wizards of the media. He was today, and will remain so long as you continue to start and play him, one of the most important keys to team success. [I am one who has always considered Leon Britton as a key to team success, but in his absence, Mesa will more than fill Leon's role, but he needs regular playing time with a regular team around him. He hasn't had that yet.]
I wish you the very best at Swansea, believing that you can, and should, and must, return Swansea City to its former style and success.
Brad Bobbly had zero idea of who were his best eleven and how to use them.
Sadly, Clement has zero idea of who are his best eleven and how to use them.
If Clement wants to save himself and the Swans, he'll do what our former Italian manager did to save the Swans -- pick his best eleven and play them in the same positions every game.
My advice: Pick your best eleven and play them in the same positions for the rest of 2017. Stop playing "Frankie Phukaround"!
In 1955, we were on a flight to the airport at Taipei, Taiwan, and while there, used the "multi-gender" rest room. A Western woman came in after we did and nearly died when she saw both men and women doing their duty; but the biggest shock of all for her was that the Taiwanese women were each squatting over one of the simple small holes in the floor.
The Western woman didn't know what to do. Running [or walking very fast] back out was the only option, but it wasn't an option. I never learned what she did, as I was already finished and on my way out when she came in.
I still remember my first trip off-base on the way into Seoul, South Korea, earlier n 1955, and saw men and women doing their duties into the ditch beside the road. But Seoul was not yet a cosmopolitan city then by any measure.
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