All comments (page 2101 of 2987)

Thu 28th Mar 2013 22:09

I really have no issue with immigrants coming here to get work - you don't see our numpties showing the initiative to go abroad to find it! But it's become an issue "of which we dare not speak" without being branded a flog-'em-and-send-'em-back reactionary or a pinko-leftie-tree-hugger. We really need to reclaim the ground for informed and responsible debate.
On another front, there was a programme on the telly some little while ago which examined the DNA of a number of white english residents (including a prominent National Front/EDL figure) to find that all of them had a minority proportion of indigenous "english" DNA, as indeed do most of us.

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thu 28th Mar 2013 21:55

...answers on a postcard, please...

Comment is about Grope Lane (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thu 28th Mar 2013 21:47

Comment is about Chris Huhne (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thu 28th Mar 2013 21:26

M.C. AND john,
Last year, a quarter of the babies born in Britain were born to mothers who were themselves born abroad, (which makes
one wonder what proportion of the rest were born to british citizen mothers who`s own parents were born abroad) Someone recently
complained that the new immigrants and their children knew a lot more about British history than lots of the British kids (and I believe him) The cosmopolitanisation of the British population is taking place under our own noses and we`re only just waking up.

Thank God for the momarchy (even - perish the thought - Charles) but we need some more rallying points for Britishness to oppose all
those multi-cultural wimps.

The Americans tried reading an oath of allegiance in schools, but it fell foul of the atheisist versus God schools.

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thu 28th Mar 2013 20:51

How delightful that this win should be so timely, and for such a memorable evocation of a long-ago time and experience.
Well done!

Comment is about Magazine editor wins National Poetry Competition (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thu 28th Mar 2013 20:26

To learn a poem by heart is to show it proper love and respect. It also provides the learner with mental exercise that is to be welcomed...especially during later years..and a treasury of the like that is beyond
value. The practice is also perfect for learning songs.
Encouraged by a video on Youtube of the old music hall song "Burlington Bertie From Bow", I decided to commit the whole thing (and it's quite long!) to memory. I now enjoy reciting it to myself in bed...a rather effective way of "counting sheep" for this lyricist, who has even taken up the challenge of "updating" some of the lines for fun in the process. But much still stands on merit
and I love the lines (set at Kempton Park racecourse)
"I lean on some awning while Lord Derby's yawning,
Then he bids two thousand and I bid good morning..."

Comment is about Poems by heart help develop 'cultural ear', says Heaney (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thu 28th Mar 2013 20:16

JC - is the following hope for the new Europe?
My great niece Carly from California had a
paternal grandfather who was a young 2nd Lieut.
with a US Armored(Yankee spelling!) Brigade and was wounded at St Loos France on June 9th
1944 (D-Day plus 3). Showing his spirit, she
set off on her own to teach in Albania (of all
places) when she was barely out of university.
She met and married an Albanian guy and they
now have two children - living initially in the
USA and now shortly due to live for a few years
in Albania to be near HIS family. Interesting
that it was HER actions that caused HIM to
go back with her to the US and eventually claim
citizenship after appropriate residence. A
good example of the old can-do "explorer"
blood crossing boundaries where the reverse
would probably barely have featured...even now...unless there was something (or someone) worth the journey perhaps. But usually, it's
money not love that is the big incentive for
many in what are still basically "tribal" lands with customs to match. This country
exercised colonialism but it was probably because it was ready to chance its arm when
others would not. In short, if it hadn't been
GB then that might have encouraged worse from
elsewhere - to leave worse behind upon eventual departure. All things end and it's the legacy that has to submit to the judgement
of posterity.

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thu 28th Mar 2013 19:17

It is exasperating to hear so many take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. We are where we are because of a historic trail which led us here. This includes the the contribution to our national psyche and heritage of two World Wars.
John O'Farrell (Labour candidate in the Eastleigh by-election) asks in "An Utterly Impartial History of Britain" if, on balance, British colonialism was a force for good or bad, and sides with Good - if only for the fact that it positioned Britain in the vanguard of Allies (along with the contribution of the Commonwealth and Colonies) fighting fascist Germany - what he describes as colonial Britain's finest hour.
If anyone should take for granted our democracy and underestimate its fragility they should look to the example of "civilised" Yugoslavia. Democracy is worth defending.

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

tony sheridan

Thu 28th Mar 2013 17:12

Hi Tracey!! Only just found your page. As Jeff said.........about time!! Will read your work soon. Looking forward to seeing you read at the cadence!! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Tracey Bucknell (poet profile)

Original item by Tracey Bucknell

Thu 28th Mar 2013 16:44

Don`t know how I missed this one - marvellous!

Comment is about In the End (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

Nigel Astell

Thu 28th Mar 2013 15:42

Put me down for five copies please John

Comment is about Stockport WoL Poetry Anthology (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Dave Bradley

Thu 28th Mar 2013 13:28

This wonderful poem has just been mentioned on a discussion thread about poems relating to childhood. I missed it first time round and am glad to have been re-directed to it. Winston says on the thread that it is one of the best he's ever seen posted on WOL, and I can but agree.

Comment is about In the End (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

Cathy

Thu 28th Mar 2013 11:42

Thanks Harry. A great moment when a rhyme came and prevented an argument escalating.

Comment is about The Last Word (blog)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

tony sheridan

Thu 28th Mar 2013 01:34

Love this! Nice one! See you later mate. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Almost from the beginning (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Martin Bailey

Wed 27th Mar 2013 21:24

Fortunately not anymore, since we now have gas fires. But being a Bolton lad I thought it sounded better than the predictable old London fog...

Comment is about The Down Time (blog)

Original item by Martin Bailey

Wed 27th Mar 2013 20:56

Harry - "the family of Man" is reflected in the
domestic version found across so many lands.
Is it really acceptable that those who would
readily castigate these small islands for past
colonialism now seek to introduce their own version of it by sheer weight of numbers - and
in a very short time span albeit that they have
their own countries in need of care and advancement? What have they been doing all this time that they are still so eager to come
here instead? I am confused and bemused at their choice, and deeply concerned about the
ramifications for future social well-being and national identity.
P.S. At my London GP's surgery on Monday, I
was asked my ethnic ID - and replied "English".
I later noted that it was shown as "White British"!
Cheers.

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

<Deleted User> (6315)

Wed 27th Mar 2013 20:41

I think you have caught the feeling well, especially like the way you set the scene..does Bolton have smog then?

Comment is about The Down Time (blog)

Original item by Martin Bailey

Ian Whiteley

Wed 27th Mar 2013 16:42

Harry
I'm grateful, as always, for your kind and supportive comments on 'forget me not' - thanks for taking the time to read it and comment - much appreciated
Ian

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Ian Whiteley

Wed 27th Mar 2013 16:37

Cathy
so pleased that you liked 'forget me not' - many thanks for your kind and supportive comments
cheers
Ian

Comment is about Cathy Crabb (poet profile)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

Wed 27th Mar 2013 16:05

Ian,
The second two stanzas afford plenty of
`free-range` mind room.

Thank goodness with `fair` clues.

Comment is about Forget Me Not (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Wed 27th Mar 2013 15:59

Neat apropos `nothing in particular` piece

Comment is about The Last Word (blog)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

Wed 27th Mar 2013 15:42

M.C.
Your poem `refers` to the European version of the world-wide movement of people from where the poverty is to where the jobs and the rewards are.

As this influx seems to be happening mainly in those prosperous lands with aging populations(who need the numbers for economic balance purposes) I sometimes wonder that if the pill, and other (forever cheapening) methods of birth control take significant hold in the `jobless lands` that we might suffer a universal dearth of any people...for economic reasons - or any other.

Sounds crazy, doesn`t it...but?...but?

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry