Singer Kelis 'racially abused' at by UK man at airport

R&B star Kelis has claimed she was racially abused by a UK man at an airport, and claimed "racial issues in the UK are disgusting."

The star was flying from London to Spain after performing at Bestival on the Isle of Wight.

She wrote on Twitter that she had been criticised by a "50-year-old man" after she jumped the queue while going through passport control.

She said the man had called her a "slave" and a "disgusting Nigerian".

Kelis said she was also called "Kunta Kinte" - a black character from Alex Haley's slavery novel Roots.

The 32-year-old singer continued: "I didn't say anything at the time of the riots in London for a lot of reasons.

"It's [the UK] racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug. People don't talk about it.

"People don't fight about it. Not mentioning a problem doesn't make it go away."

Officials from the Home Office say they won't be investigating the claims as they believe the abuser was a member of the public and they haven't received a complaint from her.

Best known for tracks like Milkshake and Acapella Kelis has had 10 top ten singles in the UK.

What absolute nonsense. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure she was feeling tired and emotional after both her flight, and the unpleasant incident in the airport - but her statements are completely ignorant. One bigoted man does not make the whole of the UK racially backward. London is one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and I very much doubt that the UK is any more racist than the US - in fact, I think the reverse is probably true. I'm inclined to think that this is yet another example of an American 'star' crying because they aren't treated like royalty at our airports, and are made to queue and go through security like the rest of the riff-raff. There are procedures. Follow them. Don't be surprised if people get annoyed when you don't.

Hmmm, sounds like her milkshakes gone a little sour!




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Edit: on the other hand its nice to see such a well read racist....not many ignorant bigots have read 'Roots'.....

The common delusion that the US has dealt with its race issues and stands as a shining example of tolerance and integration is a rather sad one; the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

It's odd that the man called her a "slave" and a "Nigerian", I don't see the connection at all there, and wasn't "Kunta Kinte" a bloke? He must have been as he was played by Levar Burton in the tv series.

In reality it would have been far more accurate and not at all racist to call her a "Rude American Cow" for pushing into the line.

And in addition, does anyone else find Americans who complain about the strictness of passport control in the UK slightly odd when the likely reaction to a Brit calling their own immigration control a bit draconian would probably get the old "we got the right to protect our damn borders!" response?

Carmine the Wolf wrote:The common delusion that the US has dealt with its race issues and stands as a shining example of tolerance and integration is a rather sad one; the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

It's odd that the man called her a "slave" and a "Nigerian", I don't see the connection at all there, and wasn't "Kunta Kinte" a bloke? He must have been as he was played by Levar Burton in the tv series.

In reality it would have been far more accurate and not at all racist to call her a "Rude American Cow" for pushing into the line.

And in addition, does anyone else find Americans who complain about the strictness of passport control in the UK slightly odd when the likely reaction to a Brit calling their own immigration control a bit draconian would probably get the old "we got the right to protect our damn borders!" response?

+1. Your right about Kinte, he was a bloke.

I'm betting he probably just called her a ****, not Kunta Kinte....

I just sprayed coffee on the screen...you have to be right.

Going on the handful of londoners I've met over the years, and the apparent love they have for that word, yeah, that wouldn't surprise me. Throw in a cockney accent, and I doubt she could make out half of what he was saying.

Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

I just think that it's rich for a spoilt US star to make a gross generalisation about the UK population being racist.

Mostly likely calling her a ****. Also SHE skipped the que. She clearly thinks she's better than him which is a type of arrogance and/or racism (the brits are inferior as they are racist?)

Also I must add as a foreigner in the UK I don't feel at all 'racisit-ed' by anyone

I'm not making excuses for the racist guy, but she did queue jump. That's a big no-no over here that will draw gasps of outrage.

"Kelis said she was also called "Kunta Kinte" - a black character from Alex Haley's slavery novel Roots."

That's a very well-read racist. LOL!

Skarwael wrote:I'm not making excuses for the racist guy, but she did queue jump. That's a big no-no over here that will draw gasps of outrage.

Why would a US passport holder be in the British and EU passport holder queue anyway?

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:

Going on the handful of londoners I've met over the years, and the apparent love they have for that word, yeah, that wouldn't surprise me. Throw in a cockney accent, and I doubt she could make out half of what he was saying.

Doesn't let him off from being a racist muppet mind, just doubtful someone like that has read or looked up roots.

Now I's darn't mine Kelis gettin' all indignant abowt ah Brit gettin a bit lairy, but darn't drag Lanndonas inner this.

We ave feelins too! er... you cant!

Why would a US passport holder be in the British and EU passport holder queue anyway?

Quite.

He probably picked up on her accent and said, "WTF are you doin' in this rabbit stew ya stoopid Emmanuel Kant?! Can't ya read?

The few African (Algeria and the Congo) people I know haven't had nice things to say about their treatment in European customs so this doesn't surprise me. Of course she also over reacted in a very American way as well, which isn't surprising either. So really it is a "dog bites man" story.

I don't care what you do in other countries, but in this country, you queue. You queue like your life depends on it.

I also love that the HO aren't investigating anything because it was a member of the public who said it, and she didn't make a formal complaint.

If she can't be bothered to queue or go through complaints proceedures like the rest of us, I can't be bothered to care about her life-threatening ordeal.

EDIT:ed for filbert.

1 Brit is racist, so the whole of Britain must be. Stupid bitch.

Sexist Brit!





I keed...I keed!

I have to say I'm surprised you guys are getting your panties in a bunch over something (and someone) so inconsequential.

I don't know that we're getting our knickers in a twist about it. We're just discussing it. On a forum. That's what forums are for, here in Britain.

OK, granted, most British forums are dedicated to discussing how awful 'darkies' and 'coloureds' are, but still....


...y'know?

Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.
But then some of your compatriots always react to a such slights with dignity and restraint.

The above reactions, far from knickers getting twisted, have taken the form of irony and peepee taking. Which doesn't surprise me.

Albatross wrote:I don't know that we're getting our knickers in a twist about it. We're just discussing it. On a forum. That's what forums are for, here in Britain.

OK, granted, most British forums are dedicated to discussing how awful 'darkies' and 'coloureds' are, but still....


...y'know?

Have you read any of the other posts in the thread? Someone referred to her as a stupid bitch. That isn't exactly high minded. It really isn't a discussion so much as a lot of whining and monocles popping off simultaneously followed by some harumphing over something two stupid people said/did. Some are joking but others, not so much. I just never realized how sensitive you were toward your que lines. The complaining about generalizations and then making generalizations is fairly funny as well.

It's queue, by the way...


/pedantry

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.

While I haven't had much experience with racism in MOE, I'm sure that it's a lot like everywhere else. The States aren't that racist, despite repeated portrayals of the Tea Party as a resurgence of the KKK.

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

filbert wrote:It's queue, by the way...


/pedantry

I've only been up for 3 hours and my day has already gone down the crapper, so i'm slightly less bothered about spelling than I usually am.

It's OK - I get a nervous tick when I see queue spelled wrong and I have an overwhelming urge to correct that won't be satiated until I do.

Carry on.

Have no experience of racism either.
But I can assure you that while not perfect, race relations are a lot better than they were. To suggest that we are decades behind, somehow like it stll like it used to be iin the 60's in America, is very ill informed.

We have only had one side of the story and no idea what really went off.
TBH am sure it is possible that she had the great misfortune to chance on an obnoxious racist oaf. They sadly exist here, as am sure you do in the USA.
Judging an entire nation as racist based on the experience is not clever.

How come you guys haven't had a woman prezz?

biccat wrote:

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

We're still getting over the female ones.

reds8n wrote:

biccat wrote:

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

We're still getting over the female ones.

It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:How come you guys haven't had a woman prezz?

We're working on it. Unfortunately, the pickings have been quite slim recently.

biccat wrote:
It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

.... you seen her offspring ...?

reds8n wrote:

biccat wrote:
It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

.... you seen her offspring ...?

...good point.

So is she waiting for the ass to expire so that the Crown can pass to someone moderately more competent?

This still doesn't explain the lack of blacks in the line.

Although I'll note that the Brits English were a lot more "progressive" and had a Catholic head of state well before the U.S.

For the record please note we've had the genuinely insane as well.

....oh...

And, of course, by virtue of many of them being transdimensional shapeshifting lizards we've been terribly inclusive for a good while.

Or something.

Although I'll note that the Brits English were a lot more "progressive" and had a Catholic head of state well before the U.S.

We also cut the actual heads off of heads of state as well

Current wisdom would suggest that when Elizabeth passes on our new Monarch will be decided via the medium of a new TV quiz show devised by Simon Cowell and, inevitably, hosted by Ant and Dec. Which will of course involve viewers phoning in.

Personally I can't wait to be ruled by a terrifying triumvirate of Jordan, The Simpsons and that bit in "Only Fools and Horses" where Del boy goes to lean on the bar, only it's been moved and he falls over instead.

HOORAY FOR DEMOCRACY !

biccat wrote:

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:How come you guys haven't had a woman prezz?

We're working on it. Unfortunately, the pickings have been quite slim recently.

Well, that's quite superficial, now isn't it? Weight shouldn't have anything to do with their electability.

Ahtman wrote:

Albatross wrote:I don't know that we're getting our knickers in a twist about it. We're just discussing it. On a forum. That's what forums are for, here in Britain.

OK, granted, most British forums are dedicated to discussing how awful 'darkies' and 'coloureds' are, but still....


...y'know?

Have you read any of the other posts in the thread? Someone referred to her as a stupid bitch. That isn't exactly high minded. It really isn't a discussion so much as a lot of whining and monocles popping off simultaneously followed by some harumphing over something two stupid people said/did.

Yeah, I mean, it's not even in the same league of seriousness as 'if you love me, pass the bill', right?

A (semi) public figure insults one's country and you don't think that's worthy of comment, and that some of that comment may be negative? Here's a fun exercise - let's pretend that a z-list British celebrity said something extremely insulting about the US, and it made the US news. How do you think THAT would go down, on a scale of 'meh' to 'death threats'?

Some are joking but others, not so much. I just never realized how sensitive you were toward your que lines.

See? Damn foreigners. Can't even SPELL the word!

It's seen as an act of extreme discourtesy to jump a queue here. People have been killed over it. Queueing is the only fair way to determine sequence when you have a group of people waiting for something, unless there is an explicit exception made - the first person there is first in the queue, the second is next and so on. It's not a hard concept to grasp, and to jump a queue is seen as extremely arrogant - most British reactions would be along the lines of 'fething moron, who does he/she think she is?'

This would also be my reaction.

@ Rubiksnoob - To be fair your last effort was pretty hawt, crazy but hawt!

The last attempt here for a woman PM was Diane Abbott, nice lady "big" personality.

Albatross wrote:
It's seen as an act of extreme discourtesy to jump a queue here. People have been killed over it. Queueing is the only fair way to determine sequence when you have a group of people waiting for something, unless there is an explicit exception made - the first person there is first in the queue, the second is next and so on. It's not a hard concept to grasp, and to jump a queue is seen as extremely arrogant - most British reactions would be along the lines of 'fething moron, who does he/she think she is?'

This would also be my reaction.

It. . . it's just a line. . .

biccat wrote:

reds8n wrote:

biccat wrote:

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

We're still getting over the female ones.

It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

She's German. They are built to last.

Also, Diane Abbot was Black, meaning she ticked 2 of the 3 boxes for being Labour's ideal candidate, the 3rd box being 'having a clue what you're talking about', which sadly, was left blank in her case!


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rubiksnoob wrote:

Albatross wrote:
It's seen as an act of extreme discourtesy to jump a queue here. People have been killed over it. Queueing is the only fair way to determine sequence when you have a group of people waiting for something, unless there is an explicit exception made - the first person there is first in the queue, the second is next and so on. It's not a hard concept to grasp, and to jump a queue is seen as extremely arrogant - most British reactions would be along the lines of 'fething moron, who does he/she think she is?'

This would also be my reaction.

It. . . it's just a line. . .

Cool, no problem. Try to cut in front of me. Go on.


Try it.

reds8n wrote:

biccat wrote:
It's been 50+ years, isn't it time for a new one?

.... you seen her offspring ...?

I'd also note although not the head of State, our PM is closer to the Prez, due to it being an elected position.

We had a women in there as well.

Albatross wrote:Also, Diane Abbot was Black, meaning she ticked 2 of the 3 boxes for being Labour's ideal candidate, the 3rd box being 'having a clue what you're talking about', which sadly, was left blank in her case!

Alb you're not suppose to say things like that in UK PLC, no wonder the world considers us racists!

Right, everyone report to your nearest community centre for Awareness and Sensitivity brain-was....er I mean training ASAP. And for gods sakes queue properly!

notprop wrote:@ Rubiksnoob - To be fair your last effort was pretty hawt, crazy but hawt!

Crazy? Yes. Hawt? No.

Unless you're talking about VP, then switch those.

Can't we all agree that every country has at least one racist in it?

notprop wrote:

Albatross wrote:Also, Diane Abbot was Black, meaning she ticked 2 of the 3 boxes for being Labour's ideal candidate, the 3rd box being 'having a clue what you're talking about', which sadly, was left blank in her case!

Alb you're not suppose to say things like that in UK PLC, no wonder the world considers us racists!

Sorry for the late reply - I was out posting poo through the letterboxes of Asian families. Is it racist to make a joke about the Labour party's near-psychotic devotion to 'diversity'?

Wait..... she thought London was racist. Lol, wait until she gets to Spain!

halonachos wrote:Can't we all agree that every country has at least one racist in it?

Apart from Scotland. They have loads!

Reminds me of a Frankie Boyle joke: "Nobody thought Mel Gibson could play a Scot - now look at him: An Alcoholic racist."




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Baragash wrote:Wait..... she thought London was racist. Lol, wait until she gets to Spain!

Ha, yeah. Their tobacconists have a fine selection of racially-insensitive figurines...

Baragash wrote:Wait..... she thought London was racist. Lol, wait until she gets to Spain!

This just helps the argument that Europeans are racist against blacks and Africans.

Albatross wrote:Apart from Scotland. They have loads!

That still means they have at least one, geeze coming from a country where they don't like the phrase "I could care less".

I will just point out to our American cousins, that everything you might have read about EU harmony is utter rollocks.

In general we all hate eachother for wars and conflicts that happened over the past six-eight hundred years. The hatred is strong in Europe.

I may or may not be joking there.

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:I will just point out to our American cousins, that everything you might have read about EU harmony is utter rollocks.

In general we all hate eachother for wars and conflicts that happened over the past six-eight hundred years. The hatred is strong in Europe.

I may or may not be joking there.

You guys should be more like us the US, we all live in harmony and are completely homogenous. We have had no wars to divide our people and there is no strong hatred of a group by another over here.

In all seriousness, I think of Europeans and their hatred towards each other and find it similar to the hatred some areas in America have against other areas of America. Although we Americans had the common decensy to hate each other in the same language.

Scotland isn't that racist.

It's only when we are drunk, plus we all have a black mate.

This one time we all pulled this really hot asain bird.

So there is no way we could be racist.




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Can't get her location correct.

Silly Moo.

http://www.nme.com/news/kelis/59248

So it was probably one of those 'Go to Spain, eat English food constantly' types.

Kilkrazy wrote:

Skarwael wrote:I'm not making excuses for the racist guy, but she did queue jump. That's a big no-no over here that will draw gasps of outrage.

Why would a US passport holder be in the British and EU passport holder queue anyway?

I don't know. I have idea of the workings of airports. The last time I went to one I was... 8. I have no interest in going to these scary foreign places.

biccat wrote:

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.

While I haven't had much experience with racism in MOE, I'm sure that it's a lot like everywhere else. The States aren't that racist, despite repeated portrayals of the Tea Party as a resurgence of the KKK.

If the UK is so progressive...why haven't you guys had a non-white Head of State?

Right, the Tea Party isn't racist, they just use racial epithets to attack Obama in specific, it's not indicative of an underlying racism at all.

Melissia wrote:Right, the Tea Party isn't racist, they just use racial epithets to attack Obama in specific, it's not indicative of an underlying racism at all.

People are going to call the tea party racist regardless of whether they are or not. With the exception of a few outliers (and it's incredibly dishonest to judge a group on a few outliers), they are not.


*edited for those who don't have images enabled to see the point made much more clearly in the above picture, which in this case is worth about 38 words.

Thank you for adding substantive text to this post. As a general reminder, posts that include only pictures are spam as are any posts that are otherwise non-substantive as per a moderator's judgment.

Thanks,

Manchu

Please do not spam the forum with images. Thanks!

We have had no wars to divide our people and there is no strong hatred of a group by another over here.

1861? Native Americans?

The UK may bend over for a lot of things, but never jump a Q and don't you forget it, you damn colonials!

Watching the London riots on the news, I got a laugh seeing looters queued up outside of smashed storefront windows. Etiquette is important to the Brits, even when they're destroying their own city and robbing their neighbors.

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

We have had no wars to divide our people and there is no strong hatred of a group by another over here.

1861? Native Americans?

The UK may bend over for a lot of things, but never jump a Q and don't you forget it, you damn colonials!

You know that the laughing ork emoticon at the end means it was a joke right?

whigwam wrote:Watching the London riots on the news, I got a laugh seeing looters queued up outside of smashed storefront windows. Etiquette is important to the Brits, even when they're destroying their own city and robbing their neighbors.

It's the way people are built.
Civilisation might be going to hell and law and order might have broken down but we'll be damned if we don't form an orderly queue to whatever hell we are going to.

@halonachos
My apologies. Hangover, nuff said!

A lone briton will form a queue of one while waiting for a bus, and the correct collective noun for a group of britons is "queue". It's disconcerting after the traditional goodnatured scrum that is Dubliners boarding a bus (letting old people on first, of course.)

Anyway as reported earlier the incident took place in Spain.

The office of the Mayor of London has requested people like Kelis to check which country they are in before they start slagging off London.

I'm just trying to remember when America abolished slavery and allowed people to all drink out of the same water fountains...

SilverMK2 wrote:I'm just trying to remember when America abolished slavery and allowed people to all drink out of the same water fountains...

Really? Is that the road you really want to head down?

She now reports that it was in fact a British man in Spain that made the comment, not at a London airport.

I don't care about this woman, but frankly, if someone pushes in a queue, then I'm all for abusing them.

Im pretty immature, and I call people names, so I've never really understood why racial abuse is that big a deal either frankly.. I mean, Id rather be called a "white/black xxxx" than a "ginger" or a"big nosed" or "fatty" or "jug eared" or "your wife looks like she drinks under the dartboard" or whatever.

As always, I think its all a storm in a teacup. PC dogma dictates we care about racial abuse, but I dont, and I havent done since a black bloke called me a little white gak when I was being a belligerant teenager and I wasnt even remotely concerned.

Oh and then I threw a sandwich at him, but i entirely deserved the abuse, be it racial or otherwise!

Da Boss wrote:A lone briton will form a queue of one while waiting for a bus, and the correct collective noun for a group of britons is "queue". It's disconcerting after the traditional goodnatured scrum that is Dubliners boarding a bus (letting old people on first, of course.)

They really don't form orderly queues in Wales. Everyone shoves, which is annoying as hell when I can barely stand.

Of course, once I got to Scotland I actually found everyone, whilst incomprehensible, to be most courteous. In England they're both courteous and understandable. Except Yorkshire. And Suffolk.

Tragic waste of a sandwich, Matty.

If she thought that was bad, she should stay far away from Japan. Very very far away.

Or Mexico. "I fethed your mother!" is a common insult there.

DickBandit wrote:If she thought that was bad, she should stay far away from Japan. Very very far away.

Nah, in my experience, the Japanese are super-ultra polite... to your face, anyway, even if you're rude as gak. It's almost like they're thinking "I'll show these fething stupid gaijin, I'll humiliate them by remaining extremely polite no matter how stupid they get". Of course, once you're out of earshot I'm sure they have some pretty great epithets to spew.


EDIT: Err, not that I was rude to anyone, but the school I went to was full of other foreigners, so I saw some stuff.

Funny, I hear the exact opposite about Japan especially in regards to foreign females. There's still a lot of racism against blacks over in South Korea, it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was the same way.

For example, while stationed in Korea, my dad and a black friend of his (this guy is pretty much the textbook definition of oreo) go shopping in Itaewon. They walk into one the little shops and the proprietor rushes up and says to my dad, "Oh, you buy suit?" and then looks at my dad's friend and goes "Ooh, and you buy Fubu?"


On topic: The United Kingdom isn't as harmonious as they'd like us yanks to believe. And Europe should be notorious for having a long history of white nationalists beating up on each other cause they weren't born in the right place. German, Austrian, Norwegian, who gives a feth?

Carmine the Wolf wrote:The common delusion that the US has dealt with its race issues and stands as a shining example of tolerance and integration is a rather sad one; the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

I'm sorry, which nation has elected a black leader? Thats what I thought. The US is by no means a shining example of tolerance and integration, but thats pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.

Amaya wrote:Funny, I hear the exact opposite about Japan especially in regards to foreign females. There's still a lot of racism against blacks over in South Korea, it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was the same way.

For example, while stationed in Korea, my dad and a black friend of his (this guy is pretty much the textbook definition of oreo) go shopping in Itaewon. They walk into one the little shops and the proprietor rushes up and says to my dad, "Oh, you buy suit?" and then looks at my dad's friend and goes "Ooh, and you buy Fubu?"


On topic: The United Kingdom isn't as harmonious as they'd like us yanks to believe. And Europe should be notorious for having a long history of white nationalists beating up on each other cause they weren't born in the right place. German, Austrian, Norwegian, who gives a feth?

Well, that's me being cynical. Every Japanese person I met was very polite. I know for sure there are Japanese who don't like foreigners, but they're certainly not as vocal or prominent as the Klan or that right-wing British party that hates foreigners. I don't remember what they're called.

chaos0xomega wrote:
I'm sorry, which nation has elected a black leader? Thats what I thought. The US is by no means a shining example of tolerance and integration, but thats pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.

Would that be the same nation where some citizens immediately tried to arrange to have their 'leader' killed?

J.Black wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:
I'm sorry, which nation has elected a black leader? Thats what I thought. The US is by no means a shining example of tolerance and integration, but thats pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.

Would that be the same nation where some citizens immediately tried to arrange to have their 'leader' killed?

Ah yes, fringe nutcases are certainly a good way to formulate your opinion of an entire nation.

Amaya wrote:

J.Black wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:
I'm sorry, which nation has elected a black leader? Thats what I thought. The US is by no means a shining example of tolerance and integration, but thats pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.

Would that be the same nation where some citizens immediately tried to arrange to have their 'leader' killed?

Ah yes, fringe nutcases are certainly a good way to formulate your opinion of an entire nation.

Of course. That's why I immediately assume all Brits are members of the BNP, or, even better, the British First Party (if I'm not mistaken, also known as the November 9th Society), and are exactly like that Chancellor fellow from V for Vendetta.

England Prevails!






In any event, on topic, who the hell cares what Kelis thinks of anything?

Amaya wrote:

Ah yes, fringe nutcases are certainly a good way to formulate your opinion of an entire nation.

Which leads neatly back to the OP

The circle is complete; I'm off to bed.

And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

J.Black wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:
I'm sorry, which nation has elected a black leader? Thats what I thought. The US is by no means a shining example of tolerance and integration, but thats pretty much the pot calling the kettle black.

Would that be the same nation where some citizens immediately tried to arrange to have their 'leader' killed?

An extreme minority of people start formulating that as soon as any new President is elected. The news just made a bigger deal of it initially because of the race angle.

The UK doesn't lack in bigots any more than the US and neither is better or worse than the other. At worst it seems the US is more open about as I see more denial coming from across the pond about race relations.

The BNP alone is a testament to how much more progressive you are.

Cheesecat wrote:

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

Limey's are really touchy about being racist, eh?

How'd that Irish thing work out?

Amaya wrote:How'd that Irish thing work out?

Quite well once Americans stopped funding the terrorists who were blowing up soldiers and civilians alike. Thanks for asking. Though at least it prepared us for how to actually deal with terrorists when we encountered them

As for earlier comments about how many "non-white" people hold office here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/black-minority-ethnic-mps-2010

"Minorities" and women are an increasingly large segment at our top levels of government, and are actively encouraged into politics (except perhaps in the BNP ).

RatBot wrote:

Amaya wrote:Funny, I hear the exact opposite about Japan especially in regards to foreign females. There's still a lot of racism against blacks over in South Korea, it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was the same way.

For example, while stationed in Korea, my dad and a black friend of his (this guy is pretty much the textbook definition of oreo) go shopping in Itaewon. They walk into one the little shops and the proprietor rushes up and says to my dad, "Oh, you buy suit?" and then looks at my dad's friend and goes "Ooh, and you buy Fubu?"


On topic: The United Kingdom isn't as harmonious as they'd like us yanks to believe. And Europe should be notorious for having a long history of white nationalists beating up on each other cause they weren't born in the right place. German, Austrian, Norwegian, who gives a feth?

Well, that's me being cynical. Every Japanese person I met was very polite. I know for sure there are Japanese who don't like foreigners, but they're certainly not as vocal or prominent as the Klan or that right-wing British party that hates foreigners. I don't remember what they're called.

Japanese right-wingers being unobtrusive in their condemnation of foreigners.

I'm guessing since the top part is in Korean, it is probably not saying something nice about Korean people.

Kilkrazy wrote:

RatBot wrote:

Amaya wrote:Funny, I hear the exact opposite about Japan especially in regards to foreign females. There's still a lot of racism against blacks over in South Korea, it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was the same way.

For example, while stationed in Korea, my dad and a black friend of his (this guy is pretty much the textbook definition of oreo) go shopping in Itaewon. They walk into one the little shops and the proprietor rushes up and says to my dad, "Oh, you buy suit?" and then looks at my dad's friend and goes "Ooh, and you buy Fubu?"


On topic: The United Kingdom isn't as harmonious as they'd like us yanks to believe. And Europe should be notorious for having a long history of white nationalists beating up on each other cause they weren't born in the right place. German, Austrian, Norwegian, who gives a feth?

Well, that's me being cynical. Every Japanese person I met was very polite. I know for sure there are Japanese who don't like foreigners, but they're certainly not as vocal or prominent as the Klan or that right-wing British party that hates foreigners. I don't remember what they're called.

Japanese right-wingers being unobtrusive in their condemnation of foreigners.

You know, I was about to say I never saw anything like that (though I'm not denying it exists, certainly), but then I remembered seeing a car in Osaka flying the Imperial Sunburst flag, and when it drove by people on the sidewalk got uncomfortable, including the Japanese person I was with. The people in the car were talking through a loudspeaker, and my guide seemed hesitant to translate what they were saying.

Forgot about that until now.

Really, every place has it's share of right-wing crazies. And left wing crazies, for that matter. I fully admit to being rather ignorant about Japanese politics.
Making a generalization, though, most Japanese people seem a lot less confrontational than Westerners, IE, cutting in line would've caused a bit of grumbling, I think, but I think it unlikely it would've resulted in the kind of vitriol Kelis encountered in Spain. In the end, some third-rate singer got chewed out by a grouchy old racist. I don't see this as newsworthy.

Amaya wrote:

Cheesecat wrote:

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

Limey's are really touchy about being racist, eh?

How'd that Irish thing work out?

What Irish thing?

Britain had a woman PM over 30 years ago, abolished slavery over 50 years earlier than the states, and don't have numerous senators that say insanely bigoted gak (check the American taliban website out) but Obama won an election 2 years ago and now the US is a shining becon of tolerance and equality.?

It's funny as well considering half the country has been proper moaning about it, and its painfully obvious to the rest of the world that shed loads of the criticism directed towards him is quite clearly overt racism. Sure the right wingers say "Oh no its..er.. because I don't like his policy" but its because they don't want no black man in charge.

Limeys aren't more touchy than anybody else about being racist, most humans are pretty much identical regardless of nation. No, we really really hate (Just like everyone) rank hypocrisy.

And when some American bloke tries to mock the entire country despite the fact that they have the identical issue in their own, we find it comically ridiculous, and so should you.

Might I also say that the UK vs US thing is ridiculously childish, and I am somewhat concerned as to why grown men engage on a cock wiggling contest here on dakka so regularly about "which country is betta" when frankly there isnt really much of a difference at all between any first world country, and Im even including Scotland on that list. I lived in the states and the only real difference was the meals were bigger, the weather was nicer, the beer was dearer and the traffic was worse.

Am now confused as to why Kelis was in the Spanish and EU passport holder queue rather than the Other Countries queue.

Perhaps it was one of those little airports where there is only one queue.

Kilkrazy wrote:Am now confused as to why Kelis was in the Spanish and EU passport holder queue rather than the Other Countries queue.

Maybe she just wanted to annoy the English people who were all settled in for a damn good queue (the best part of any holiday).

Also to Matty above

Though it is fun to poke other countries and have your own poked sometimes

If you can poke a country you are a bigger man than I.

I'll poke your country.



Wait, what?

Kilkrazy wrote:Am now confused as to why Kelis was in the Spanish and EU passport holder queue rather than the Other Countries queue.

Perhaps it was one of those little airports where there is only one queue.

An airport without at least 10 queue's is just a strip of dirt

All those queues at airports.

No wonder Brits like to travel by air.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:If you can poke a country you are a bigger man than I.

Tell me about it, I have half of Wales on one of my toes...

RatBot wrote:I'll poke your country.



Wait, what?

Hey, England doesn't poke on the first date you know! Unless you are the American version of Hugh Grant or Colin Firth or something...

Tell me about it, I have half of Wales on one of my toes...

I thought it was the other half of York that was into toe sucking, not Wales

Actually which half of Wales are you on about?
Charles or Camilla?

Either way you have quite put me off my veggie suasages for brekkers!

So here's a thought:

Kelis encounters racist British man.

Kelis makes generalization about all of Britain based off of that (and the riots that I imagine she doesn't actually know anything about).

Isn't that.............................



wait for it......

racist?

Oh, irony.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Either way you have quite put me off my veggie suasages for brekkers!

You mean you were not disgusted by the thought of eating them in the first place?




And it's OK RatBot; "British" is not a race, so it can't be racist.

Well, fine, bigoted in much the same way that racists are.

If we ain't a race, how is it we always end up coming last!?

[Insert joke about British cars here]


Automatically Appended Next Post:
All right, it's late and I've posted enough nonsense on dakka for one day.

RatBot wrote:[Insert joke about British cars here]

You mean they can go round corners?

A Mini and a Morris Minor walk into a pub
Mini says to the Moggie, "Your round."


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Did you hear about the magic Morris Marina?
Turned into a garage.

rubiksnoob wrote:It. . . it's just a line. . .

It is the representation of the British way. Destroy the line and all hell will break loose. It's not just a line, it is the spine of Britannia!



*salutes*


Rule Britannia, Marmalade and Jam
Ten chineese crackers up your *ss
Bam! bam! bam! bam! bam!

If it is British then it should be arse not ass
Only three crackers went off, so they must have been made in Blighty not China
Finally a good British bottom needs no rocket assistance to go Bam! Bam! Bam!
(Note: Have said three bams as it scans better imho)
hth

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Carmine the Wolf wrote:
I just sprayed coffee on the screen...you have to be right.

Excellent, I got to try out the Exalt this post function at last.

Amaya wrote:

Cheesecat wrote:

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

Limey's are really touchy about being racist, eh?

How'd that Irish thing work out?

Surprisingly well, actually. How'd that Muslim thing work out for you?



And yes, we are touchy about being called a nation of racists. That sort of thing isn't just thrown around here - it's a big deal to be labeled as the sort of person who hates others because of their skin-colour, here in Britain. It's a disgusting thing to be, and a disgusting thing to call someone.

If someone called me a racist to my face, they'd be gaking teeth for a week. I'm guessing most of the Brits here would feel the same.

Insult me because of my ethnic origin, you won't get the time of day.

Fail to queue in a polite and orderly fashion, and I WILL CRUUUUUUSH YOU!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzqeud7ov6M&feature=share

Albatross wrote:

Amaya wrote:

Cheesecat wrote:

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

Limey's are really touchy about being racist, eh?

How'd that Irish thing work out?

Surprisingly well, actually. How'd that Muslim thing work out for you?



And yes, we are touchy about being called a nation of racists. That sort of thing isn't just thrown around here - it's a big deal to be labeled as the sort of person who hates others because of their skin-colour, here in Britain. It's a disgusting thing to be, and a disgusting thing to call someone.

If someone called me a racist to my face, they'd be gaking teeth for a week. I'm guessing most of the Brits here would feel the same.

Someone has a serious case of ITGS.

I heard the Londinstan riots were pretty fun.

I wanted to punch someone today for cutting in front of me in a queue today. that sort of sums up opinion.

Amaya wrote:

Albatross wrote:

Amaya wrote:

Cheesecat wrote:

Amaya wrote:And that has what to do with the fact the UK isn't a shining example of racial harmony?

How many non whites hold any form of political office there?

That statement probably is equally as ignorant as Kelis's.

Limey's are really touchy about being racist, eh?

How'd that Irish thing work out?

Surprisingly well, actually. How'd that Muslim thing work out for you?



And yes, we are touchy about being called a nation of racists. That sort of thing isn't just thrown around here - it's a big deal to be labeled as the sort of person who hates others because of their skin-colour, here in Britain. It's a disgusting thing to be, and a disgusting thing to call someone.

If someone called me a racist to my face, they'd be gaking teeth for a week. I'm guessing most of the Brits here would feel the same.

Someone has a serious case of ITGS.

I heard the Londinstan riots were pretty fun.

Not as fun as the LA riots, by all accounts. Oh, and the correct way to spell that racist name for London would be 'Londonistan', by the way. At least be a literate bigot.

Fair enough?

Racism is rampant in Britain

http://www.infowars.com/3-year-olds-branded-racist-homophobic-put-in-government-database/

Seeeeee?

Albatross wrote: One bigoted man does not make the whole of the UK racially backward. London is one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and I very much doubt that the UK is any more racist than the US - in fact, I think the reverse is probably true. I'm inclined to think that this is yet another example of an American 'star' crying because they aren't treated like royalty at our airports, and are made to queue and go through security like the rest of the riff-raff. There are procedures. Follow them. Don't be surprised if people get annoyed when you don't.

She isn't a star.

She is at 14:59 of her 15 minutes of fame...

And let's not pretend America has the monopoly on ignorant/annoying "stars": I offer Liam gallagher as evidence.

I think "gakker" is the word you brits like to use?

Albatross wrote:How'd that Muslim thing work out for you?

About as well as it is for you. At least according to the Muslims living there. The 'paki's aren't all keen on that term, but I hear it still fairly often. You also seem to have a Gypsy problem as well. The LA riots were almost 2 decades ago, yours were a few months ago. Depending on how far into the past we want to take this (considering the Jim Crowe era was brought up) I'm not really sure England can really take a stance of moral superiority when it comes to oppressing others. On top of that, most of the groundwork for the racist institutions in the US were laid by England.

People keep mentioning the KKK but they are politically marginalized and have no place in government whereas your BNP actually holds seats in national parliament.

We at least work on our issues in the public sphere instead of pretending we have no problems. It seems like you think if you ignore your own problems and just insult the US that will eventually mean you actually have no problems. Yeah, we have problems and we deal with them and it takes time. We aren't just pointing at other countries and saying at least we aren't. Maybe instead of shoving your head in the sand and yelling "THE USA IS WORSE THE USA IS WORSE" you might make more headway. Another reason you might hear more about US issues is becuase there are more of us so we make more noise. The African-American population alone is just slightly smaller than your entire population in England.

Or how about this. If your so fething enlightened you might not have let a stupid man and a stupid woman turn an incidence of stupidity into an excuse for you start insulting your friends and ignoring your own faults. I thought better of you Alby, I really did.

Has anyone considered the possibility that Kelis's statement was challenged in terms of veracity as well as factuality?

Ahtman wrote:

Albatross wrote:How'd that Muslim thing work out for you?

About as well as it is for you. At least according to the Muslims living there. The 'paki's aren't all keen on that term, but I hear it still fairly often.

...from all of the British Muslims? That you know personally? All of them? Yes, I'm not going to pretend that there aren't problems concerning the Muslim community here in the UK, but you aren't seriously going to compare the social problems we have here with the massive Islamic hysteria you folks have, are you? '9/11 Victory Mosque', anyone? Koran burnings? 'The President is a secret Muslim? Guantanamo fething Bay!? I mean, yes, we have our problems, but we're not interring and torturing Muslims without even so much as a trial, are we? At least, not to the same degree the US is, if at all. Not to mention the fact that the single largest terror attack on record took place on US soil. The point is, don't throw stones if you live in a massive glass house.

The LA riots were almost 2 decades ago, yours were a few months ago.

...and were nothing to do with race. Unlike the LA riots.

Depending on how far into the past we want to take this (considering the Jim Crowe era was brought up) I'm not really sure England can really take a stance of moral superiority when it comes to oppressing others.

No-one's talking about moral superiority here apart from you. Big shock. I was responding to very specific jab from an American poster about the situation in 'Ireland' (by which I can only assume he means Northern Ireland), one which has parallels (or potential comparisons) with America's struggle against militant Islam. Northern Ireland is at peace, for the most part. The war on terror is ongoing, with no signs of peace on the horizon, so I'll ask again: How is that Muslim thing working out for you?

People keep mentioning the KKK but they are politically marginalized and have no place in government whereas your BNP actually holds seats in national parliament.

No it doesn't, but nice try. They hold local council seats (many of which they lost in the last election).

We at least work on our issues in the public sphere instead of pretending we have no problems. It seems like you think if you ignore your own problems and just insult the US that will eventually mean you actually have no problems. Yeah, we have problems and we deal with them and it takes time. We aren't just pointing at other countries and saying at least we aren't. Maybe instead of shoving your head in the sand and yelling "THE USA IS WORSE THE USA IS WORSE" you might make more headway. Another reason you might hear more about US issues is becuase there are more of us so we make more noise. The African-American population alone is just slightly smaller than your entire population in England.

You sound mad. You mad? Where did I insult the USA? And to say that we don't deal with race issues in the UK is hilariously ill-informed. PC is, in many cases, law here, whereas many (but by no means all, or most) Americans bleat about their 'constitutional right' to be a a petty bigot.

Or how about this. If your so fething enlightened you might not have let a stupid man and a stupid woman turn an incidence of stupidity into an excuse for you start insulting your friends and ignoring your own faults. I thought better of you Alby, I really did.

Yeah, definitely mad. Relax bro, you'll live longer. Chant your mantra or something. Again, where did I 'insult my friends'?

Edited for blatant rule #1 violation - MT11

Ahtman wrote:

My bad, it is the European Parliament you sent two members of the BNP to and they are still there, which is still two more elected than the KKK.

We don't send anyone we take seriously to Europe. I mean, come on. Baroness Ashwho?

Ahtman wrote:You're being a hypocrite, ignorant of both the history of this thread and the history of your own countries bigotry and racism, as well as it's current manifestations, and I find that very sad and angering. So yeah I'm mad you seem to want to act like the UK has done no wrong and insult the US at the same time. You turned some idot Brit making generalizations that turned an idiot American into making generalizations turn you (and others) into idiots making generalizations.

And if you would read your own thread you would realize the Irish remark was in response to one of your countrymen for firing the first shot. I even specifically stated that we should avoid turning this into a US vs UK thread. Once you start going down that road though I am not going to let you pretend that the US is some big mean, evil monster that hates all minorities while acting like the Uk is some racist free zone where everything is just fine. I tried to bring reason to this but you donkey-caves wanted to be insulting, and if you can't see how it is insulting your are being even dumber than I thought.

My bad, it is the European Parliament you sent two members of the BNP to and they are still there, which is still two more elected than the KKK.

So yeah, I mad, but that is becuase the stupidity of this is maddening.

I've said to much. Go ahead and make your snide comments about the USA and ignore that by doing so you are also insulting the posters on here who are from the USA, some of who may have thought better of you.

I wash my hands of this idiocy and I hope the mods lock this thread.

I don't think Alby is saying that the UK is a paragon of morality and is more just retorting certain US posters who have said some pretty nasty remarks about the UK.

London is one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and I very much doubt that the UK is any more racist than the US - in fact, I think the reverse is probably true.

the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

1 Brit is racist, so the whole of Britain must be. Stupid bitch.

Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.

This is all just page 1 before any American said anything about the UK. The only response to this at this point is biccat pointing out the US isn't as racist as it shown on TV. It goes downhill with calling the US bunch of racists from here.

Ahtman wrote:

London is one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and I very much doubt that the UK is any more racist than the US - in fact, I think the reverse is probably true.

the UK in comparison is a far more tolerant and starkly less racist nation than the USA.

1 Brit is racist, so the whole of Britain must be. Stupid bitch.

Another nation being accused of being racist and decades behind the States in race relations by an American based on an individual experience may not be much of a story for Americans.

This is all just page 1 before any American said anything about the UK. The only response to this at this point is biccat pointing out the US isn't as racist as it shown on TV. It goes downhill with calling the US bunch of racists from here.

Yeah, that was a bit unnecessary for once I think mattyrm said it best, that most first-world country aren't that different from each other at least from a cultural point of view and that US v. UK rhetoric is getting rather

tiresome.

That positive note seems the right way to end this increasingly pointless thread.