I remember my dad saying that to me and thought I never would, but when I was a boy we did not have racism or homaphobia, drug problems or anti social behavour, may have been in the South or the big cities but not in our village. The only none white people we saw was on TV or in filims, we had no blacks or asians so how could we be racist. All shops were run by families who had been there forever, Indian and Chinese takerways had still to arrive and doctors were rather old, white and very middle class. Its very easy not to be racist in a community that was all white and anglo saxon British. Homosexuality did not exsist, honest I knew nothing of it until I started work, came as quite a shock but how could we be homophobic when we did not know. Looking back I now know we had a gay person in the village because I remember my dad telling me to stay away from that house, a funny fella lives there, that was it. Drugs did not appear in my world until I was 16 plus, LSD it was, never had it but heard about it. Anti social behavour was us kids being a bit naughty and getting a clip round the lug of whoever was about. That was me the boy in a small pit village, not very good and tollerant just very ignorant and niave. What will you say when its your turn to say, WHEN I WAS A BOY..
When I was a boy racism was rife. Programs like "Love thy neighbour" and "The black and white Minstrels" were the biggest on TV. Bananas and monkey chants hurled at opposing black players every week. We have come along way since I was a boy.
[video=youtube;4tW8USvdb4k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tW8USvdb4k[/video] I blame the older generation.......
I don't fit into that category, but I do know what you mean, when I speak to my kids I can't help thinking "Crikey, I sound like my mother", Who's great by the way
"Till Death" was an odd phenomenon... Alf Garnett was created to show up the absurd prejudices of the average bigot but instead the character became a sort of hero to bigots everywhere.. the polar opposite of what the show set out to do. In later years the inclusion of a gay black care worker managed to rienforce both afro-caribbean and gay stereotypes
You mean that photo isn't you , it has improved a lot, though as the last 4 months have shown there is still work to go to clear it up fully.
I was in exactly the same situation. The first black person I saw was when the Spurs team stayed at the local hotel in my village and Garth Crooks stepped of the coach in the car park. Life was so much easier back then.
When I was a boy we used 2 empty tins of beans with some string attached to them as telephones. We used to play hide and seek outside,in the streets, in the dark... We used to go sledging up bigwood... We used to make a black ice slide on the road and have competitions to see who could slide the furthest. We used to catch newts in the newt pond. We used to have 3 channels on the tele. Cigarettes used to be good for you. Happiest days of my life.
Love thy neighbour, live and let live. I still think the Government is far too soft with immigrants. They come into the Country with nothing and in no time at all are going around with the latest designer clothes and footwear ( things that cost more than some working people can afford ) and of course the must have, top of the range iPod's etc etc. Was on a bus into Newcastle yesterday and one of them was sitting with his designer shoulder bag on the seat next to him and his designer trainers on the seat opposite him. Apart from all the freebies they expect three seats on the bus too.
When I was a boy at school me and my mates used to have "See who can draw the best Teds" competitions git big trunky hairstyles with sidebords. Lang coats and brothel creepers....like Syd we didnt kna what a brothel was but we grew up knowing ye had to creep when you got to one.!! We`d look up to lads like Syd because they wore Cheesecutter caps....we also tried to draw the best Andy Caps....oh yes...and heres another one.....could be a whole thread on its own...Famous autographs!!!! Who could forge the best George Herd autograph we practised for hours cos George always did a little fancy squiggle on his "G"
Controversial, [NSFW][video=youtube;1cn7dDF74yE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cn7dDF74yE&feature=related[/video][/NSFW] Barely born, but this has been spoken about throughout the years.... Don't complain i put it on nsfw.............