Comments on: 5 great spots for Brit bashing

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:56:08 +0000

I agree that the strongest sentiment against other nations is based on current issues, rather than wars from previous generations. Job stealing, drunken behaviour and rudeness are top of the league for reasons to dislike another group.
That said, I remember travelling around Poland during the Euro finals 1992, and it was striking how, on the west of the country there was a passionate dislike for the German team and an indifference to the progress of Russia (or whatever they were called at that time) while visiting family in the east of the country the situation was reversed. Nothing quite brings out those animosities as a football tournament (or Eurovision).

By: David Whitley (Australiaflightbargains.com)

David Whitley (Australiaflightbargains.com) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:43:29 +0000

I’m often surprised to find that anti-British sentiment isn’t as strong as I expect it might be. Most people seem to be able to recognise that the sins of the fathers aren’t the sins of the person standing in front of them. I’d say anti-British feeling is strongest in places where they’re overexposed to the worst of the current batch – ie. stag parties in Riga, 18-30 louts in Cyprus/ Greek Islands.

I do always find it fascinating to see who the real antipathy is towards, however. A lot in Eastern Europe hate the Russians. In Estonia, they get sick of drunken Finns coming over on the ferries. In the Caribbean, there’s often concern about people from the Dominican Republic coming over and taking jobs. In South Africa, all crime and drug problems seem to be blamed on the Nigerians. And so on. I might be odd, but I love seeing where the tensions lie.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:43:32 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by 501Places: 5 great spots for Brit bashing http://bit.ly/ip3LC #travel #traveltuesday…

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:27:45 +0000

Thanks Elizabeth. There are of course atrocities committed by each nation throughout history, and American history does more than its fair share of past and recent shame.

It seems fair to say that each nation that has held a position of power on the global stage (USA, USSR, China, and in the past UK, France, Germany and others) have maintainted that power, at least partially, through the use of violence and terror; often on others but also on its own people. What is the saying that "power corrupts"?

By: Elizabeth Hanover

Elizabeth Hanover — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:30:17 +0000

Dear Andy,
Your American friends who told us about so many placed they'd visited where British history was dark and brutal? While I absolutely do not excuse the behaviour of British colonialists throughout history, I do feel the irony in that statement. I would be quite interested in seeing a list like this for the United States of America.

The timeframe is shorter, but the history just as brutal. The worst part is, this bloodshed, brutality or manipulation was on Americans, by Americans (white, black or native). This is just brutality in American History within its borders. Such incidents in American history OUTSIDE America would need its own dedicated list.

I am by no means ridiculing your post, it was interesting, enlightening and all very (and sadly) accurate.

Disclaimer: I am Australian (ethnic Greek), not a British Islander.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:00:26 +0000

somewhat insignificant when compared to what many countries have done to their own populations…china, soviet union, vietnam, laos, iran, iraq…the list could go on and on and on.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:52:29 +0000

Yes, I was inspired to write this by American friends who told us about so many placed they'd visited where British history was dark and brutal. It's only a small selection of the many, no doubt.
Many thanks for stopping by and posting Mark.

By: Mark H

Mark H — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:48:06 +0000

There must have been so many places to choose from!! Sadly, British colonisation has hardly been the high point of world history though much must be put into the context of the times. (disclaimer: I am an Australian)

By: Adventure Rob

Adventure Rob — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:55:40 +0000

Excellent post, and that's coming from a Brit