Comments on: Happy Birthday to The Commonwealth: could this be Britain’s future? http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/11/06/happy-birthday-to-the-commonwealth-could-this-be-britains-future/ Think - it ain't illegal yet... Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:38:22 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wufnik http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/11/06/happy-birthday-to-the-commonwealth-could-this-be-britains-future/comment-page-1/#comment-73619 wufnik Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:36:20 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12803#comment-73619 Thanks. Yeah, I know, there is quite a lot of baggage. That doesn't seem to stop people from coming to London to hang out for a couple of years, though. So there's something there--I just think no one has ever really bothered to try to figure out how to harness and direct it. And you're right. This is a very class-driven society, still. It's funny, though--most Americans who come here notice it. But whenever I mention it to someone English, they deny it. Actually, I do think America is more of a meritocracy. England is getting there, but it's not there yet. Thanks. Yeah, I know, there is quite a lot of baggage. That doesn’t seem to stop people from coming to London to hang out for a couple of years, though. So there’s something there–I just think no one has ever really bothered to try to figure out how to harness and direct it.

And you’re right. This is a very class-driven society, still. It’s funny, though–most Americans who come here notice it. But whenever I mention it to someone English, they deny it. Actually, I do think America is more of a meritocracy. England is getting there, but it’s not there yet.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/11/06/happy-birthday-to-the-commonwealth-could-this-be-britains-future/comment-page-1/#comment-73606 Dawn Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:05 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=12803#comment-73606 Interesting piece. It sounds like you have to make this sale on a business level only. The historical baggage is maybe too much to overcome. Just as you get Washington when you take on America - London is a powerful icon with loads of it's own meaning. I'm curious, London may be one third immigrants - but I'd bet they don't hold one third of the real power. England is a very classist society. You still need to be educated in the right schools and know the right people for real power. America may not be so different... Interestingly my family left for America and Australia - I don't think they saw themselves as European at all. English yes, European no. Interesting piece. It sounds like you have to make this sale on a business level only. The historical baggage is maybe too much to overcome. Just as you get Washington when you take on America – London is a powerful icon with loads of it’s own meaning.

I’m curious, London may be one third immigrants – but I’d bet they don’t hold one third of the real power. England is a very classist society. You still need to be educated in the right schools and know the right people for real power. America may not be so different…

Interestingly my family left for America and Australia – I don’t think they saw themselves as European at all. English yes, European no.

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