Is this statement true, and if so, may it help explain our reluctance to metricate?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"England is insular. She is maritime. She is linked through her trade, her markets, her supply lines to most distant countries. She pursues essentially industrial and commercial activities and only slightly agricultural ones. She has, in all her doings, very marked and very original habits and traditions. In short, England's nature, England's structure, England's very situation differs profoundly from those of the continentals".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A prize to the first person to correctly identify the writer of those words, and a bonus prize to anyone who can say when they were uttered. Members of the U.K. Independence Party are disqualified from entering this competition for reasons which will be made clear later

Don't know, could care even less.

So what happened to the "UK" in all this. Are we only representing England after all?

<<
England is insular
>>


So when will we be seeing the first km/h signs at Gretna Green?

"Don't know, could care even less"

Exactly what I'd expect from an pro-metric who is anti-choice.

Ta

Tony wrote: "A prize to the first person to correctly identify the writer of those words, and a bonus prize to anyone who can say when they were uttered. Members of the U.K. Independence Party are disqualified from entering this competition for reasons which will be made clear later."

Charles de Gaulle said that during one of his many anti-Britain and we-don't-want-you-in-our-tiny-EEC-club speeches.

Conrad: You continue to suprise me!

Now what is the prize, Mr B!

er, a pint of Stella?

<<
Now what is the prize, Mr B!

er, a pint of Stella?
>>

Err...hang on don't you mean a pint of John Smiths? Stella isn't British ale! Lager is foreign so you're taking away our traditional British culture Steve!

I would have suggested half a litre of Kronenbourg. After all, Kronenbourg is French, soi was de Gaulle.

Richard, tell me something

Am I anti-european?

I'd love to know!

(if this were "metricsucks" the next word wouldn't be asterixes)

****!

What's the matter Steve?

Don't you know your own mind anymore?

Conrad, you are correct; the words were uttered in 1963 by Charles de Gaulle during his first 'Non' to the U.K. decision speech. I'm not sure that it can be characterised as 'anti-English', though it was no doubt in the context of historical Anglo-French rivalry and suspicion. His words struck me as neutral and accurate when I first came across them a couple of weeks ago.

So, you are entitled to a prize. I suggest that you pick any affordable prize you care to name or which anyone else may care to post up as a suggestion. I've no problem about buying 1/2 litre of either Stella Artois or Kronenbourg - after all, as de Gaulle suggests, the English way is to let other people do their own thing as long as others let us do ours

Tony wrote: "So, you are entitled to a prize. I suggest that you pick any affordable prize you care to name or which anyone else may care to post up as a suggestion. I've no problem about buying 1/2 litre of either Stella Artois or Kronenbourg."

Thanks Tony, but you really shouldn’t bother buying anything. I was just lucky that I knew the answer, that’s all.

However, maybe you could buy a bottle of French wine for your wife and drink a toast to De Gaulle ? ;-)

To Meter man:

"Err...hang on don't you mean a pint of John Smiths? Stella isn't British ale! Lager is foreign so you're taking away our traditional British culture Steve! "

Do you not see generalisations, stereotyping and the usual guff from that?

I prefer imperial thus all french people smell!

Hmmmm....

(by the way, it does not look like it but I am enjoying all this, believe me!)

<<
To Meter man:

"Err...hang on don't you mean a pint of John Smiths? Stella isn't British ale! Lager is foreign so you're taking away our traditional British culture Steve! "

Do you not see generalisations, stereotyping and the usual guff from that?
>>

Actually it wasn't me who posted the quoted remark.

However I do see Richard's point.

I have to say Steve that I share your enjoyment in these exchanges.

I am tickled pink by your reference to "generalisations" and "stereotyping".

From the champ himself.

That's an interesting new signature you have there!

Yes indeed- I almost admire that man's sense of nationalism and identification with his nation, as I think most true Britons feel it too for our land.. and I agree and like that quote of his.