a.jpg)
Today my Grandfather would have been 90!
He was, and remains, the most important male influence in my life.
He fought with the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War and was one of the very few who survived the battle at Jarama valley.
He was in the Navy during the second World War (As you can see from his natty uniform!)
It was from him I got my love of learning and I still hear is voice saying, 'Knowledge is power'.
He would have been considered quintessentially English but had no 'English' blood whatsoever.
He is my Pampam and I miss him dreadfully.
Last night there was a programme on Channel 4 called 100% English. People, some famous, some not, were interviewed on what they thought made them English. Then they had their DNA tested. There was a truly hideous woman called Carol Manley, she was probably in her 80's. She hid her rampant racism behind a headscarf, a smile and the line 'I'm only joking'. It turned out she was 80% European, 11% North American Indian, 9% East Asian and 0% Sub-Saharan African. On hearing the last one she replied, "Oh thank G-d for that!". The DNA specialist said that her heritage probably had something to do with the movement of Ghengis Khan. Mmmm, she was slightly to the right of him in her attitude.
Gary Bushell found out he was 8% Sub-Saharan African and according to the specialist that strand of DNA only entered his line about 5 generations ago!. Still want to send "Them" back Gary?
There was a guy called Danny Blue, who made his living dancing naked with balloons (classy). According to him to be English you had to be able to trace back 12 generations. He also came out with the line, 'An English person doesn't have black skin'. It turned out that he was 10% Middle Eastern, 11% South Asian, 37% South East European and 42% North European. The specialist told him that to further investigate his family he would have to look to the Balkans and further East! To say he was shocked would be an understatement. He also did a complete U turn and dropped from 12 generations to 4 and you could be English and have black skin!
A lady called Jane considered herself totally English, she thought her people had fought against the Normans at the Battle of Hastings. It turned out she had the DNA of a Romany gypsy. She wasn't happy and threatened to sue the programme!! Hahaha! Deal with it you racist bitch!
It was a really interesting show and left me thinking that quite a few people could benefit from the experience. Starting with the leadership of the BNP.
It also left me with the question, What is English?
5 comments:
Yes, I agree, I can see you in Pampam.
Sounds like a great Brit to me.
That proggie sounds brilliant, hope we get it eventually. Makes them sound like the exact ppl Walliams and Lucas were poking fun at in Little Britain. Sheesh.
Since I've lived abroad I think a lot about my Britishness and my Englishness and I certainly don't think either have anything to do with skin colour or DNA. I think they're to do with spirit and attitude. I think it is something to be very, very proud of to be British and I think it detracts hugely from that when a party called themselves the British National Party make it about race because it stops people being proud of being British in the sense they should be proud of. Probably the way Pampam was proud of.
In terms of being English rather that British, mostly for me that kicks in when ppl mention my 'British' accent. That pisses me off, they wouldn't say that if I were Welsh or Scots.
But I also use it as a trump card when others are misusing our language.
Happy Birthday Pampam, I hope you realise that you've adopted us all now!
Oh and it's just occurred to me, some of the most English people you meet abroad are those whose families were originally Indian.
Sassy... I felt his loss more keenly than any other. I believed I'd actually lost something of myself when he went.
Schnee... You are so right about the Little Britain thing!
He would have loved that I had a friend in Canada, as he spent time in Port Alberny (Or something) and fucked up his Dad's walking sticks playing ice hockey!
The French he learnt there was no help at all in my 'French' homework!
Port Alberni.
Wish I could have known Pampam.
I'll have you know sleepy that I emphasize the superiority of the English English whenever I can.
Example. A student was saying that it was hard to understand another teacher's accent. She's English.
"Uh," I said, "but she speaks the Queen's English. (which I know is capitalized but was too lazy to do in my blog) It's the real English. The first English."
"Oh," said the student.
Karen... Hahaha! Nice one!
*rrdpbeuk (the beuk bit seems a bit of a 'sign'!!)
Post a Comment