If Only Our 'feeble' Politicians Could Think The Same?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3179277/Calais-catastrophe-kept-Hitler-t-feeble-leaders-stop-thousand-exhausted-migrants.html

/// But for generations, our predecessors took our island status immensely seriously. It is surely no accident that perhaps the most famous expression of our patriotic identity, John of Gaunt’s speech in Shakespeare’s play Richard II, describes our country as ‘this scepter’d isle … this fortress built by Nature for herself … this little world, this precious stone set in the silver sea’. ///

/// Winston Churchill In his first radio address as Prime Minister on May 19, 1940, for example, he rallied the nation to ‘the battle for our Island — for all that Britain is, and all that Britain means’. ///

/// ‘We shall defend our Island,’ 'whatever the cost may be.’ As all the world knows, he was as good as his
word. ///

/// Referring to Britain as an island is now, of course, deeply unfashionable. Liberal academics love to tell us that we are merely one European country among many, and our politicians often seem to have a pathological aversion to any thought of British uniqueness. ///

[retrocop]

We lost our Island status when the chunnel was opened as far as I am concerned.

[Marshwarble]

No man is an island. You have to let other people into your life, AOG. Maybe you should see a shrink?

[Gromit]

Not sure Dominic Sandbrooke is thinking anything, certainly not anything new.

Basically a load of waffle, some nonsense about Britain being an island and concluding the Home Secretary should strengthen our borders. Of course she should, that is her job.

I fail to see what is supposed to be enlightening about his words?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// I fail to see what is supposed to be enlightening about his words? ///

I didn't expect you to, one has got to love one's country to do so.

From your past record, that you seem not to do.

[whiskeryron]

I think that a two foot thick concrete barrier at the entrance of the channel tunnel would do the trick nicely. Let us revert to ferry crossings which could be better monitored & controlled .

[Gromit]

OK AOG,

Tell me what I failed to see. What great thought has Dominic brought to the table?

[New Judge]

!You have to let other people into your life..."

Quite so. But what you don't have to do is to allow those who batter your front door down to remain inside.

[bazwillrun]

Hitler tried and failed miserably to invade and take us over...amazing how plagues of immigrants with the help of our own politicians and Adolf Merkel and her cronies are now succeeding...WHY ?

[Canary42]

Since the highest number of immigrants (as %age of home population) come from across the Irish Sea, this island status rubbish is hardly apposite.

But never let facts get in the way of your poisonous propaganda.

[anotheoldgit]

Canary42

We have an open border policy with Ireland, but not with the African continent.

[Zacs-Master]

The media bandwagon tune at the moment is 'for gawds sake do something' and Sandbrook is merely jumping on it. I agree with the mood but I don't see Sandbrook breaking the mould with any new insights.

[New Judge]

I have not heard too many reports of swarms of non-EU citizens arriving without papers and concealed in lorry trailers arriving at Holyhead from Dun Laoghaire, Canary. Nor have I heard of mass trespass being comitted at Irish seaports in attempts to storm the ferries. Also, of course, a big chunk of the island on the other side of the Irish Sea is actually part of the United Kingdom.

I think they may be a critical differences to what is being discussed here.

[anotheoldgit]

Canary42 leaves it's perch once again, never to settle on this one again.

[Hypognosis]

@bazwillrun
//Hitler tried and failed miserably to invade and take us over...amazing how plagues of immigrants with the help of our own politicians and Adolf Merkel and her cronies are now succeeding...WHY ?
//

They are unarmed, for a start.

At least with Hitler, it was an identifiable nation, upon which we could declare war, under international law and protocols. Sonwe could repel, using deadly force.

A peacible invasion. It's almost unprecedented and there is no international law drafted which can cope with it.

America had sustained mass immigration (peacible) but they also had millions of square miles in which to disperse their new arrivals and build entire new cities, from the ground up.

2000/3000 people is a town the size of _________?

If only we could persuade our fellow EU nations that (developable) land area should be be main criteria for how long distance migrants and refugees should be apportioned amongst us.

(cue competition to devolve large countries into smaller ones…) ;-)

[sp1814]

Dominic Sandbrook is the author of three of my favourite books on modern history ('White Heat', 'Never Had It So Good' and 'State Of Emergency').

Anyone with even a passing interest in modern social history should have a look at these titles. 'White Heat' (Britain in the 50s and early 60s is especially fascinating).

My only disappointment is learning of Mr Sandbrook's political leanings. I would much prefer not to know that he is (in this case) right leaning. It will colour my interpretation of his writing in future.

Whatever, I've just noticed that he has a book in the Kindle store at I've not got...buying it!

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/white-heat-a-history-of-britain-in-the-swinging-sixties-by-dominic-sandbrook-411712.html