Religions > Atheism > OT: It's only a movie, but it could teach Blair a lot, actually
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"maff" |
| Date: |
03 Dec 2003 04:53:22 AM |
| Object: |
OT: It's only a movie, but it could teach Blair a lot, actually |
It's only a movie, but it could teach Blair a lot, actually
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1098554,00.html
As cinemagoers confirm, we feel more affinity with Europe than the US
Polly Toynbee
Wednesday December 3, 2003
The Guardian
Love Actually is a Christmas confection that's all icing and marzipan
and no cake - not the kind of movie rabid anti-American lefties
frequent. But its one political moment draws a surprising roar of
approval from the audience. Hugh Grant's fantasy prime minister - his
most ludicrous role yet - repeatedly attacks Old Europe and its social
provision, painting us as closer to the US neo-cons than to our
neighbours. Then he holds a press conference at the end of a visit
from the US president in which he has been offered nothing much by an
arrogant ally. (What the dispute is, we have no clue: it's not that
kind of movie.) In front of the press and the president, prime
minister Grant makes a fine speech about standing up to the
over-mighty, a small country still holding on to pride and principle.
A roar went up from the audience and apparently every audience cheers
as loudly at our PM telling the Americans to bog off.
What does it mean? What could it mean, if only we had the right
political leaders to interpret it? Whatever the polls say - and they
have been fickle - there is a strong instinct out there that resists
Britain doing whatever the neo-con White House wants us to do,
reducing our standing, dignity and influence in the world. But if
people are against our apparent poodle-dom, what are they for?
Polly Toynbee
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=18510aff.0311210305.3e3bb249%40posting.google.com
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