I don't believe it!
Now, there's me, relaxing quite comfortably, thinking that alanindyfed had banned me from his blog. So I thought to myself, I know, I'll send him a cheeky posting (got to get the last word in now and then, haven't you? I thought, he's not going publish it anyway.
Well, to my surprise he's been and gone and published it, and responded.
This prompts so many questions.
1. Am I banned or am I banned?
2. Did Alan miss me already?
3. Was it just another Nationalist lie?
4. Will I have to check my watch if he wishes me a good morning?
5. Could it be that Alan has been overcome with contrition for his rather nasty blog?
6. Has Alan become a decent and reasonable Nationalist who can be relied upon to stand his corner without resorting to 'throwing his toys out of the pram'?
7. Do I really need a psychoanalyst, as he suggests? I was always told that it takes one to know one. Maybe he and I are kindred spirits? We'll see.
So many questions.
Here's a good 'un.
With regard to Alan's outrageous posting regarding British troops from Wales, is there any chance of anyone from Cymuned, Cymdeithas or Plaid Cymru, reading the offending words and kindly stating their position on whether the opinion expressed by Alan was representative of the main body of opinion of the members and supporters of their respective organisations? This would be strictly for the record, of course.
This is not going to go away until we know where we stand.
Your plainly puzzled pal.
johnny
posted by johnny foreigner @ 01:59
15 Comments
15 Comments:
You're not going to get an apology out of him.
I have now stopped visiting his blog. The man exhibits signs of monomania, which is a condition that precludes a sense of humour, which makes his blog a bloody awful place to be.
We can but try.
Your patient pal.
johnny.
'Am I banned or am I not banned?'
Frankly, my dear, we don't give a damn.
A better approach would be a sad shake of the head as you walk away from the wierd and wacky walter mitty world which he is creating.
I know it's not so much fun, and that you enjoy prodding him with a stick, but is it fair to keep on handing him that stick to beat himself with when he's on his hands and knees scrabbling around trying to find his marbles?
Listen, Johnny, let's turn to a far more serious question.
Why do you descrive your self as a 'foreigner'? In your own land?
Is that pathos, pride, paranoia, or (perhaps) self-pity Do you feel you have been driven to such a state of self-denial, or have you chosen to disconnect from full ownership of your status because of some perceived sleight by some nutty nat you've met along the way?
You are Welsh and British, by your own admission.
If there's no contradiction there (and, frankly, there is not, if that's the position you choose) then why give people like mittyfromdyfed bullets to fire back at you.
If you are Welsh (English-speaking Welsh) and proud of it then drop the forigner bit otherwise it strengthens your enemies hand.
Then again you may be being very subtle and using the description as a fiendishly clever plot to smoke out the worst excesses of your opponent's position.
Come on, old love, which one is it?
Yours, pontificatingly, Cleckanndra.
ps: You took the words right out of my mouth!
For weeks I followed your comments on others blogs and ended up saying to my self "Come on John put your thesaurus where your principles are and talk directly from your own blog-site".
And then you did.
And then I took a long summer walk.
And that meant I've not had chance to welcome you and your decision.
I may not agree with everything you say but I sure as hell am glad you've got the mettle to (now) speak out loud and clear - on your own ground.
Welcome... welcome ...welcome.
In the same spirit of over-flowingness [don't worry it soon passes] a word of warning (and of balancing).
You're stirring a poisonous cauldron with the subjects you feel strongly about.
You can expect viciousness beyond your imagination.
There is a hidden, unspoken, rule in Welsh politics which encourages [forces] most politicians (and people) not to stir that pot.
If you have the courage to stay the course you are going to uncover questions/distortions around culture/self/identity/distinctiveness/hope/dream-state/bile/hurt/pain/hatred/
the world of difference between healthy patriotism and blame-game nationalism/ambitition/self-and-wider(pr)deceit, and much more.
You, consciously, chose [after a period of testing the waters on others blog-sites] to become the lightening conductor for these things.
You have two choices (in these, yet, early days). You can quietly drop the issue you have raised and acquiesce [as the vast majority do in Wales] or do your research/get your references right/state your case so clearly that they may hate you for what you say but (the best of them) will respect you for your honesty.
Your are grappling with just one of a number of interlocking hypocrisies which - in my clear view - are underming and will continue to undermine Wales's chance of defining itself as something other than 'over-against' other things.
Good luck.
Your choice.
Fair comment Cleck.
I must confess that I do enjoy a bit of jovial banter with our friend, Alan, and watching his awkward and fumbling reactions to my well aimed barbs.
I am not an umerciful person and would gladly back off a little, but, unfortunately, Alan continues with his quite frankly potty postings, much to the amusement of many, and I do enjoy a good laugh.
Unfortunately, Alan's postings are always made in the name of Welsh Nationalism.
It would be so reassuring for some 'official' Nationalist to have a quiet word with him and invite him into the real world and help him to recognise the damage that is being done in their name.
They need all the help that they can get.
Making 'bullets' for others to fire back is just a small test that I have evolved. True to form, Alan and his pals still think that 'muzzle-loaders' are still the weapon of choice.
Somebody please tell them that you have to put the bullets in the other end, otherwise they'll bite you on the bum.
On the more serious issue: My nom-de-guerre has been carefully thought out. Here's a couple of clues.
My real name has 'foreign' i.e. it has non-Welsh origins, notwithstanding my Welsh birth.
I have been invited to go elsewhere, out of Wales, for stating my Welsh-born views and consequently am considered by some to be a 'foreigner' in the land of my birth.
The name suits me well and is only a name after all.
There are probably dozens of Alan Joneses out there, but there's only one johnny foreigner.
BTW, I wasn't so fiendishly clever afterall. You appear to have 'sussed' me.
Nevertheless, the strategy appears to have worked rather, if I may say so myself?
Your propaedeutic pal.
johnny.
Ah, but, the celtic in us can be traced all the way back to Africa, and the angle/jute/saxon in alanindyfed can be traced back across the plains of Europe, the straits of Russia, and (again) back to Africa.
With such a bloody complex melting pot of a history how anyone within these (wider) shores can choose to separate themselves out by hatred of others (as many nats do) beggars belief.
I don't understand, either, the idea of 'foreign' real names; or hatreds, bigotry and divisions based on some of the issues you raise (and then what is thrown back at you).
Or, to put it another and more accurate, way. I DO understand why such bigotry is the first port for the dull-minded but I refuse to give it any credence (other than to expose it for what it is).
You say you have been 'invited' to go out of Wales by such people and that you are considered by them as a 'foreigner' in the land of your birth.
Why give them any status or credence.
I like the pseudonym you've chosen. It's thought provoking. But my concern is that it strengthens their position and rewards their narrow bigotry.
Unless, of course, it is a 'double' and you are doing it to take the piss out of them.
In which case - good on ya.
Thank you Cleck for your warm welcome and helpful warnings.
The "poisonous cauldron" that you describe has remained unstirred for too long. Would you believe it, these Nationalists actually believe their own hype?
Fortunately, I am not a Welsh Politician and your perceived "encouragement or force" does not apply to me.
I will continue to ask the awkward questions, although some would prefer that I didn't.
Your warnings of: culture/self/identity/distinctiveness/hope/dream-state/bile/hurt/pain/hatred/ hold no fears for me. As a experienced warrior I am quite familiar with the tactics of War.
One of the first things to do when confronting your enemy is, when you are aware of their position, for you to lay down a nice artillery barrage, just to soften them up a little. Then you call for your more precisely aimed missiles and when the enemy don't know what's hit them and are desperately looking for a way out, you can move in on a mopping up exercise.
We are in phase two at the moment and my missiles are primed and loaded and are currently scanning the blogrizon. (that's a new word-a 'johnny special')
It seems to be going quite well at the moment. What say you, Brigadier Cleck?
I am more than willing to engage them in verbal jousting and am well prepared to take them on.
Please be assured that I intend to keep this up, as I am the type of person who, if you punch me on the nose, I'll kick you in the goolies. If you get up from that, I'll 'brick' you and so on.
Of course, the converse applies. You be nice to me and I'll be nice to 'you'. (nothing personal)
War is such a basic concept. I would prefer a more peaceful 'conflict' but unfortunately the 'beast has been unleashed'.
Your patriotically participatory pal.
johnny.
I've got this image in my mind's eye of you producing this lilting, evocative, tune on your Ukelele while dodging the bullets, shells, blood, rust and dust.
I shall watch the battle with interest and will fire off a salvo or two if I see your back getting exposed.
cleckanndra said...
Ah, but, the celtic in us can be traced all the way back to Africa, and the angle/jute/saxon in alanindyfed can be traced back across the plains of Europe, the straits of Russia, and (again) back to Africa.
johnny says....
I tried that one with Alan and he didn't seem too happy that his ancestry was somewhat of a darker hue.
He probably thought that it was beyond the pale! Boom, boom.
cleckanndra also said...
I've got this image in my mind's eye of you producing this lilting, evocative, tune on your Ukelele while dodging the bullets, shells, blood, rust and dust.
johnny says....
Well, Cleck.
Learning again from our Celtic cousins, the Scots, they have always struck fear to into the hearts of their enemies with the haunting skirl of the pipes.
As Wales' adopted instrument is the harp, a rather unwieldy instrument and hardly suitable for Warfare, I think that the Ukulele is a far more practical instrument with which to intimidate ones enemies.
I can see it now.
Alanindyfed cowering in some damp and musty corner whilst I assail him with the haunting strains of 'Tip-Toe through the Tulips'.
Odourousviscious would be dumbstruck and slack-jawed as he learns the lesson of 'Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Ordo'.
Rhyddid? Well, I think he's departed the field of combat for now. He didn't last long, I must say.
I thank you for your kind offer of an eye towards the rear and promise that when I 'rule the world', "every day will be the first day of Spring" in keeping with our mutual Welsh Culture. I'm quite sure that Sir Harry would've been proud of me.
Your plunking pal.
johnny.
Why don't you two just get a room, for God's sake
cleckanndra: "You can quietly drop the issue you have raised and acquiesce [as the vast majority do in Wales] or do your research/get your references right/state your case so clearly that they may hate you for what you say but (the best of them) will respect you for your honesty."
What we desperately need - a discussion forum where people can discuss sensibly rather than scream fixed view points at each other. A discussion that is well researched with viewpoints clearly stated, and politely (but firmly) argued. Wales doesn't have that in her 'national debate' at the moment - do you think you can really pull it off, JF?
cleckanndra: "Your are grappling with just one of a number of interlocking hypocrisies which - in my clear view - are underming and will continue to undermine Wales's chance of defining itself as something other than 'over-against' other things."
Again, well said, cleckanndra! We define ourselves as 'not English', 'not Welsh speaking', 'not Tory', but find it a lot more difficult to say what we are. And it's probably that that leads us to our present sorry state where a person can be told (sorry, invited) to 'go home' because his name sounds a bit, ummm, not Davies.
Johnny Foreigner, welcome to Wales, however many generations ago it was your people came ;-) and lets hope that we can see some reason in the debates that follow your postings.
Right, I'll leave the two of you alone again now...
justin:
Thanks for your comments and your gracious welcome to Wales.
Kindly permit me to welcome you to Wales as well, however many generations ago it was that YOUR people came;¬).
What a welcoming place this is.
Are we now to start another "I'm more Welsh than you" thread?
You say....
"What we desperately need - a discussion forum where people can discuss sensibly rather than scream fixed view points at each other. A discussion that is well researched with viewpoints clearly stated, and politely (but firmly) argued. Wales doesn't have that in her 'national debate' at the moment - do you think you can really pull it off, JF?"
johnny says....
I thought that that was what we are doing. There's no screaming around here. The occasional raised voice may be heard, but please don't be alarmed, nobody means you any harm.
I'm not trying to pull anything off, I am merely putting forward a point of view that, although some may see as 'sacreligious', simply reflects the view of many, myself included.
As for the 'reason in the debates that follow...', response generates response and so forth. It's called discussion.
Please feel free to call back anytime and we may continue the 'Big Conversation'.
Your polemic pal.
johnny.
Sorry, Johnny, did i sound a little aggressive? I can assure you my welcome to Wales was ironic. In a 'more Welsh than you' competition, I wouldn't come out very well, so lets leave that until we know each other a bit better!
As cleckanndra says, you will attract your share of vicious nutters, but please don't think I am one of them.
I am genuine (not ironic this time - I wish the keyboard had an 'ironic' key...) when I say that Wales desperately needs discussion on who we are. And if you (or rather we I suppose, as all your contributors will be part of the process) can succeed in having a grown up discussion of the National Taboos of language and Welsh 'culture' (another term that needs discussion and a stab at defining), you will be doing us all a great service!
Contrite, and faintly expectant,
Justin
Justin says....
"Wales desperately needs discussion on who we are."
johnny says....
You're not kidding there.
I have tried many times here and on other blogs to get someone to enlighten me as to the nature of this 'culture' that we are all supposed to embrace.
I still can't find it.
I must gently chide you on your use of the term 'viscious nutters' when referring to those of a dissenting view.
This is merely adopting the Plaid tactic of insult and derision.
Further, I would not wish to cause offence to those with Mental Health issues, who are entitled to their views as well, and may well dislike being referred to in such manner.
This is a nice friendly place after all.
Nevertheless I thank you for your tacit support and hope that the discussion can continue until all voices have been heard.
Your patrial pal.
johnny.
johnny.
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