DSD…..The World Cup and ABE….(Anybody But England)…….

What’s behind Anyone But England?
By Jon Kelly
BBC News Magazine

As the World Cup kicks off, many football fans from the UK’s celtic nations say they will support ABE – Anyone But England. Why does this inflame so much passion on both sides?

When Fabio Capello’s men run out to begin their World Cup campaign in Rustenburg, their shirts gleaming in the South African evening sun, an unknown number of their fellow British citizens will be cheering. For the USA.

On June 18, the same group will support Algeria. Five days later, it will be Slovenia whom they get behind.
And if Rooney, Lampard, Terry and company make it past the group stages, these UK passport holders have a handy phrase to remind them with whom their loyalties will lie: Anyone But England.

Few subjects on football message boards generate more ire, head-shaking and mutual antipathy between the constituent nations of the union than that of ABE.

To plenty of England supporters, the phenomenon is an unseemly grudge-fuelled display of bitterness by those with an inferior international record.

Meanwhile, to a certain breed of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish fans, it is either a natural expression of friendly rivalry with one’s near-neighbours or a necessary corrective to the perceived arrogance of an English-dominated media, which appears not to be able to discuss a soccer tournament without copious references to Bobby Moore and 1966.

As the historian Eric Hobsbawm observed, a nation of millions “seems more real as a team of 11 named people”. Consequently, football has become emblematic of ongoing trends such as devolution; Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism; and English resentment over the West Lothian question…..

….continued, at length, with a great many comments, at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8733373.stm

Russian Prime Minister Putin on leaving politics…..”Don’t hold your breath”…..

Here’s a link from the BBC and another one from AP,  about the annual Q & A session that the Russian Prime Minister holds with his countrymen and women…….

If I was the current Russian President, Dimitry Medvedev….I’d have my retirement home fixed up…….

Russian Prime Minister Putin on leaving politics….."Don't hold your breath"…..

Here’s a link from the BBC and another one from AP,  about the annual Q & A session that the Russian Prime Minister holds with his countrymen and women…….

If I was the current Russian President, Dimitry Medvedev….I’d have my retirement home fixed up…….