I’m over at a friend’s house last night and after we had a few drinks too many he starts talking about “his” people, and how “his” people have been oppressed for centuries and how he’s in such a shitty state today because of the oppression “his” people have undergone. He even told me that he had trouble getting his parents to accept his wife because her family background is that of the oppressors. He started going on about his last name meant “prince” and that he was descended of royal stock and the oppressors had stripped his ancestors of their throne and shipped them off to the States.
He goes on and on about this in the manner of someone who is deadly serious about the whole thing, almost as if he is the crown prince, recently deposed and sent into exile. He’s not, of course. He’s fucking Welsh and his family has been in the States since before the American Revolution and they have zero contact with anyone in Wales and haven’t even ever been to Wales! They know fuck all about what happens over there, or even the history of the place!
When I told my friend that I was part Welsh (which I am) and that my last name meant “Shield or wrap” (Last name’s ‘Reynolds’ get it?), he took it as gospel and started ranting and raving about how it was destiny that we met one another and that we’ll do something to fight the oppressors and we’ll strike a blow for Welsh nationality.
Oh yeah, did I mention what this guy’s favorite move is? Monty Python and the Holy Grail! Seems his hatred of the English doesn’t extend to comedy troupes.
I just don’t get it. Why the fuck should it matter to him what happened to someone who might or might not have been related to him several hundred years ago? And why hate the English now? It’s not like there’s any danger of the English Army showing up at your doorstep today and tossing you out in the street because your Welsh!
That’s the kind of thing we have to put a stop to. Report him to the nearest branch of the Secret British Army and they’ll show up on his doorstep. Probably just get a stern talking-to if it’s a first offense.
One of my favorites as well! Coincidently, I was just remembering this movie when I was reading the thread about coconuts. Wasn’t there some silliness in the movie about a bird carrying a coconut? LOVE THE MOVIE! It is soooo stupid it cracks me up.
Oh… sorry about the guy that is so twisted. Maybe he had too many beers or possibly too few beers.
Part of being good friends with somebody is having a certain amount of tolerance for what people say while drinking. I can certainly think of a lot of stupid things that my own friends have said while deep in their cups, just as I’m sure they can think of the same for me.
That being said, it sounds like the guy might have been opening up to you a little bit about things he’s normally not comfortable discussing. It certainly sounds like these ideas come from his parents (especially the hatred of the English). I mean, I’ve no love for what the English did to the Welsh – as well as the Irish and the Scots, for that matter – but I wouldn’t take it out on other people today. It’s racism, really, and the guy could probably do with a friend pointing this out to him.
My dad immigrated to America from Ireland. To his dying day he railed against England. Apparently a grandfather, or great-grandfather – he wasn’t too clear on this – had lost his home to English “invaders”. He hated Cromwell, and the “Black and Tans”, with a passion that still amazes me. He, too, was royalty, and so of course was I, his male heir. He used to donate to the IRA, but in later years (after enough killings of women and children) he finally soured on them.
I’ve become a big fan of “Get Over It” by the Eagles. It pretty much says what I never had the guts to say to my dad.
I don’t know if he picked it up from his parents or not, I kind of doubt it though. The time I was at his folks place there wasn’t any thing Welsh related that I can remember seeing. I know we all have a tendency to say stupid things when we’ve had too much to drink, but this guy mutters things in a similar vein when he’s sober. They’re just not quite so bold. The asshole doesn’t even look Welsh! I mean, when you see a blond hair blue eyed person does the phrase, “He’s probably got some Welsh in him.” pop into your head? It doesn’t mine. (Not that I associate hair color with ancestry anymore.) Yeah, and I’ve pointed out to him that its racist of him to say such things but it doesn’t always seem to have much impact.
Edmund: Well don’t, it’s a ghastly place. Huge gangs of tough sinewy men roam the valleys terrifying people with their close harmony singing. You need half a pint of phlegm in your throat just to pronounce the placenames. Never ask for directions in Wales Baldrick, you’ll be washing spit out of your hair for a fortnight.
—From Blackadder, another product of the Evil Repressive Bastards.
