# What's the Deal with the Falkland Islands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629 "2012-01-25T19:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/161 "2012-02-14T19:59:16Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Sean Penn speaks out for Argentina](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100858/Sean-Penn-blasts-UK-refusing-hand-Falkland-Islands-Argentina.html). 🙂 What the fuck does it have to do with Sean Penn? Celebrities talking about human rights violations I can see. But this? It’s a territorial dispute, nobody’s being harmed, and it’s none of his fucking business. Fortunately, I don’t think the UK government takes advice from Sean Penn. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/162 "2012-02-14T20:06:31Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Sean Penn speaks out for Argentina](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100858/Sean-Penn-blasts-UK-refusing-hand-Falkland-Islands-Argentina.html). 🙂 Now didn’t I once hear that Sean Penn was an utter cock? Pretty sure I did. Is he likely to get his wittle-bitty rowing boat and storm Port Stanley? I have a lovely vision of two dozen unamused commandos ushering him ashore and shaking him warmly by the throat. Self-determination Sean, look it up. Didn’t I read somewhere that you normally applaud the independent stance of brave island nations in the face of geographically close but ideologically distant larger countries? He appears to be acting as an ambassador for Planet Penn, what a colossal tit! He is Bono-lite (and that is pretty fucking lite) (Still, he _was_ married to Madonna and she did play Eva Peron so this is probably just him trying to make amends for that particular tragedy) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/163 "2012-02-14T20:13:27Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > What the fuck does it have to do with Sean Penn? > > Celebrities talking about human rights violations I can see. But this? It’s a territorial dispute, nobody’s being harmed, and it’s none of his fucking business. > > Fortunately, I don’t think the UK government takes advice from Sean Penn. Hence the smiley. He’s an eejit. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/164 "2012-02-14T20:14:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > He appears to be acting as an ambassador for Planet Penn, what a colossal tit! He is Bono-lite (and that is pretty fucking lite) Bono might be a big eejit too but I don’t think even he has ever said anything quite so stupid as Penn has. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/165 "2012-02-14T20:19:39Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > (Still, he _was_ married to Madonna and she did play Eva Peron so this is probably just him trying to make amends for that particular tragedy) Ah, that would explain it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/166 "2012-02-14T20:44:36Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Sean Penn also speaks out for Fidel Castro:dubious: And with Hugo Chavez. I commend Penn for his work with the poor of Haiti, but he should STFU about the Falklands, about which he seems to know nothing but what his Argentine hosts poured in his ears. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/167 "2012-02-14T20:51:44Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Bono might be a big eejit too but I don’t think even he has ever said anything quite so stupid as Penn has. Quite, I get the impression that Sean has a room devoted to Bono in his house where he sticks up cuttings and he has a mannequin with leather trousers, waistcoat, hat and dark glasses. He probably has a WWBD bracelet as well. ---
**Author:** ![Baruch\_Spinoza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@Baruch\_Spinoza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baruch_Spinoza)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/168 "2012-02-14T20:58:40Z")
The only time Argentina had gone, or will go, to war for the Falklands/Malvinas is when the government has to distract the people so much from its own failings that it cannot do anything else to rally the people except go to war. The recent Argentine dictatorship did this in its last throes to prevent its horrendous record of murder, rape, kidnapping, disappearences, corruption, theft, and more murder from being exposed and its leaders going to jail. The normally sophisticated Argentinians had no real choice but to follow their dictators into war, or else they would have been murdered themselves. Argentina does not now have that kind of corrupt murdering theiving kidnapping murdering-some-more dictatorship that needs to stay in power though a war in order to prevent going to jail. After going through their previous dictatorship, I would hope that the Argentinians have enough sense to prevent such a dictaorship from seizing power again. However, as things get bad, noises like this will be brayed by politicians wishing to distract the people from their own record. The Argentinian people know that the Falklands/Malvinas are as relevant to them as they are to the UK. They won’t get fooled again. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/169 "2012-02-14T21:58:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Sean Penn speaks out for Argentina](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100858/Sean-Penn-blasts-UK-refusing-hand-Falkland-Islands-Argentina.html). 🙂 It’s fortunate indeed that we have such informed input for these situations. Whatever would we do without celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/170 "2012-02-14T22:08:27Z")
It’s rather well put [here](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news-in-pictures/news-briefly/argentina-supported-by-former-%27friends%27-guest-star-201202144895/): > [@](#): > > Argentina supported by former ‘Friends’ guest star… > > …Britain accused of colonialism by guy who played man who went out with Phoebe and her twin sister but then slept with the twin sister because he thought it was Phoebe. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/171 "2012-02-15T08:16:53Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > It’s fortunate indeed that we have such informed input for these situations. Whatever would we do without celebrities. What’s to be informed about? It’s a pretty straightforward political dispute whose side you’re on depends more on opinion than the rather meagre facts, which were adequately summarized in post #32 of this thread. There’s no reason to believe that Penn is any more ignorant of them than any other celebrity, or for that matter politician, who has spoken out on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/172 "2012-02-15T09:14:26Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > It’s fortunate indeed that we have such informed input for these situations. Whatever would we do without celebrities. Yep. The jig’s up. They’re all yours now. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/173 "2012-02-15T09:38:07Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > What’s to be informed about? It’s a pretty straightforward political dispute whose side you’re on depends more on opinion than the rather meagre facts, which were adequately summarized in post #32 of this thread. There’s no reason to believe that Penn is any more ignorant of them than any other celebrity, or for that matter politician, who has spoken out on the issue. He is using the term “colonialism” in reference to a settled community of a previously uninhabited island that was scene of a minor spat and “[a bit of handbags](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=handbags)” nearly 200 years ago. That makes him ignorant in one very real sense. Although, he didn’t mention the UK specifically. Perhaps when he was talking about colonialism he meant the efforts of a larger neighbouring country trying to take a settled, independent community by military force against the will of the people? That actually makes more sense seeing as that country itself was built by the capturing and claiming of an already populated land followed by the murder of indigenous people. Yes, perhaps Mr. Penn was playing a more subtle game than we think. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/174 "2012-02-15T10:13:37Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > He is using the term “colonialism” in reference to a settled community of a previously uninhabited island that was scene of a minor spat and “[a bit of handbags](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=handbags)” nearly 200 years ago. That makes him ignorant in one very real sense. > > Although, he didn’t mention the UK specifically. Perhaps when he was talking about colonialism he meant the efforts of a larger neighbouring country trying to take a settled, independent community by military force against the will of the people? That actually makes more sense seeing as that country itself was built by the capturing and claiming of an already populated land followed by the murder of indigenous people. Yes, perhaps Mr. Penn was playing a more subtle game than we think. As a Briton, I agree with him; colonialism is bad. I think the first step should be for all the whites in Argentina to fuck off back to Italy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/175 "2012-02-15T10:27:15Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > As a Briton, I agree with him; colonialism is bad. I think the first step should be for all the whites in Argentina to fuck off back to Italy. 🙂 Are you gonna take back the Patagonian Welsh too? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/176 "2012-02-15T10:52:32Z")
> [@Baruch\_Spinoza](#): > > The Argentinian people know that the Falklands/Malvinas are as relevant to them as they are to the UK. But they are not. They are of no relevance to Argentina. They are inhabited by people who want to remain British and they are owned and controlled by the UK (and have been since 1833). Argentina has no claim on them, no matter what its Constitution says and no matter what fairy stories kids are bought up on. It’s time for Argentina to just drop it. If they want the Falkland Islanders to exercise their right of self-determination in Argentina’s favour they need to demonstrate from their behaviour why they should. Endless whining to the UN, persecutory boycotts and blustering on about MP’s visits and the whereabouts of members of the Royal Family serving in the Armed Forces is not the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/177 "2012-02-15T14:09:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > He is using the term “colonialism” in reference to a settled community of a previously uninhabited island that was scene of a minor spat and “[a bit of handbags](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=handbags)” nearly 200 years ago… Heh. I thought this was a Monty Python ref, which wouldn’t be terribly far off the mark: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSMaNlcDPs&feature=fvwrel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcSMaNlcDPs&feature=fvwrel) ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/178 "2012-02-15T15:18:37Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > What the fuck does it have to do with Sean Penn? To be fair to him, what the fuck does it have to do with us? Also the link _is_ to the Daily Mail. It’s a very poor article. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/179 "2012-02-15T15:40:09Z")
:smack: > [@Bozuit](#): > > To be fair to him, what the fuck does it have to do with us? > > Also the link _is_ to the Daily Mail. It’s a very poor article. Well, if you’re British or Argentinian, then it has a hell of a lot to do with us. Our taxes and in the past and maybe in the future, our military blood. And I guess in the real cynical world - what the real fight is about is ‘our’ oil and ‘our’ fish. Shame Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement on sharing these resources in 2007. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/180 "2012-02-15T15:47:19Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > :smack: > > Well, if you’re British or Argentinian, then it has a hell of a lot to do with us. Our taxes and in the past and maybe in the future, our military blood. > > And I guess in the real cynical world - what the real fight is about is ‘our’ oil and ‘our’ fish. > > Shame Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement on sharing these resources in 2007. What agreement was that? do you have a cite? (not doubting you, just wanting to learn more) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629.md?page=10)