[Part 3/5] Debate: Peter Hitchens argues 'Great' Britain is a fantasy

Peter Hitchens argues for the motion, 'There's Not Much Great About Britain,' in this Intelligence Squared debate. Will Self, Peter Hitchens, Sayeeda Warsi and Kate Hoey, battle it out over whether we should be proud or ashamed of the country we live in.
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Will Self argues for the motion in for the debate "There's Not Much Great About Britain"
• [Part 1/5] Debate: Wil...
#IntelligenceSquared
#greatbritain

[@olwens1368]

Oh dear- I am a few years younger than Hitchens, but this resonates so much. Brought up in small town in Scotland, taught to be proud of Scottish shipbuilding and it's contribution to the succcess of Great Britain and the British Empire, proud of our hard working town with its history of whaling, mining, chemical industries. In those days it was scruffy but the streets were swept regularly and if you called the police a constable would be there within minutes. If you were ill you went to the surgery & were seen within an hour. That same town is now 'tidied up', old important buildings are 'heritage' sites. not productive any more, and the town is basically a dormitory town for the nearby city. The heart and soul has gone, along with the shops. And the kids are taught to be ashamed of their past, not proud of it.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Yeah and the pint costs more than it used to. 🙄

[@TheClemcaster]

@William Hill You appear to have overlooked that Hitchens castigated both ends of the political spectrum - incidentally, 'gammon' is a term used for thick-necked, nationalistic Anglo-Saxons. I hope that bit of information comes in useful. And whilst Mr Hitchens makes some quite mordant observations, I think you'll also find that it is underinvestment by successive governments that have made the education system the mortally wounded creature that it has become, not the disappearance of grammar schools. Heavy industry has gone, because they build things cheaper in the East...that's capitalism for you; at any rate, enormous container vessels will become obsolete as technology transforms our requirements. It is the political right and conservatives generally that appear to view incipient green technology as at best a threat...at worst, and more outlandishly, 'a waste of time.' It is actually the dead hand of conservatism that will consign this country to the backwaters of history.

[@TheClemcaster]

@William Hill You just did. 'Waffle?' Do I descdribe your brief outline as, 'overheated verbal diarrhoea?' No. I read it and decide that it is overheated, ill considered, poorly written angry man pub banter.

[@TheClemcaster]

@William Hill Jolly good. Glad we sorted that out.

[@TheClemcaster]

@William Hill William, it was really nothing. What really makes me feel confidant about the future, is the profundity contained in our exchanges...a feeling that all will be well now that the country is in the hands of men with your intellect, Bill.

[@ralphdavidson9542]

The only good speaker on the stage - Peter Hitchens. His 10 minutes flew past. The others dragged. Wit, truth, intelligence and mastery of our language. Poetic, actually. Cheers Peter.

[@babbaruff1045]

Couldn't agree more and totally admire his courage. He is in a league of his own in this current crazy climate.

[@lingolarker9318]

His public discourses in these sorts of settings are absolutely compelling.

[@lingolarker9318]

babba ruff He really is peerless as a reasoned, articulate debater.

[@martinheath5947]

This is what happens when your country is "run" by mediocre graduates with no work/life experience outside of politics, PR, media and journalism.

[@1990-t1j]

You've got the right surname to say that!

[@JonJon-rz5el]

Exactly, Winston Churchill was a correspondent in the Boer war, later a soldier, commanded and presided over the catastrophe of Gallipoli and then went to fight in the trenches due to his guilt! That is steel and conviction an idea of duty.

[@JonJon-rz5el]

What saddens me is when the wars come with the intolerance of Islam which will no longer be deniable, it will be the disgusting and appeasing wealthy left who can escape

[@ParcelOfRogue]

@@JonJon-rz5el Sound like the National Front of the 70's. Then the BNP, then the EDL, then UKIP, then the Brexits, I wonder what happened to them and their nastiness? All gone!

[@johnsmythe7940]

They are not mediocrity. They know precisely what they are doing. Up- class and Middle -Class bandits like their forefathers before them.

[@adambritain5774]

Never saw tickets for this. But appreciate literally any PH content. He is simply peerless.

[@Intelligence-Squared]

To get tickets to our events and see what we have on visit www.intelligencesquared.com

[@adambritain5774]

Thank you.

[@MindbodyMedic]

@@adambritain5774 he demoralises people who want to 'go back to the future' and who understand the vicious anti white direction of western governments. he simply seems to have given up

[@adambritain5774]

Well he's clearly given up. Most of his recent (last few years) interviews will tell you that, and will even tell you the reason why...! And he even tells you where you can find hope.

[@kaygarner7727]

Yet but a pale imitation of his brother.

[@sepehrdaghbandan7964]

Higher education in UK is a disgrace, truly is.

[@susannamarker2582]

Do you think it's too Woke ? We do. We home-schooled our children.

[@niclasjohansson4333]

This "decline" is not only limited to Britain, the rest of Europe (at least the western part) is having the same symptoms.

[@CelticSaint]

All being done by design.

[@antikokalis]

@@billyjoel6352 No, Greece is. We are so far left as a country, that our supposedly center-right PM is a disgusting commie. We are beyond doomed

[@Neater_profile]

@@antikokalis Τι λες ρε μαλάκα.

[@Sam-tz8ou]

@@billyjoel6352 no its not!

[@seanmoran2743]

The Stupidity of 1914 is still rippling through all European Countries

[@ephphatha230]

What an awful voice at the start lol

[@fergal2424]

I thought it was a woman until it showed him close up.

[@chrisdavie8163]

They should have given him an extra 50 minutes

[@aidyledgard4582]

He's not wrong. Agree with him completely. Society has had it. We make next to nothing. If we are honest, what can we say we are proud of these days? I'm struggling here.

[@Saber23]

Then maybe this will finally be enough for you people to give up all of the illogical philosophies the western world has been built on

[@seanmoran6510]

@@Saber23 That’s so vague it’s meaningless

[@aidyledgard4582]

What's so vague?

[@Warp75]

@@aidyledgard4582 Your comment was not vague just the truth.

[@babbaruff1045]

I could listen to Peter Hitchens endlessly, his eloquence is truly a beautiful thing 👏👏👏

[@seanmoran6510]

@kinor Spielman Pathetic

[@roughdraught153]

Peter's so negative, yet I have to concede that he's right.

[@greatdelusion7654]

‘LET...GO'

[@seanmoran6510]

Negative in a positive manner

[@user-yp7vf5lo8h]

Peter isn't negative. The reality is.

[@tbone35453]

From the video description: 'Peter Hitchens argues against the motion, 'There's Not Much Great About Britain,' Peter Hitchens argued FOR the motion. This sloppy incompetence is an example of what Peter was talking about.

[@seanmoran6510]

tbone35453 He’s pouring a bucket of cold water over us and we need it !

[@fredfredrickson5436]

A personification of his own polemic. Amusing.

[@mememine69]

"We shall never surrender" became "RUN HIDE TELL"

[@stuartbritain8529]

Churchill is one of the main reasons we’re in the quagmire. Literal war mongering criminal.

[@stuchambo9528]

@@stuartbritain8529 ... yeah okay mate....

[@stuchambo9528]

completely agree

[@stuchambo9528]

with meme mine

[@thelastdetail1]

Peter Hitchens is a first-class public speaker and debater and it shows, whether you agree with him or not. If only the House of Commons were full of such thoughtful intellects on either side of the House. Imagine what might be achieved.

[@Belfreyite]

I don't need to listen to Peter Hitchin to understand just how far down the slope we have slipped. Just look around at the decaying infrastructure, the scruffy careworn people, the tons of litter that choke every hedgerow, the dirty unkept streets, the foul mouthed tirades that pass for entertainment, the appalling divorce statistics, the junkfood on our plates. What have we got here that resembles the best of mainland europe?

[@lokenontherange]

Who cares about Europe? Britain nowadays is just a mess compared to what Britain was in our past.

[@bogbay]

@William Hill Record number of non-Eu migrants came into the UK last year under a Tory government. Austerity for nine years imposed by the Tories because their banker pals went bust. What fucking planet are you on?

[@lokenontherange]

@Niconoclastic Neoc Neoliberal is just something people call people they don't like. Nobody is actually a neoliberal.

[@Belfreyite]

@Darren Gregg It is a comment. Albeit a rant to which I am entitled on here. From one Bufoon to another so to speak!

[@markofsaltburn]

eustace wozrite The Trotskyites joined the Conservatives a long time ago. Both sides have been played.

[@benphilips9918]

'An Evening of Light Music and Laughter ' with Peter Hitchens.

[@mikep7847]

Of course the UNreformed Trot loves the fact that we're fucked.

[@pintubackaga]

😂

[@williambeaumont1312]

What made Britain ‘Great’ was its connection with the Old Testament. The right to property, that even the state could not tax or take away, (Naboth’s reply to king Ahab). The right to jury trial, everyone under the law. The right to “innocent until proven guilty. Life for a life, the justice system. That was what made Great Britain great.

[@billyb6001]

I love peter. his brother would be proud. he would disagree with him on so much but would be proud.

[@darrenalway4687]

Creep!

[@seanmoran6510]

Suckered in by CH charm and polemic propagandist chatter, poor you.

[@lingolarker9318]

One would hoooope so😄. But he did say some pretty rude things about him whilst still well.

[@billyb6001]

@@lingolarker9318 true. I've only seen their debates and a couple interviews about it.

[@seanmoran2743]

Christopher Hitchens equals American Dominance via its military industrial complex Trotskyist Globalist that the yanks are to dumb to see

[@gustavoboom8448]

Britain, as well as most of Western Europe is happily orchestrating its own demise. Europe is rapidly being conquered by invading non European hordes, all the while convinced that this is it is a good thing. It makes me sad to realize it is too late.

[@Kitiwake]

Eugenics is the real culprit.

[@revol148]

@Gustavo Boom no country has an automatic right to first world status - it needs to be fought for.Free market capitalism - once the driving force of European innovation and supremacy is now turning against us due to centuries of complacency.If you want to see what the future looks like go to Bangalore, Singapore or Shanghai NOT Athens, Madrid nor Rome.

[@NLJeffEU]

@@revol148 when did you uses anything that wasnt designed by europeans? Azia looks impressive because they dont have to design anything. They just buy/steal shit and use it with 4billion people.

[@revol148]

@@NLJeffEU I agree with everything you've typed but I was thinking about the future not the present.Take a look at the Coronavirus crisis - the Chinese are stepping in and sending medical supplies to the Italians ! As for the coming European-wide recession after the crisis - I guess for countries like Greece and Spain it doesn't matter anymore - just rack up more debt that they will never be able to pay off to the European central bank.

[@revol148]

@krosnoslova morinova along with most of western Europe

[@frankhynd885]

Why is the UK involved in the anti-Chinese AUKUS pact? The Taiwan and Mainland China dispute is an internal Chinese issue and it is not a strategic UK concern which is 5,000 miles away.

[@nigelft]

It isn't just between Taiwan, but also Hong Kong, with which many there still feels a deep connection with Britain, and certainly doesn't want anything to do with Mainland China ... and definitely do not want direct rule from Bejing. I'm still in touch with at least one class mate, of a comprehensive school here in London, England, who was born in Hong-Kong, who still has family there, and who is deeply concerned about what China may do to Taiwan and Hong-Kong both, as, as she told me, her friends in Taiwan don't want direct rule either. But they also dare not try and declare outright independence, given what happened in Tiananmen Square, in 1989 ... It is also about China's agressive moves into the South China Sea, which makes even India nervous, and certainly is of serious concern to both South Korea and Japan. Even Australia is concerned; so concerned, it broke off negotiations with France, over a contract for the latter to build brand new diesel-electric submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, and opted for, essentially, nuclear fast-attack subs, due to likely endurance limits of diesel-electric, even though diesel-electric are more acoustically quieter, when running on its batteries. However the same which, if paired with a nuclear reactor(s), can be recharged whilst still near maximum depth, without needing a snorkel like device, at periscope depth. And I suspect the torpedo tubes are now sized to fit sea launched cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles, at near sea-level, that's between sonar, and radar, detection ... And don't forget ... both Australia and New Zealand both have the Union Jack in the upper left hand corners of their flags ... You may as well say that the Falkland Islands aren't part of the UK, despite the Islanders themselves wanting to stay British, but keeping the Union Jack on their flag ... ... and they are considerably further away than 5,000 miles ... So, if the Pact between Australia, the UK, and the US, is anti-Chinese, it came about as China has pushed the boundaries of what is considered their littoral waters to the limit ... It takes alot to make Australia as a nation worried ... but seeing China building islands as close to international waters as they (China) dare, is making Australia nervous ... especially if those islands are stable enough for ballistic missile launches ... I'm pretty sure that if Japan, and South Korea expands into the South China Sea, Bejing will treat that as an act of aggression ... The great game of chess between America and the Soviets has become a large table of No Limits Texas Hold'em ...

[@sebastianbooth5659]

Peter Hitchens is just outstanding.

[@Siddhartha02]

One word. Rotherham.

[@aquilatempestate9527]

One word. Treason.

[@Mister.Weatherbee]

Telford, Rochdale, Oxford... 20,000 a year. Every town. Every city.

[@uioplkhj]

You cannot blame muslims for everything

[@Siddhartha02]

​@@uioplkhj Who are you responding to? No one has said anything close to "everything in the world is the fault of Muslims". I'm stunned, are there really people in the world that are as dumb as you? Or maybe you can't read, but you managed to write that pointless reply. Either way, wow man, just wow.

[@uioplkhj]

@@Siddhartha02 We all know what you were referring to. Don't play the stunned puppy card, when their are cookie crumbs on your face.

[@dl240787]

The chair of this debate is hopeless.

[@dellmanification]

We were given the name Great Britain by the French to distinguish Bretagne (Brittany) and Grande Bretagne (Britain)

[@jonnutter]

... and it was because of size rather than any kind grand achievements therein

[@ralphdavidson9542]

No that was "Greater Britain ". A long time before that it got the name Great to distinguish the larger land mass from smaller ones in the isles. True it has never meant 'good' or anything similar.

[@WilliamMallinson]

Well doine, Peter Hitchens! As long ago as 1977, I was reading the FCO PUSs Christmas message to staff, which suggested that Britain should stop trying to behave like a world power. But jingoism and individual greed then got in the way. It still does.The fact is that we piggy back the US, to paste hairs onto our chests. As for Trident, it seems bizarre that the British taxpayer should pay US shareholders up to 100 billion quid, in order to me targetted by Moscow. Professor William Mallinson, former British diplomat and author of 'Behind the Words' and of 'The Threat of Geoplolitics to International Relations'.

[@fisher1907]

Peter Hitchens is so depressing. His so right though 😥🙄

[@fisher1907]

Rad Derry I don’t know bout that. Britain’s depressing atm the country’s going through abit of a identity crisis. I think the whole worlds abit depressing atm. Also we’ve just been through the wettest winter every recorded that in its self is quite depressing.

[@fisher1907]

Darren Gregg I’ve read it. 👍. I love your optimism we need more people like you here. Like I said in my other comments Britain’s going through abit of an identity crisis. Plus I think the whole worlds quite depressing atm.

[@fisher1907]

Darren Gregg Lmao 😂. I get fed up with the shit weather about this time of year lol. I drive a nice car got a nice house a great job and only 29. This country to does work for you ,if you wanna work for it. I can understand why Peter Hitchens moans. He moans about thing to spark change and give people food for thought. Without the pessimist we’d just think we’re awesome and never move forward.

[@fisher1907]

Rad Derry Not sure that true really. My Mrs literally messed up everything when she left school. Then she decided to go in a different direction now she’s a doctor on 70k a year she didn’t know anyone. I’m not gonna say I didn’t know anyone because I did but I still jumped through hoops to get where I needed to be. And the decline is real but the decline is decline of an empire the worlds a different place we are a different country. We could be better. I know but if you look through history we’re a lot better off than we was then.

[@fisher1907]

Darren Gregg Britain needs air con lol.

[@suzimonkey345]

@IntelligenceSquared Will you please increase the volume chosen for upload? Even on full volume it’s rather quiet...

[@babbaruff1045]

Aww I just love Peter Hitchens 👏👏👏

[@Mr_Lo_]

Is it any surprise that this was hidden from my subscription inbox?

[@pastyman001]

I don't share Hitchins obsession with manners, social control, or religion. But he is right about the UK's overblown self importance and it's decline into mediocrity

[@HIMYMTR]

Manners make the person, the person makes the nation.

[@Longshanks1690]

Peter has probably the only rational viewpoint in this series. Britain is not great because it’s system and culture is degraded beyond repair, not because we’re a country of racist bigots incapable of progress. Likewise, we’re not great simply because we have a past to be proud of since our present is abysmal. We can be great again, if only we actually did what we needed to do to get there.

[@Longshanks1690]

@Frankly Frank *Sigh* Way to miss the point entirely. Every nation has profited from slaves in it's past. Britain is unique in profiting from their liberation. Every major power instigates conflict. The British Empire was unique in settling them down where it ruled. If you think Britain is the worst for bigotry, please visit Eastern Europe, lmao. Still proud because of the foundation of liberty, freedom of religion, limited monarchy, representative democracy, capitalism and too many inventions to name which have benefited mankind immensely. But that's not the point. Obsessing over the past is useless whether to demonise or glorify when our present is so miserable and wretched that we can scarcely call ourselves free, let alone great.

[@RD-uf6gw]

@Frankly Frank Oh, fuck off with the colonial guilt shtick, would you?

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@@Longshanks1690 _"The British Empire was unique in settling them down where it ruled."_ Ireland Cyprus Palestine Nigeria Sth Africa India/Pakistan/Afghanistan? And you wonder why half the world hates you.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@William Hill I've got no "remoaning tears" 😂 I can't wait till Scotland is free and Ireland reunited.

[@SagaciousFrank]

@Twenty Faces, independent, self-determined, free, prosperous, secure, efficient, competent, cultured and grown up, would be my guess.

[@benanson]

Finally, someone who shares my opinion.

[@generaljackripper666]

They never let Peter speak long enough.

[@susannamarker2582]

Because they know he is right.

[@TheMrgoodmanners]

The only reason why the UK never saw any of the social upheavals that plagued continental europe till the mid 20th century is because brits could immigrate en masse to other regions. When things got tougher they could go to Australia NZ, canada or any of the colonies they had in Africa at the time. Were the UK not an imperial power it and the monarchy to be precise would have suffered the same fate as imperial germany in the end

[@carefulconsumer8682]

Whose speech did he memorize at 10:14 min? The words were slurred so I could not understand him. Thanks.

[@jacobfield4848]

Old man shouting at clouds and romanticising his youth.

[@stuartbritton7408]

We have lost the simple moral values of our grandparents and previous generations. We now treat them with contempt. This is what is wrong with us.

[@samkam2319]

Stuart Britton not all of them were great mate, they invaded various lands, caused untold deaths, but some of them sacrificed their lives in ww1/ww2 to defend our islands, it’s not black and white mate

[@stuartbritton7408]

@Darren Gregg 'Racism' and 'sexism'. Two fake words make up by the Instagram generation do-gooders. You don't know what you are saying. It is a tragedy that we have lost those old values. If we had those attitudes today, we would all be much better off. But we don't and we're not. We have modern values. Where are we now? We can't even go out for a walk any more or shopping or to the pub. Do you think our grandparents would put up with being treated like that?

[@CelticSaint]

And kill them off in nursing homes by placing people infected with a virus into the nursing homes instead of into hospitals.

[@Saber23]

@@CelticSaint as an Arab I seriously hate this idea that “elders just don’t get it” it’s stupid and foolish Britain should abandon it

[@philiplarkin7908]

@@stuartbritton7408 When someone uses do-gooder as a negative they've lost the argument. Doing good is good. Only those who can't help but do wrong would have an issue with people who do good.

[@williambuxton8223]

Love this man!

[@paulwilliamson9457]

I only wish there were more people talking sense like Peter

[@Barmforth]

Civilisations rise and fall as the struggles to create them are forgotten by the generations that only know the ease and luxury they inherited. There is a way to fall yet before we start any kind of 'renaissance'. Not nostalgia, just pragmatism.

[@l3enz0]

Great Britain is the largest Island in the British Isles , hence the Great . That is all . It means nothing else . Never has .

[@fatfat1877]

No shit sherlock.

[@l3enz0]

@@fatfat1877 And yet , here's a whole debate implying otherwise ...

[@fatfat1877]

@@l3enz0 They arent implying otherwise, they are arguing about whether Britain is great or not.

[@l3enz0]

@@fatfat1877 lol

[@fatfat1877]

@@l3enz0 Im laughing at your failure at being at smartass.

[@janed5197]

Peter's " we are arguing a case " !! 😂👋 Against the greatness

[@richards9407]

Depressing but true. Peter says what a lot of us think, but he has the courage to stand up and say it. But who was that complete knob who introduced him?

[@seanmoran6510]

richards9407 A university knob

[@gjingodjango]

People just want to wake up in the morning knowing that they can afford the country they live in. It’s not rocket science.

[@TalkernateHistory]

"I am the sepulchral voice"

[@Knappa22]

He is very eloquent and there are grains of truth in much of what he says but in reality it is very easy to be a wrecker like him. Farage is the same (though not in the same intellectual league as Hitchens). Neither of them are builders, neither of them are creators. They just moan about things that they think are wrong. And that's easy to do. Any old man in a pub can do that.

[@petermaxwell2965]

Did not even know he had a brother, also smart and vocal .

[@tommoon5063]

Dumb down and replace. Who would do such a thing. On point with hard truths, but who cares anymore?

[@Hollows1997]

@Darren Gregg No, it’s not just the UK. Soviet infiltration of American culture and academia (as explained by Yuri Bezmenov) made sure that the same infiltration spread all throughout western civilisation because of American culture becoming almost universal throughout western nations. How can you not be dour when you realise that not only is your house on fire but that you’re powerless to stop it.

[@SagaciousFrank]

Where are Parts 2 and 4 of this debate? I can view Parts 1, 3, and 5. Granted I'm here because Peter Hitchens is speaking, but I would like to hear the whole debate nonetheless.

[@Intelligence-Squared]

You can watch all parts of the debate here: kzbin.info/aero/PLkZmdWVCTDvaqVqF1qOnXIevBungbDp6u Thanks for watching!

[@SagaciousFrank]

@@Intelligence-Squared, thank you. I managed to stumble across the 2nd and 4th videos much further down the 'Up Next' list on KZbin, presented as a column on the right hand side of the screen. This seems to me to be an issue with KZbin's algorithms.

[@johnbobson1557]

He's absolutely correct!

[@seanmoran6510]

Of course we are lesser than we were ! All Empires decline it’s how they do it that matters A lesson how not to manage Imperial Decline has been demonstrated Only time will tell if the English Empire will stand I’m not holding my breath

[@RIP_Greedo]

Could it be possible that major construction projects like the ones he mentioned might take longer now because we have things like workers rights and safety standards?

[@michaelneal3041]

Perhaps. But if so...is the decline worth what "safety" has provided?

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

I'm not a conservative or whatever he calls himself but I do find Peter Hitchens an entertaining and insightful guy.

[@jbolanowski1]

same :)

[@abhimanyukarnawat7441]

Wasn't Adneuer a conservative?

[@stephenkerensky710]

The `great` isn`t moral approval, it`s just a geographical designation for a country with 6000 islands.

[@sticksman1979]

Hitch knows the score.

[@michellefrench9240]

The achievements of Great Britain and it's glorious past happened by enslaving it's working clasees and the natives of the many countries of the Empire. Had the Great Western Railway (one of the exaples that Hitchens used) been built by workers paid a decent wage and had good working conditions it would have cost a lot more and took a lot loonger, all the great achievements of Britain industrial past were builtr on the backs of the ordinary worker. Many of the them paid with their lives.. What is good -not great- is that most workers don't have go through that to earn a living these days

[@Hollows1997]

To quote the song Sit Down by James: “If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor” Life was a lot simpler back then. Although they most likely knew they were working incredibly hard, they appreciated the outcome of their work.

[@seanmoran2743]

Things are still built on the ordinary worker oh but wait we live in a country that won’t even pick its own food Where we are run by metropolitan bourgeoisie elites who love cheap labour Enough of your Marxist bilge The poor would still be poor under your rule

[@Sam-tz8ou]

Well said

[@thdoom81]

THANK YOU...finally someone with some sense

[@patrick_dy3r]

Moderator: Lift our spirits! Peter: Yeah...

[@SuperBartles]

I love Peter Hitchens' debating skills (I told him so once), and he's a very pleasant guy indeed, but I think this is his big mistake. One of the principle reasons for the state of Britain today is the attitude of virtuous negativism. People are negative about our past, our future, about each other and about themselves. If our best brains are dedicating themselves to this wholly destructive exercise, instead of fighting for a better future, then things aren't going to get better. PH is *very* bright, and he's on the wrong end of what I've just said. Some of the best minds in the our academic History establishment have dedicated themselves - for many decades - to painting a bleak and horrible picture of our past, trying to persuade us that our history is worse than any other country's (the BBC began to follow suit in the 70s). Not really true, there are no extermination camps in our history, no genocides that I can think of, no Gulags, no French/Russian revolution-style bloodbaths, no Spanish Inquisition, no experiments in collectivisation of agriculture leading to millions of deaths (a la Stalin/Mao). Empire? yes. But everyone was at it. We were just more successful. Not more evil. And yes, some bad bits. On the other hand what has Britain given the world? Nothing much, except an unrivalled range of inventions and scientific advancement, extraordinary literature, ideas of freedom & rights of the individual, a model of democracy, a mass of beautiful literature, leading the fight against the Nazis at a crucial stage, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin etc

[@SuperBartles]

Yes that was in the past and we now have to make the future great, too. But that was true of the Britons who faced Trafalgar & Waterloo, and those who faced the second world war. All the ones who made our country what it is. Now we have to show the same courage, and possibly complain a bit less :)

[@andrewmckay2118]

He is a looser bommer and will die before we start winning again. But he represents the looser bommer. He was A leftist and still is a sad sack leftist. But he knows it's all over for the leftist. And so chose nationalism because he knows where he comes from.

[@RichardSmith-vm4dq]

@@andrewmckay2118 Try that again, in English.

[@jimmycakes7158]

I've noticed a lot of negative outlook when it comes to UK and it's people. There's almost joy coming from the mouths that denigrate it, like they're proud of doing self harm. UK should be enjoying higher standards of living and lower population but the opposite is occurring

[@freddibnah1830]

LOL

[@johnfitzjohn4300]

I can listen to Peter all day the man tell,s you the. TRUTH. So rare today

[@malcolmcanning548]

It's a sceptic tank if you know what I mean.

[@stephenlawrence4821]

I don't think people entertain a fantasy that Britain is great. We are certainly lucky to be here at this time compared to almost all other times and other places. If Peter Hitchens had his way it would be far worse. Wed be in the dark ages before we knew it.

[@neilsavage8915]

I would not trust Piers Morgan who said that he did not believe that it was ethically wrong to hack someone's phone when the phone hacking was discovered.

[@lapamful]

Well, this was uploaded on the 5th March 2020 just as hell on earth was about to be unleashed. Would anyone like to try and contradict what Peter said now?

[@thevo4100]

I see Will Self is in no hurry to share that bag of sweets he has in his pocket.

[@Michellemutts7848]

It was great until the government brought it to it's knees

[@ylracci]

what was it that sir Humphrey sat about Trident..its deterrent...lol

[@28pbtkh23]

Unbelievable! Who else knew that HMS Dreadnought was built in a year and a day??

[@stephenbrown4211]

Thanks to people like Hitchens who are trying to destroy it

[@baronmeduse]

Peter is really lamenting the 'merry England' Will Self said never existed. Such people tend to think other countries are doing spectacularly in comparison, while the home country collapses from moral decline. Failing to to see that Britain's promotion and export of monetarism actually destroyed itself and other places.

[@seekingsomething9026]

Well. He's right.

[@lecco666]

Peter is a professional miserabilist.

[@jonkline709]

It’s not. For one ask South Africa, India, any country in the Middle East last but not least Ireland oh and early America for starters

[@baldwinsculptor1]

Absolutely right Peter. The truth well said. I cannot wait to leave myself! Barry Baldwin, Sculptor, Writer, and Professor.

[@chrisgriffiths2533]

Some good points here. You need to be as Familiar with Gloom as Optimism, but there is some Neuances to these.

[@lesbatty84]

Neros warming up,crash,bang,wallop the Empires death rattle lol

[@Hwd371]

“Intellectuals” are always nearby when great countries fall…

[@jimmy2k4o]

I love the UK But I also love hearing Mr Hitchens being the harbinger of our national doom. Britain won’t die with a bang, or a whimper, we have Peter Hitchens……….we’ll die with a smug snicker of knowing we were right when all other are wrong.

[@robsol123]

Why have they got an actual goblin presenting and where did they get him from? 😂😂

[@Asl6uk]

I could see him as a Harry Potter character.

[@robsol123]

@@Asl6uk 😂😂

[@MrMassivefavour]

I like any sentence that begins with "so" not annoying at all!

[@Hollows1997]

Soberingly true, we truly are in the death rattle of our former glory… the sick man of Europe indeed.

[@TheNobbynoonar]

He’s not wrong.

[@265petsar]

More mouth than sense. He is trying to live up to his brothers heights, the difference is his brother was intellectually sensible and argued reasonable views. This guy has very little to say other than the fact he loves the sound of his own voice.

[@gudmundurThor96Nr2]

When parts of London don't even speak English in the country it originated from , you know that it is no longer Great Britain.

[@riccardoverde4683]

Does anyone know who we owe the national debt TO?

[@adambritain5774]

The money lenders.

[@riccardoverde4683]

Anti-semite!

[@oldboy5001]

The financial institutions who created the money by typing some digits into a computer.

[@Robertodb2012]

Who ever bought the government debt usually in the form of bonds.

[@Robertodb2012]

Also all Blairs buddy's he has made even richer with the PFI scheme which financially enslaves us for decades.

[@thegrimreaper4915]

In an age where the minority is looked after, the majority is ignored, the priority, is normally given to the minority, these days, with this virus, the short comings of that are only to apparent, and governments are being forced to deal with that policy in a very realistic way, which is funny, as the pc mind set is such a fragile thing. Therefore, this dealing with reality is painful for them, and it will take a long time for them to address in a contextual way. This came to me whilst was doing some soup

[@divvy1400yam600]

I general I support Hitchens' view of the depressive failing state of the UK except in this vid. his lament at the removal of the 11+ It is blindingly obvious that children develop at different rates due to mental and SOCIAL circumstances. Making important decisions at 11 is preposterous. Comprehensive education for ALL with discipline , selection and using any teaching method that is known to produce results , UK public school approaches if necessary.

[@MidnightRambler]

Is this guy ever happy?

[@ronanp100]

When he walks a leafy lane in England's green and pleasant land, I imagine.

[@abrogard142]

so what happened? did he win his point? he convinced me.

[@ghostdog4330]

Probably wasn't a good idea to flog off the family silver but then the Tories won't rest until nothing is left.

[@theconversation9103]

All these commentators agreeing but we're all responsible. Vast majority wouldn't have a hope in hell of getting an A in a Maths A-level and wouldn't bother go back to night school to even try

[@mikegalvin361]

He seems to just tell it as it is.

[@PaulWise-r4h]

Dearest Dearest Peter Hitchens, please God, JEHOVA, you were buried, and not cremated. Your words "They must say they do believe there is something supernatural that provides faith " As clearly put as I have heard it. Up there with Solzenytsyn.

[@neilsavage8915]

I would not trust Schofield who hid what he was from his wife nor would I trust Holly either who must have been aware of what he was.

[@scottwhat3362]

First coherent argument.

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

brought up to know by heart John of Gaunt's dying speech. now our children are brought up to hate themselves and their country and to only value "ethnic art" and to believe that actually "shakespeare's plays were really written by a black woman" how many school leavers now would even know john of gaunt? i love my country, but i was raised to hate it. it's only by being away that i realize the value of patriotism, and we have given it away, thrown it away with indoctrination and propaganda being used to brainwash us into embracing our own conquerors

[@seanthompson3938]

what are you on about, the writings of a mad man I love my country was never brought up to hate it even served in the army but I'm not a patriot, patriotism breeds idiots who blindly follow orders and act in hatful ways to anything that threatens there idea of there nation.

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

@@seanthompson3938 maybe we're different generations. there always seemed to be a vein of guilt for the british empire and all of the "bad things" and a devaluing of our own culture while pedestalising anything foreign

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

@@seanthompson3938 maybe we're different generations. there always seemed to be a vein of guilt for the british empire and all of the "bad things" and a devaluing of our own culture while pedestalising anything foreign

[@seanthompson3938]

@@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511 for years we as a country have only ever celebrated the empire and there is a lot to celebrate and also a lot to reflect on I don't believe in historical guilt, but to look back and not see the invention of the concentration camp, what we did to Ireland during the famine, India during are rule of it, slavery. You don't become the biggest empire in history by being "nice" we all look back on the Roman empire and say look at all there achievements in amazement but we also say it was a brutal empire which killed millions you can do both. But patriotism is a disease that coursed 2 world wars.

[@CelticSaint]

The left ALWAYS destroy they NEVER create or build. They only know hatred.

[@jonoessex]

Britain did not "surrender" to the IRA. 22 years have passed since the Belfast agreement and NI is still very much part of the UK.

[@Whodyanikabollockov]

The agreement says the assembly can call for a referedum on irish unification every 7 years as many times as they like until it succeeds, once this happens, there is no undoing it. Government buildings in NI can only fly the NATIONAL FLAG on designated days, not very much like the rest of the UK. And finally we are prosecuting our own soldiers for alleged events 40 years ago meanwhile we grant and maintain AMNESTY TO CONVICTED TERRORISTS. If not a surrender, what would you call that?

[@markofsaltburn]

Whodyanikabollockov Britain’s “war” against republicanism was always unwinnable.

[@jimmycakes7158]

Who cares, they sell themselves to the EU anyway, and they're currently importing more foreign nationals than their own birth rate

[@jonoessex]

@@Whodyanikabollockov I would call the referendum policy (if indeed it exists) perfectly reasonable. SO far there has not been a referendum and NI is still part of the UK Ok so the national flag can only fly on certain days. That has not come about as a result of IRA violence it has come about through agreement, maybe poor negotiating Again the situation as regards soldiers is unfair and has probably come about through poor negotiating. It has not come about because of IRA violence. There has been no surrender to the iRA.

[@paulrimmer2853]

Hitchens could never have foreseen Farage He fails to grasp the significance of Brexit. We have turned the corner.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

Brexit or not, Britain has no future if she doesn´t overcome, drastically and fast, the racial and religious tragedy she´s in the throes in. A tragedy so presciently announced by Enoch Powell no less than 52 years ago, when it was still so easy to prevent. Now it can´t be remedied without civil war. The cleansing, if it ever happens, is as indispensable as it is going to be expensive and bloody.

[@tsaxondale2499]

@@javiergilvidal1558 "cleansing!" What nonsense. 5% of the UK has darker skin than you. Get over it.

[@paulrimmer2853]

@@javiergilvidal1558 Just cut off the Welfare pipeline & watch them bale out.

[@markofsaltburn]

No you haven’t; you’ve been sold a pup by the same people. Brexit was designed to destroy Britain, not save it. It’s reflexive control. Farage is the real 5th columnist here.

[@paulrimmer2853]

@@markofsaltburn Another Lefty traitor masquerading as a Patriot.

[@withaak]

Vainglorious is the word.

[@R00365]

Always interesting. Even if his trademark despair serves no one but himself. Perhaps Britain's mediocrity is why younger people like myself were keen to form a European superstate. When all collapses, build anew.

[@sirhumphreyappleby8399]

You can’t unfortunately. You’re building with crumbling masonry and thin mortar, Europe is a dead continent and has been as such for a while.

[@sonofnike2800]

@historypoliticsbb the EU is a Supermarket whose Admins are so Corrupt they don't seem to mind that the Nations that Built it are dying; Demographic shift, Civil Strife; Money doesn't mend a Society but it sure has Destroyed it.

[@owenthompson5214]

A United states of Europe sounds like a bigger mistake, most of the 27 EU countries are even worse.

[@adambritain5774]

Us joining the EU has been one of the major problems of the last 6 decades.

[@DomhnallOSuileabhainPrin-tm1fw]

Hitchens is very wise and interesting on many subjects but like so many with his political idealogy, when it comes to Ireland they become inane and almost hysterical in their utterances.

[@seanmoran6510]

Domhnall Ó Súileabháin Prince of Beare Really oh those lovely Marxists I mean Sinn Fein The Che Guevara wanna be’s