Latest news with #BritishCulture
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
American man living in the UK shocked by common British habit
An American living in the UK revealed the British cultural habit of being 'over-polite' is sometimes confusing for visitors. Kobie Jordan, who is from the US but now living in London, took to his TikTok @kjordyyy to reveal one culture difference he's noticed since moving across the pond. The TikToker admitted he's still adapting to the famously apologetic and overly polite nature of British culture. In the clip, which racked up more than 45,000 views, he revealed one train journey in particular left him completely stumped. He said: 'As much as I love living in the UK, there's just one thing I have to talk about. 'Their over politeness almost to a fault. It's no secret they have a huge apologising culture. Always saying sorry, sorry all the time. But boy, do I have a story for y'all.' Kobie explained he was on a 'super packed train' from Birmingham to London when an older gentleman boarded the train and began eyeing the seat beside him, but wouldn't take it. He said: 'Every single seat was taken except for one. Right next to me, there's an older gentleman that just got on the train. 'He kept looking at me. Cause it's not my job to tell you to come sit if he wants to sit. He's a grown man, he can come sit. 'He would even look, look at me and look away. His wife had found a seat, but he was kind of looking at me like I was doing something wrong.' The American admitted he was tempted to offer the free seat to the man but he hesitated as he claimed the man could just grab the seat if he wanted it. He said: 'Part of me wanted me to offer my seat next to me to him, but I was like, wait a minute, it's an open seat, he can just come grab it if he wants to sit there. 'And me being from the US, it's hard for me to judge these type of situations here because, one, I don't know if he's actually just being too polite, maybe he's not too fond of me, or it just doesn't make sense.' He concluded: 'If y'all know me, y'all know I love the UK. And this is just my opinion and I Gotta see how it is. 'As much as I love it, that's one thing that I just can't really get my head around.' Many British commenters quickly weighed in, offering their own interpretations of what the elderly gentleman may have been thinking. Many British commenters quickly weighed in, offering their own interpretations of what the elderly gentleman may have been thinking One person said: 'I think he wanted you to give up your seat so him and his wife could sit together.' To which Kobie responded: 'Very true, why didn't he ask?' Another added: 'It polite to offer the seat… especially to pregnant or older people. He may not have wanted to have assumed he should squeeze past you.' Kobie added: 'Again that's so British. If you want to sit. Sit.' Someone else added: 'We're just polite to a fault. There's an unwritten rule about sitting next to people, although in PACKED situations usually doesn't apply. 'The 'look' would typically be inferred as a request to sit there and then the other party obliges.' A fourth added: 'I'm English. if he wanted the seat he would have either taken it or asked' Another added: 'As a old English lady who loves good manners, you acted in the correct manner. the choice was his to stand.' It comes after Kobie made another video highlighting the three things he finds 'weird' in Britain. Firstly, he discusses the commonly used greeting of 'You alright?' - which he admits he initially mistook for passive aggression. He said: 'When I first moved here, I thought it was just British people being passive-aggressive, being like: 'Are you alright' after I just had a bad day. Of course I'm not alright.' Secondly, Kobie also claimed that Brits walk more than their trans-Atlantic cousins. According to the content creator, American drive or take public transportation for any distances that exceed ten minutes. He explained: 'We'll be done filming and I'll be like, "Let's get some food somewhere," and they're like: "Oh, it's only 35 minutes away." 35 minutes away? Back home, if it's more than 10 minutes, you're whipping [driving].' However, the most bewildering revelation to the American came regarding university culture. Kobie pointed out how surprising it was to find bars or pubs on many British university campuses. He said: 'They have bars and clubs on their campus. And, even weirder than that, the teacher will literally be like, "Are y'all [you all] ready for a pint after class?'' Kobie concludes his observations by claiming that drinking is normalised among British students due to the legal drinking age being 18 - with many drinking even before then - compared to 21 in the U.S. He claimed that Brits have been 'drinking since they're 15years-old, so by the time they get to college, it's nothing to them' while Americans 'go buck wild and start acting crazy' in college due to the national drinking age being 21. A number of Brits hilariously confirmed Jordan's observations in the comments, with one writing, 'As a Brit that has moved abroad, I miss walking everywhere,' while another said, 'Drinking for 15? What part of the UK in? We start from birth haha.' Meanwhile, one individual pointed out: 'Don't you guys say 'what's up' as a greeting? Isn't that pretty much the same as 'you alright?''
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Migrants are welcome - but not British schoolgirls in Union Jack frocks!
At first glance, there's nothing to connect the 12-year-old girl excluded from school for wearing a Union Jack dress to a 'Culture Day' and the disgraceful Afghan airlift cover-up. But bear with me and you'll discover how closely they are related. Courtney Wright, from Bilton, near Rugby, was told her frock, modelled on one worn by Ginger Spice and intended to celebrate British culture, was 'inappropriate'.
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Thick-as-mince teachers will drive our kids into the EDL with their spiteful leftie wokery – but I know the solution
WHEN Stuart Field arrived to pick up his 12-year-old daughter Courtney from school, he found she was sitting alone in the reception area. When he asked why, he was in for a shock. 7 It had been the school 's 'Culture Celebration Day'. And Courtney had been segregated from all the other pupils. Because she had chosen to celebrate her British culture by wearing a Union Jack dress. Stuart said: 'It's cultural diversity day at school where children can wear clothing representing their culture and write a speech about their heritage. 'She's been told it's not for her as she gets to celebrate being British every day.' And so she was kept apart from all her friends. She wasn't quite alone, actually. Anybody else who chose to wear something redolent of Great Britain was also kicked out, including a kid who wore a Welsh costume to celebrate his Welsh heritage. And so this is where we have got to with our moronic teachers. Celebrating alien forms of culture is just fine and dandy. But try to celebrate being British and see where it gets you. Courtney had intended to give a little speech. It was all about celebrating every culture and the wonders of diversity. Well, good for you, love. But it wouldn't surprise me if she fancies joining the English Defence League now. Because that's what this kind of vindictive stupidity can do to a person, when you're on the receiving end. The school, which is in Bilton near Rugby, Warks, later apologised 'unreservedly' for what had happened to Courtney. And it said: 'As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect and understanding for all. 'We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued and included.' No, you drongos. Not good enough. Not anywhere near good enough. Can you imagine what would have happened if someone chose to wear Nigerian dress to celebrate their culture? And had then been told off and sent to sit by themselves? Or someone wearing a niqab? 7 We want answers from this school. First, why did they think it was wrong to celebrate a British heritage? Second, what disciplinary procedures have been taken against the staff member(s) who decided that segregating Courtney was a really good idea? Third, why were you having a cultural awareness day? Why not spend the time instead teaching the kids how to add up and write their own names? This is one of the most odious slices of spiteful wokery I have come across for a very long time. Thick as mince And yet it is somehow perfectly representative of the state of mind which pertains in classrooms up and down the country. These fabulously dim-witted people — the teachers — are almost exclusively lefties who cannot abide anything about our culture. And the children are being brainwashed about how horrid and wicked Britain was (and is) on a daily basis. I don't know how you sort this stuff out. It is so widespread in our schools it would take mass sackings. Thousands upon thousands of disciplinary hearings. I will happily oversee the process, if anyone's interested. And in the meantime, Courtney — well done. You were right to stick up for your culture. And don't worry about the teachers. They're thick as mince and never get more than £2,000 in the Cash Builder round on The Chase. SPANISH dwarfs are revolting. The Barcelona star Lamine Yamal hired four dwarves to serve drinks and perform magic tricks at his 18th birthday. But a Spanish dwarf association, Los Poco Furioso, dobbed him in to the police. They claimed he was exploiting dwarves. That's not the real name of the association, by the way. It's something very long and self-righteous, in Spanish. The dwarves who performed for Lamine told the moaners to get lost. They hadn't been exploited at all, they said. The association said such work 'perpetuated stereotypes' about dwarves. What, such as they tend to be, y'know, a bit on the smallish side? AFGHAN FIASCO DODGY THAT government super injunction is a huge scandal. We shouldn't have super injunctions at all. And the very last people who should use them are our elected politicians. I don't believe for a minute that the injunction was taken out to protect the lives of those Afghans. It was done because the last government knew that we, the public, would go absolutely doolally if we discovered they were letting thousands of Afghans into the country. And is it REALLY the case that we were helped by that many locals? Sheesh, it's enough manpower to win a war. How did we lose? GREAT British Bake Of f winner Nadiya Hussain has been moaning about her show being axed by the BBC. 7 They just drop you when they've had enough of you, she wailed. Yup, that's right. That's how it's been in TV for the last 80 years. And how it will be for the next 80. It's not because you are a woman, or a Muslim, or Bangladeshi. It's just because we've all had enough of you, OK? TIME TO LAWYER UP , JOHN 7 SO not only has Gregg Wallace been given the heave-ho. It's also curtains for his MasterChef Aussie co-host John Torode. According to a report – which was never intended to be about him specifically – he made a nasty racial comment. Torode denies having said anything racist at all. It doesn't seem to me as if the presenter has been treated entirely fairly in all of this. A report claims he said something a bit naughty – and he's out of a job. I think maybe John should consult his lawyers. Meanwhile Wallace lost my sympathy when he tried to blame things like wearing a sock on his old fella as being caused by autism. Female Asians in wheelchairs is my bet. TRANS SENSE 7 HUGE congratulations to Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie. She was suspended by the morons at NHS Fife for complaining about a transgender nurse using the female changing room. She was charged with gross misconduct, would you believe. Now the health authority has backed down and dropped all charges against Sandie. Slowly, a sense of reality is returning to this country. On this issue at least. SMALL MINDED THE Government is busy drawing up plans to stop us saying stuff. It is working on a definition of the word 'Islamophobia', so that people who say something derogatory about Islam can be banged up. This might well include linking the religion to terrorist attacks. Which is interesting, because when the jihadi nutters detonate a bomb or stab some poor innocent civilian and shout 'Allahu Akbar!' they're making the link themselves, aren't they? Like it or not, there is a pretty big link, isn't there? And you don't break that link by restricting freedom of speech.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Schoolgirl, 12, banned from wearing 'unacceptable' Union Jack dress to school for culture day when other pupils were 'able to wear burkas and traditional Nigerian clothing'
A 12-year-old girl was left devastated after being put into isolation for wearing a Union Jack dress to celebrate being British at her school's culture day. 'Straight A' student Courtney Wright wore the Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a speech about history and traditions as part of the celebrations on Friday. But the Year 7 pupil was left shocked after being told the dress was 'unacceptable' and she was hauled out of lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her. Her father Stuart Field, 47, said he was gobsmacked to learn she had been segregated from her peers due to her choice of attire at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire. He added that while other pupils with St George's and Welsh flags were also turned away, students were allowed in burkas, niqabs and traditional Nigerian clothing. Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: 'Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. 'She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. 'And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating British culture and history; nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it.' The father added: 'Another with a St Georges flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn't allowed. 'It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people. 'Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing.' Mr Field said Courtney wanted to wear the dress to celebrate being British, the Spice Girls and the freedom of being able to wear a dress. 'This was her interpretation of British culture and what it means to her,' he said. 'Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political.' In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the Culture Celebration Day was 'designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages'. But Mr Field said the school's actions went against the message of inclusion and other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were turned away from the school gates. The father-of-five added: 'The day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. 'She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. Geri Halliwell launched a Union Jack collection designed in collaboration with Next at Mercer Studios in February 2012 'The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable.' He added: 'I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. 'She's a straight A student, one of the brightest in her year and she's never been in trouble before so she was really upset. 'All the kids there are British in my eyes, I like to think I'm a tolerant person but this was just not right. Courtney's speech for Culture Day Today I want to talk about my culture - British culture - and why it's important to me. In Britain, we have lots of traditions including drinking tea, our love for talking about the weather and we have the royal family. We have amazing history, like kings and queens, castles, and writers like Shakespeare. It's also modern, diverse and always changing - with music fashion and food from all around the world blending into daily life. And let's not forget fish and chips! Its also the way we speak, our humour, our values of fairness and politeness, and the mix of old traditions and new ideas But sometimes at school, we only hear about other cultures - which is great because learning about different countries is interesting and important. But it can feel like being British doesn't count as a culture, just because it's the majority. I think culture should be for everyone - not just for people from other countries or backgrounds. Being British is still a culture, and it matters too.. It's part of who I am. So let's celebrate all cultures - whether they come from far away or right here at home. 'I wanted an answer as to why they thought this was acceptable - and nobody could give me a straight answer, I wanted to know how they had justified it. 'I spoke to her head of year, and he said he wasn't the best person to talk to about it, so I can only assume he didn't really agree with it either. 'It obviously came from above him but I don't know for sure who made the decision. 'I was fobbed off and told that I'd get a phone call and I took Courtney straight out for a nice meal to cheer her up. 'If anything I was extremely proud of what she chosen and what she had written in her speech. 'She wanted to celebrate being British, she couldn't understand what was wrong with that. 'She wasn't the only kid picked out either - one child from a farming background was turned away at the gates for wearing traditional flat-cap and checked shirt. 'They didn't even read or listen to her speech which actually celebrates inclusivity and other cultures. 'It was just like British culture could not be celebrated. She was punished for being proud of being British. 'I put a post on Facebook and I've had messages of support from all over the world really, from Poland to Australia to America. 'Everybody is saying how ridiculous it is that any young person cannot celebrate where they are from. 'The school now want her to come back and read the speech, but she doesn't feel comfortable about it or wearing the dress anymore. 'She feels like the school is parading her a bit now. It could have all been avoided if the school just followed their own policy of inclusivity and let everyone share a little about their culture.' The school contacted Mr Field over the weekend and have since apologised for the move. A spokesman for Stowe Valley Trust said: 'At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. 'On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. 'We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. 'We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage. 'As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.'
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Girl in union jack couldn't give 'British' speech at Rugby school
A Warwickshire school has offered "unreserved apologies" to a student prevented from making a speech at school about being British, while wearing a union jack 12-year-old, who attends Bilton School in Rugby, wore the outfit for Culture Celebration Day on father, Stuart Field, said: "My daughter felt like there was an issue, she felt like it was something she shouldn't have done. That's what is wrong about this whole situation."A spokesperson for the school said: "We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies." Mr Field said in a Facebook post he picked his daughter up early from school after the the reaction to the incident, Mr Field said he had had messages of support from across the globe."I've had hundreds of people reaching out to me from all over the UK, as well as Australians, I've had Polish, people from America all reaching out," he said."And there's a common thing - we should be able to send our kids into school to celebrate British culture and history." Mr Field said the school had now invited his daughter to come back in her dress and read a speech about why British culture was important to her. But he told the BBC that she now "doesn't want to wear the dress" as "she doesn't feel comfortable". Mr Field added: "None of this would have happened had [the school] just followed their own policy of inclusivity and let everyone share a little about their culture."And he said: "I don't think anyone from school really read her speech. It was more a case of 'no, it's not happening'." 'Caused considerable upset' A statement from Bilton School said: "We are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. "We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included."On 11 July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community."The school said it apologised, before the statement added: "We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
