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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked and actually quite sickened by this t shirt?

126 replies

geordieminx · 08/01/2011 16:24

I was in River Island earlier today, huge big display, centre of which was a (mens) t shirt emblazoned with "born in the uk".

Have I missed some totally innocent explaination for this? As far as I can see it's a poor excuse for racism and xenophobia.

It actually made me feel quite sick, it would be something I would expect to see on a BNP march, not in a high street store Sad

OP posts:
lifeinagoldfishbowl · 08/01/2011 16:44

Geordieminx Why do you think it's xenophobic and why would you give them a wide berth earwicga

sue52 · 08/01/2011 16:48

I don't think it's racist, just tacky.
My daughters were both born in the UK (and proud of it) though neither DH or I were.

Binky55 · 08/01/2011 18:01

You are being ridiculous never mind unreasonable!

ChickensAreFlyingUnderTheRadar · 08/01/2011 18:04

YABU. Since when has being born in a place been a reson to be ashamed? It's pure accident.

WhenPaperclipsAttack · 08/01/2011 18:07

Are t-shirts that say "established 1982" signifiying that the wearer was born in 1982 ageist then?

Newgolddream · 08/01/2011 18:08

Im a bit puzzled why you would think this is racist, and would love you to come back on here and answer. Its not something I or my DH would wear but not because its racist but because I dont really wear slogans.

Its just stating a simple fact - the person was born in the UK.

Newgolddream · 08/01/2011 18:09

LOl @ WhenPaperclipsAttack Are t-shirts that say "established 1982" signifiying that the wearer was born in 1982 ageist then?

BurnAfterReading · 08/01/2011 18:09

YABU, over sensitive and perhaps a little silly tbh.

Badly Drawn Boy has an album named Born In the UK, which I reckon is a play on Born in the USA (Badly Drawn Boy is a fan of Bruce Springstein)

Although I don't think this particular T-Shirt is anything to do with Badly Drawn Boy, as the words on the shirt are the same as the album name I think I might buy it for my DP (who is a major BDB fan)

River Island was it..??

The problem with society today is that we are all a bit too PC and look for racist slurs in just about everything.

The TShirt says Born in the UK and I'm presuming you saw this TShirt for sale in the UK...I really cant see your problem

borderslass · 08/01/2011 18:16

YABU is it not a play on 'born in the USA'

bethelbeth · 08/01/2011 18:19

Absolutely anybody could wear it though, just because you were born in the Uk does not mean that you will have a certain racial background.

So it's not racist at all.

YABU

But it's a shit tshirt.

friedtoacrisp · 08/01/2011 18:26

It made you feel sick? Excuse me whilst I roll around laughing. Sick? YABVVVVVVVU. Find something real to get sick about - there's plenty of injustice out there.

JamieLeeCurtis · 08/01/2011 18:28

Ok, I think her Blush on her last post means she gets the message

MsKLo · 08/01/2011 18:33

Hmmm

I don't know - it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable ( and I think that patriotism has been lost too much usually )

I dont think much to it as a slogan but not quite sure why...

lady007pink · 08/01/2011 18:33

When I needed a new passport earlier this year, and the Irish Passport Office workers went on strike how i wished I was born in the UK!

Anyway, I think you're being ridiculous! Surely it applies to any baby born in the UK, even those whose parents are from other countries????

Firawla · 08/01/2011 18:36

yabu there's nothing offensive about that. i've seen baby tshirts last yr with born in 2010 on it so i would have took this kind of thing in a similar way, its just labelling the wearer not anything negative about anyone else. it's not like it says "non english ppl are scum" does it!

friedtoacrisp · 08/01/2011 18:38

Maybe it means the bloody t shirt was born in the UK? Who gives a toss? The day I start feeling sick over some wanky words on a t shirt is the day I cart myself off to the funny farm.

Original poster
geordieminx · 08/01/2011 18:44

Ok, I get the message.

I didn't like it. Obviously I am ridiculous, oversensitive, far too politically correct, paranoid, unreasonable loon who needs something to justifiably feel sick over.

OP posts:
katiestar · 08/01/2011 18:45

YABU and quite frankly sickening.

Original poster
geordieminx · 08/01/2011 18:46

Out of order katiestar.

OP posts:
JamieLeeCurtis · 08/01/2011 18:54

geordie - I think it's interesting. I do think that, rationally, there is nothing at all racist/offensive about this T shirt, but I would not buy one, because it does sound like the kind of slogan a racist might quite like on his/her chest. IYSWIM.

I used to feel a vague unease about the Union Jack, for the same reason, again ridiculous- but a sign of how a national flag/pride was used by racists. In the case of the Union Jack though, it has been re-claimed by the mainstream, in home decoration etc

SalvadorDalek · 08/01/2011 18:58

I am proud to be born in England. Does that make me racist?

JamieLeeCurtis · 08/01/2011 18:59

No

BarbieLovesKen · 08/01/2011 19:04

"I didn't like it. Obviously I am ridiculous, oversensitive, far too politically correct, paranoid, unreasonable loon who needs something to justifiably feel sick over"

...couldnt put it any better myself

ChunkyPickle · 08/01/2011 19:04

Good lord, Canada must be a terrible place then - every other person here is wearing something with the flag or 'CANADA' on it!

I hate that someone from the UK is supposed to be ashamed of it! How can that be healthy for a country?

JamieLeeCurtis · 08/01/2011 19:07

Chunky - that's the point I was trying (badly) I think, to make. We are very tied in knots about national pride. My point was that national pride has been used by racist organisations to promote their agenda in the past

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