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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:
Higgledyhouse · 08/01/2011 19:08

My opinion like others is that you are really over thinking this.

Also I too think it is a take from Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA.

However being a Bruce Springsteen fan I suppose I am too a little surprised that some of the posters on this thread have misinterpreted the lyrics in this song.

This is song that is defending the 'have nots' and certainly one that is suggesting that to be BORN IN THE USA was nothing to be proud of after some of their political actions. Even George Bush got this wrong.

Bruce Springsteen lyrics have been described as poetry and are used in universities throughout the world to study the use of metaphor and Language etc.

Anyhow at risk of sounding like a Bruce Springsteen boffin I'll go now!

charliesmommy · 08/01/2011 19:08

When I was in the USA I came back with loads of clothes.. plenty of them had the US Flag on them, I wasnt born there though... hmmmmmmmm perhaps I shouldnt have got them.

theevildead2 · 08/01/2011 19:11

Made in the UK would have been funnier. Born is just a bit random, wouldn't assume it was racist. And I don't think guys shopping at River Island are going there for there urge to wear BNP paraphanelia. ... More because they like dressing like T4 presenters and need to be told how to dress.

As an aside being "proud to be British" is a bit silly.. Unless you have actually passed the UK immigrant exam and have worked for it.

I really can't get why anyone would think that their parents having had sex and delivered a child in a specific area was something for THEM to be proud of.

charliesmommy · 08/01/2011 19:13

I think you are misunderstanding the meaning of being proud then Evildead.

I am proud to be British, because of many reasons, not simply being born here.

RustyBear · 08/01/2011 19:14

I actually know someone who has this T shirt - he was born in the UK of Indian parents and wears it in response to the 'go back to your own country' comments he has experienced in the past...

herbietea · 08/01/2011 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FabbyChic · 08/01/2011 19:15

Id prefer it to say born in england.

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 08/01/2011 19:17

this is the funniest thing I have read on here since 'cubes of poo'

theevildead2 · 08/01/2011 19:18

charliesmommy no I don't thnk I am Charlie's mummy, why are you proud to be british then?

It just seems entirely random.. Like if I said I was proud to have brown hair..

A soldier might say they are proud to fight for their country. But then that is a specific thing that they are proud of ifyswim.

theevildead2 · 08/01/2011 19:19

I was thinking of RustyBear's friends situation of when it would be awesome to wear the shirt..

ScarlettWalking · 08/01/2011 19:20

Oh no shall I put my "Italians do it better" T shirt away? Wouldn't want to cause a hernia or make anyone actually sick

raspberryroo · 08/01/2011 19:20

There's nothing wrong with it. Racism and patriotism aren't the same thing.

Pixi said it very early in the thread

Original poster
geordieminx · 08/01/2011 19:23

Ok, I get it.

Aplologies.

OP posts:
tazmosis · 08/01/2011 19:27

I think YABU.

Agree with others that have said that patriotism has got mixed up with racism due to revolting organisations like BNP using the Union Jack as their symbol.

It's very sad, but I know that when I see a UJ flying it makes me instinctively wonder if the householder is BNP...

tazmosis · 08/01/2011 19:28

Not when it's at Buck House tho!

Vallhala · 08/01/2011 19:30

Absolutely, FabbyChick. I don't care to be called British, I'm English and very proud of that.

Val - who was Made In England.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 08/01/2011 19:35

I also prefer English to British.

StarlightPrincess · 08/01/2011 19:38

Exactly how is this racist? Political correctness gone mad...rolls eyes

cantspel · 08/01/2011 20:40

my son has a pair of underpants with little union jacks all over them and British beef written around the waistband.
Are they rasist as well or just a funny pair of pants(or tacky)

Some people really need to get a grip

bethelbeth · 08/01/2011 21:59

I think the point has made made.
As much as I like mumsnet you really can be a bunch of bandwagon jumping jackals who truly need to get a grip.

bethelbeth · 08/01/2011 22:00

Gah typo point has BEEN made

fluffles · 08/01/2011 22:04

it's a play on the springsteen song 'born in the usa' surely - which is itself an anti-vietnam song and is actually somewhat anti-nationalistic.

but that's overcomplicating it, it's just a play on 'born in the usa'.

Alouiseg · 08/01/2011 22:08

You'd hate me, I've got a Mini with a Union Jack on the roof and I generally have a British Bulldog sitting in the passenger seat.

Honeydragon · 08/01/2011 22:14

I have a large tattoo across my back (is on profile if you wish to judge how offensive it is Wink), it is there with written permission from the RFU, I am not in any way affiliated with the BNP and tbh any one who immediately thought I was on seeing it, I'm not sure I would want to approach me any way.

Anyone who looks at it and thinks chav and trampstamp is fine, and I would embrace wholeheartedly Grin, because we live in a democracy that allows people the freedom to have opinions.

I think UABU to be that upset by that T-Shirt.

TwoIfBySea · 08/01/2011 22:15

I used to have an Italians Do It Better t-shirt back in the day. Was stopped once on the street in Glasgow by a Scots-Italian who told me "what do you mean? Italians do everything better!"

It is a bit silly that you are so ashamed of where you are from that you don't feel you can trumpet it a little.

Never come up here to Edinburgh - there are scores of shops with Scottish t-shirts.

As QI has just reminded us, during WW2 the only reason we had segregation was because of the Americans stationed over here. If you get the chance, listen to what Bonnie Grier says about when her father was stationed here and how he felt human due to our attitude to race.

Then go buy yourself a t-shirt and wear it with pride.