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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be offended on behalf of India?

26 replies

FFFS · 17/02/2011 23:48

Just watching Question Time and the subject of the billion ££s over the next 3 years we are giving in aid to India came up.

It was mentioned that the Indian government had themselves said they did not want the money Confused but the eminent (puke) pilicticians said that the people needed it anyway.

Seems to me that they are implying that the Indian government can't be trusted to look after their own people which the Indians should be offended about!

AIBU to be very confused by this? If our government are so concerned about the Indian people, maybe they should kindly advise their government to quit their space/nuclear programs and make sure their people have clean water to drink.

OP posts:
notjustapotforsoup · 18/02/2011 00:06

You seem a bit muddled.

ccpccp · 18/02/2011 07:57

The 'we didnt ask for the money' defence comes up when anyone challenges India on the space program vs absolute poverty in their country.

TBH if its true then its evidence of Labour politicians in indian businessmens pockets, trying to buy the good graces of a growing superpower.

BeenBeta · 18/02/2011 08:06

I have often thougt that £1 billion of our aid budget would go a long way to maintaining a hospital ship equpped with helicopters with armed forces medical personnel and other emergency equipment ready at any time to sail anywhere in the world to provide assistance in natural disaster.

Imagine the PR/diplomatic value of a British navy rescue ship arriving off the coast to deliver humanitarian aid at every major natural disaster. If you want to win hearts and minds and control how the aid gets distributed I suggest that might be a better use of British aid budget money.

Callisto · 18/02/2011 08:07

'Offended on India's behalf'? Yes, yabu.

KnittedBreast · 18/02/2011 09:39

I dont think we should be offering money to countried that either dont want or dont need it. It would be be better to have a large fund of cash ready to use for disasters wherever they may be.

twirlymum · 18/02/2011 09:45

beenbeta that is a fantastic idea.

Rhinestone · 18/02/2011 11:48

Beenbeta and Twirlymum - what about natural disasters in countries that don't have a coastline? Confused

MrSpoc · 18/02/2011 11:59

then they should invent a massive navel carrier that transformed into a helicopter and they could then fly there

jasminetom · 18/02/2011 12:15

You don't need to feel offended on their behalf. I live and work in a predominantly Indian community and they laugh at our crap schools, Jeremy Kyle chavs and loose morals. Most people I know wouldn't aspire to be like you for anything in the world and are quite happy and patriotic thanks. As a poll, I have shown this post to about 50 people at work, they all laughed and said thanks for your concern but maybe worry about our own financial problems first.

Rhinestone · 18/02/2011 12:52

@Jasmine - well how nice to see an integrated community. Hmm

jasminetom · 18/02/2011 13:28

In the real world there is no such thing. we all live our lives, we all go to work. We may be friends but we are different and don't pretend not to be. I have lived in Africa, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Nigeria and Russia. I have taught in schools in all these places. If I were waxing on about life in the UK then maybe I am not the best qualified to reply. However, in arguing with middle class fusspots who get their opinions on the big wide world from the left wing press..yes, my opinion is valid.

5DollarShake · 18/02/2011 13:43

On the one hand you trust the Indian Government not to need our money.

And on the other hand, you feel the need to step into their affairs with regards to their nuclear programme and clean drinking water.

Confused

Do you not see the (patronising) irony there? Basically it's only OK to dictate to them on issues which random Mumsnetter FFFS decides on...

Get your righteous indignation straight before posting, maybe?

BeenBeta · 18/02/2011 13:55

Rhinestone - personally I would like to seee an airborne force as well.

TBH, it would be a great way for British armed forces to play a positive role across the world.

Rhinestone · 18/02/2011 14:08

Actually I think the British Armed Forces already play a very positive role across the world. But then I used to be in them, and am married to a soldier.

Soldiers are not aid workers; it's not their role and it's rarely appropriate for the military to provide humanitarian aid. That's the role of the International Federation of the Red Cross and UN agencies.

Plus it's better to build capacity in disaster-prone countries for them to respond to their own disasters or better yet, prevent them or mitigate their effects.

Original poster
FFFS · 18/02/2011 14:53

Actually I was being sarcastic. If the Indian government are saying that they do not need our money, we should not give it to them. Their people's quality of life is their responsibility not ours and if they can afford space/nuclear programs, they should be able to make sure their people have an adequate standard of living.

Billion bloody pounds, just think how much social housing that could build!

Jasmintom - if your Indian 'friends' laugh at our schools and 'loose' morals, maybe you should ask them what they are doing here then Hmm.

OP posts:
BeenBeta · 18/02/2011 15:04

Rhinestone - yes I agree.

The rapid insertion (say within 24 hours) of a UK armed forces based emergency assistance force in the early stages of a natural disaster at the invitation of the host Govt and under UN colours would I think be welcome if it occured as a prelude to international aid agency assistance - but not as a a long term solution.

giveitago · 18/02/2011 15:46

Erm I feel India is doing fine without uk help.

jasminetom · 18/02/2011 16:17

Sorry, I should have mentioned, I am in the Middle East. I wouldn't live in the Uk if you pai me.

jasminetom · 18/02/2011 16:18

paid me

lackaDaisy · 18/02/2011 16:48

Oh for crying out loud! jasminetom please take your narrow-minded views elsewhere. Only fools laugh at another culture. You laughing at British culture is as bigoted as the OP's rant.

I am of Indian origin and have lived in India for a prolonged period in my formative years, and please believe me when I say that jasminetom does not speak for me or any Indian I know.

Twat!

lackaDaisy · 18/02/2011 16:50

Oh by the way, I do agree that money should not be given when the Indian government has not asked for it. It's just the wording of the OP that I don't like and the underlying assumption that most Indians live in third-world conditions

Rhinestone · 18/02/2011 17:08

lackaDaisy - I think you and I would get on very well! Fancy a drink? Wine

lackaDaisy · 18/02/2011 17:22

Well Rhinestone, I have never refused a glass of Wine chin-chin Grin

jasminetom · 19/02/2011 06:15

A twat who lives in the real world rather than a "broad minded" provincial twat. You have no idea.

MsFaithless · 19/02/2011 10:39

jasminetom - So the 'real world' is basically anywhere other than the UK then? Hmm

Why post so much on a British forum if you detest it so much other than to bang on in every thread out how superior you are.

I can only assume you ishoos Confused