To think that wearing a t shirt saying this deserves at the very least a dagger glare?!

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I was shopping in Tesco during the week and a man was wearing a t shirt with the following on it:

Your country needs you......(iconic photo of Sgt Major pointing)

To speak English!

My mouth dropped open and as I looked behind me, I saw DH spot it too....he did a double take and then mouthed WTF at me ahead!

I was still chuntering on about it (and BNP comparisons) 10 minutes later. I can only assume that it was meant to be worn for a reaction......

I do get offended by T shirts worn in public, personally - particularly if they have bad language on them.

I passed a girl who couldn't have been more than 13/14 the other day wearing one that said, 'Jesus Loves You - Everyone Else Thinks You're a Cunt'.

I thought that was appalling, TBH. I don't want my child reading that kind of language - and I'm sure old ladies don't need to see it.

You might find it amusing - but how about having a little bit of respect for other people?

It's ridiculous! For plenty of members of british society British isn't their first language, doesn't make them any less a part of it. They can speak whatever language they want. What about tourists? Should we ban them? Stop all that economy the royal family supposedly brings in?
Yanbu to be shocked. If it is about racism (even if it's about text speak IMO) it is inflammatory and unnecessary.

Roxy, being a member of British society and not having English as your first language, doesn't mean that person should not attempt to learn it surely?

And I'm sure the t.shirt (as crass as it was) isn't aimed at people popping over here for a 2 week holiday.

I really hope that the t-shirt was worn by some kind of grammar pedant who didn't realise how it could be interpreted. Unfortunately the racist overtones are rather horrible.

Im not saying that, maybe it would be beneficial to the people concerned to learn a bit of English, but that doesn't mean they can't speak other languages the majority of the time if they wish to. It also isn't something I think can or should be enforced. I certainly don't agree with the implication the t-shirt is making.
British people are notoriously bad at languages. It's pot calling kettle black really, how many people emigrate to Spain and Greece (from britain) Only knowing please, thank-you and hello. Plenty I should imagine.
I know the tshirt wasn't talking about tourists but if not, why not? By his (tshirt) logic what difference does it make? if they're in Britain not speaking English they're obviously still damaging the country in some ridiculous and imagined way surely?

Jeepers. If one is going to live in a country, one ought to speak the language. That seems obvious enough. But I wouldn't wear a t-shirt pointing out the fact. It seems a bit obsessive.

Now, when I started reading this I expected the t-shirt to read "Your country needs you - Bye bye then!"

If you comment or stare you've given the wearer the attention they want. Ignore is my motto.

i would assume it is aimed at the youngsters who txt speak as well , i dont find it offensive at all .

Seems a reasonable T shirt to me. I think those people who move to Spain and make absolutely no effort to learn the language, and expect local Spanish people to learn English to accomodate them, to be far more racist.