John Cleese is just stating the obvious. Those in an uproar about it confuse me. What is so wrong about pointing out the truth?
I’ve travelled a lot over the past 30 years and the world, not just London, has changed so quickly.
It’s sad to see the identities and characters of whole countries steadily erased in a sea of encroaching ‘diversity’ and capitalism.
I remember backpacking and Interrailing in the late 80s, when European and Asian countries still had distinct identities. It was exciting to cross the border from Malaysia into Singapore, or France into Spain and to change currency and to see an entirely different culture in such close proximity. Almost all such distinctions are being steadily vapourised - perhaps because it’s easier for multinationals to make big profits if all consumers are on the same page, lapping up the same merchandise, without borders or barriers to trade. Within a few generations, they predict, we will all look the same too - like Brazilians, apparently.
In the past year I’ve travelled throughout Europe, the US, Australia and parts of Australia and the rising homogeneity really struck me more than ever. Everywhere I went there were pink, grey and gold or faux industrial ‘fasionable’ interiors, cafes serving matcha lattes and smashed avocado and the same brands and products advertised throughout.
People see this as a triumph of diversity but to me, it’s depressing.