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| Britain |
| UK Tourism minister taunts America’s stay-away stars |
| 2003-05-21 |
| Edited for brevity. Hollywood’S action heroes were ridiculed by a government minister yesterday for lacking the "balls" to visit Europe because of fears of a terrorist attack. Kim Howells, the tourism minister, said stars such as Tom Cruise were belying their swashbuckling screen image by being too scared to board transatlantic flights to Europe. Hard-man actors were more frightened of flying than "grannies from New York", Mr Howells added. He said the failure of stars like Cruise - well-known for action movies like Minority Report, Top Gun and Mission: Impossible - to travel was damaging the British tourist industry because they offered a lead to other travellers from the United States. Mr Howells argued: "These people portray themselves as great action heroes and although we know they use stuntmen all the time, one would assume they would have the balls to do a simple thing like fly to Europe and set an example for the rest of the nation." Mr Howells made the characteristically outspoken remarks as he prepared to fly out to the US yesterday on a six-day trip during which he hopes to persuade more Americans to visit Britain. However, Tony Blair’s official spokesman defended Mr Howells yesterday, saying the Prime Minister was happy for his culture minister to take on the titans of Hollywood in his role of promoting Britain abroad. "You can’t criticise ministers on the one hand for being programmed automatons and on the other take issue if they say things that perhaps are a little bit more interesting than usual," the spokesman said. Actually, I want to visit the UK and give them some of my tourist dollars to repay them for their stand as our staunchest ally in Iraq. However, the craziness that considers a child's plastic sword to be a deadly weapon (posted here yesterday) and the concept that legal self-defense means curling up and begging for mercy do not set well with me. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #14 Guess this guy hasn't seen Top Gun,no action movie that.it's a story about 2 guys who fall in love,one kills hisself,other rides off into the sunset with his lady.(Hate that miss-advertised tear-jerker) I would visit Great Brirain in a heart beat(same problem OP has).Besides all the cool things to see and do(like driving on the wrong side of the road and eating hagus[eeewww}).Visiting the lands and castles of my ancesters,Clan McManus(Ireland)with my son would be fantastic. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-05-22 06:46:20 |
| #13 I lived in the village of Raunds, in Northamptonshire, for a year and a half while stationed at RAF Alconbury. I'd love to go back! Problem is, no dinero! Guess I'll just have to be content with UK websites, emails to my friends at Molesworth, and a quick letter now and then to the people I still keep in touch with. Sorry, guys - not your fault, but %^%&$^ stingy Uncle Sam! |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-05-22 00:15:57 |
| #12 Check out the Imperial War Museum - Air Arm at Duxford for 5 huge hangers of aircraft, and the RAF museum in Hendon (London) if you are into it. Fabulous museums. I was there on Remberance Day 1992. The Brits still remember the sacrifices of our airmen today. Graves there are treated with great respect, unlike at Frogistan. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-21 19:12:44 |
| #11 I am going to the Yorkshire in August specifically to spend my tourist dollars in the UK(and watch a border collie trial). Never been there, but wish to support a friend. Last Summer we went to Toronto. Wish I could take it back. |
| Posted by: mb 2003-05-21 18:19:44 |
| #10 Thanks Tony. Americans don't need to be taunted...or even "asked nicely" to visit your beautiful country, it's a joy for us to go. I just found Howell's comment so transparent and juvenile. I apologize for making it seem as if I was painting all of your countrymen with the same brush...I didn't mean to. |
| Posted by: Becky 2003-05-21 18:09:19 |
| #9 Becky, Please don't confuse shit-for-brains politicians with normal Brits. Howells is also a labour politician, ie very left-wing... Personally, I'd love to see some 'Merkins over here, not to boost tourism earnings, but just to say to them 'hi, and welcome'. I suppose if an American politician had called me a coward for not visiting the US, I'd say "stuff it, I shall not go" (Actually, I'd still go to the US as I never take any notice of politicians - except to get wound up by them!! :) |
| Posted by: Tony 2003-05-21 17:09:43 |
| #8 GOSH-GOLLY-GEE! I reckon we AmerEEcan cowboys and gals better jump on a plane RIGHT NOW to prove our manhood! God Bless the Brits, but they seriously continue to misjudge us. American's would gladly visit UK right now. Howells should have just come out and asked us to nicely...you know...to help out and to say thanks...and all. This particular tactic is arrogant and demeaning. It can only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes of condenscending snoots who want our money, but want to be snide as they accept it. |
| Posted by: Becky 2003-05-21 16:38:18 |
| #7 just shows how ignorant the world is in believing hollywood reality... |
| Posted by: Dan 2003-05-21 15:50:45 |
| #6 I just got back from the UK, a military aviation symposium this time. Lots of cool historical stuff. It's Hollywood I'm afraid to travel to. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2003-05-21 15:45:18 |
| #5 ColoradoCon: See the post above from New Zealand. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-05-21 15:26:26 |
| #4 Chuck, Where did you get the reference about "sweet bugger all" from? I didn't see that. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-21 14:40:09 |
| #3 Mr Howells made the characteristically outspoken remarks as he prepared to fly out to the US yesterday on a six-day trip during which he hopes to persuade more Americans to visit Britain. I'd visit the U.K. in a heartbeat and spend my hard-earned dollars there, if I could be given a guarantee that I wouldn't be fined and imprisoned if I beat the crap out of a mugger. That's the one reason why I won't go there; the nannying by the government in the U.K. is absolutely out of control. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-05-21 13:56:31 |
| #2 Calling them "nancy boys" and the use of the phrase "sweet bugger all" was not called for, however. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-05-21 13:17:47 |
| #1 Ah, I visited the UK for the first time about 6 months ago - it was safe enough and I had a fantastic vacation. Go ahead and take that trip! |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2003-05-21 13:15:14 |