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Post by wimapp on Nov 4, 2008 21:46:47 GMT
Well, we have a new British hero - young, gifted, British and Black.
I vote Lewis Hamilton for the next British Icon.
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Post by timark_uk on Nov 5, 2008 10:07:29 GMT
Why not Nigel Mansell or Jackie Stewart?
Mark
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Post by HeatherKay on Nov 5, 2008 10:39:55 GMT
Or Damon Hill, or Mike Hawthorn, James Hunt, or indeed any of the other British F1 champions? Well, they weren't black and seen as a role model for youngsters in quite the same way as young Mr Hamilton. Perhaps we should push Bernie Eccleston as a hero for being a role model for folk of limited height?
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Post by timark_uk on Nov 5, 2008 11:58:01 GMT
I'm sorry, but you don't make someone an icon because they're just black.
Mark
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Post by HeatherKay on Nov 5, 2008 12:04:17 GMT
True, but he's shown that if you work hard, you get somewhere in life. That's what a role model is, after all. Many black kids in the UK seem to be disaffected by their lot in life, so it may help them to see there are alternatives.
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Post by timark_uk on Nov 5, 2008 12:14:25 GMT
True, but he's shown that if you work hard, you get somewhere in life. That's fair enough, if he's done some good and has a positive effect on anyone then I'm all for it. As for kids being disaffected, I think you can level that at kids from every racial background, not just black. Mark
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Post by HeatherKay on Nov 5, 2008 13:19:51 GMT
As for kids being disaffected, I think you can level that at kids from every racial background, not just black. You're quite correct, of course. It's just good to see a black kid do well in something other than <sweeping generalisation> drugs, guns, bling and popular music </sweeping generalisation>.
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Post by Forum Cat on Nov 5, 2008 17:13:17 GMT
I don't know who Lewis Hamilton is.
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Post by wimapp on Nov 5, 2008 21:01:50 GMT
Mmmm
I agree that drivers like Hill and Hunt are more suited to the mould of the traditional British Icon. That isn't because they are white - although that helps - it's because they embody the slightly eccentric upper class gent that used to dominate British motorsport.
However, there's no doubting the impact that Hamilton has made and the fact that he embodies a new, and I'd argue, better, 21st Century Britishness where success and winning aren't dirty words and your chances in life aren't dependent on the colour of your skin, your accent or where you went to school. Sermon over.
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Post by derek anson on Nov 7, 2008 12:10:55 GMT
"and the fact that he embodies a new, and I'd argue, better, 21st Century Britishness where success and winning aren't dirty words and your chances in life aren't dependent on the colour of your skin, your accent or where you went to school"
fully agree, It's a 2.0 world people and we all need a CAN DO attitude.
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Post by paulzolo on Nov 7, 2008 20:35:49 GMT
I think Hamilton has to a bit more before he can be called an Icon. Yes, he’s good at what he does, but he has to prove consistency and good grace when he loses.
Come back in 10 years.
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gavin
Senior Member
Posts: 139
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Post by gavin on Nov 8, 2008 10:37:58 GMT
Sorry, but aren't British Icons in the British Mac sense of the word, supposed to be comedians, entertainers, actors, who: A. Make us laugh, or at the very least... B. Have produced something which could be included at the end of the show?
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Post by CyberChimp on Nov 8, 2008 13:10:09 GMT
The only logic(?) I can find which connects the icons that Will chooses to feature at the end of British Mac is that Will has chosen it / them.....
ie. Bovril, Vimto,
(if Will is a fan of F1 then Lewis Hamilton could well get featured - if not it's unlikely).
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