Lion and Lamb: A Portrait of British Moral Duality (Haus Curiosities)

The great British dilemma is this: Britain is a country forever wrestling with two moral sides—whether to be viewed as a lion that roars and conquers, or a gentle lamb that gambols happily. In the days of the empire, one face meant the Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus, the Mother of Parliaments, and the country that harbored people forced to flee their homelands. But there also was an imperial face, where colonial subjects were made very aware that the British knew how to ensure obedience, even if that required the use of brutal force. Brexit has once again highlighted these dualities. In Britain's Eternal Dilemma , Mihir Bose shows how those who voted to leave the E.U. want Britain to roar like a lion. In contrast, the Remainers saw Brexit as a self-inflicted wound, believing the only option is to live symbiotically with the rest of Europe for a common future. Writing from the unique perspective of an immigrant, Bose personifies this ongoing debate: He has experienced racism in his near half century in Britain, but he has also been provided unimaginable opportunities to become a writer, opportunities he would never have had in his native India. This timely book demonstrates that Britain is still wresting with its two-sided identity while also showing that Brexit is still the number one priority on the European political agenda. The British Like To See Themselves As Tolerant And Believers In Fair Play. Yet, Often In Thought And Deed, They Behave In A Fashion That Could Not Remotely Be Considered Moral. This Is The Great British Moral Dilemma, A Country Forever Wrestling With Whether To Be Lions Who Roar And Conquer Everyone Or Gentle Lambs That Gambol About Happily Without A Care In The World. In The Days Of The Empire These Two Faces Of Britain Meant The Metropolitan Face Of Magna Carta, Of Habeas Corpus, The Mother Of Parliaments, And The Country That Harboured People Who Were Forced To Flee Their Homelands. To The Wider World, However, There Was An Imperial Face Where Colonial Subjects Were Made Very Aware That The British Knew How To Ensure Obedience From Subject Peoples, Even If That Required The Use Of Brutal Force. Brexit Has Once Again Highlighted This Duality. Those Who Voted To Leave Want Britain To Roar Like A Lion, As It Did For More Than Two Hundred Years. In Contrast The Remainers Saw Brexit As A Self-inflicted Wound Feel, Believing The Only Option Is To Live Happily With The Europeans And Work Out A Common Future. Bose's Perspective On This British Duality Is That Of An Immigrant Who Is Neither A Refugee Nor An Economic Migrant. While He Has Experienced Racism In His Near Half Century In Britain, He Has Also Been Provided Wonderful Opportunities To Become A Writer That He Would Never Have Had In His Native Land. --publisher Description. Mihir Bose. Includes Bibliographical References.

The great British dilemma is this: Britain is a country forever wrestling with two moral sides—whether to be viewed as a lion that roars and conquers, or a gentle lamb that gambols happily. In the days of the empire, one face meant the Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus, the Mother of Parliaments, and the country that harbored people forced to flee their homelands. But there also was an imperial face, where colonial subjects were made very aware that the British knew how to ensure obedience, even if that required the use of brutal force. Brexit has once again highlighted these dualities.In Britain's Eternal Dilemma, Mihir Bose shows how those who voted to leave the E.U. want Britain to roar like a lion. In contrast, the Remainers saw Brexit as a self-inflicted wound, believing the only option is to live symbiotically with the rest of Europe for a common future. Writing from the unique perspective of an immigrant, Bose personifies this ongoing debate: He has experienced racism in his near half century in Britain, but he has also been provided unimaginable opportunities to become a writer, opportunities he would never have had in his native India. This timely book demonstrates that Britain is still wresting with its two-sided identity while also showing that Brexit is still the number one priority on the European political agenda.