Falkland Islanders Vote To Remain British

[transam]

It's only a matter of time. Look at a map.

The UK channel Islands are a few feet from France, no problem, look at the map.

How far are the F-lands from England?

Ha, all the Americas are lands taken from the natives, yet the UK cannot control one Island in the area, very hypocritical. . I suppose Spain doesn't come into your equation.

[somchai jones]

Things change. There were those that thought the Panama canal would never go back to Panama. But it happened.

Certainly won't be changing for quite some time yet.....the Falkland Islanders (the people that actually live on the islands) are still celebrating the result of their vote, ink on the ballat papers not even dry, most of them waving Union Jacks and brandishing banners proclaiming that 'The Falkland Islands are British to the Core'.

I for one wish them well and salute them for coming out in such numbers to cast their votes. Good on ya guys, enjoy the party.

[Jingthing]

So would you consider a vote of the Argentinian people on whether they should or shouldn't contest the F-lands legit as well? Kirchner doesn't want violence.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Jingthing

[Credo]

The vote for their favorite song was: 'Don't Cry For Me, Argentina'.

[7by7]

The indiginous peoples of Argentina should be given a vote, asking if they think Spanish speaking Europeans should rule them

High crime rate 25% inflation, I make no wonder their government wants to keep the peoples attention elsewhere.

Argentina is unusual in S.A. in having a very small percentage of indigenous people, unless you're counting illegal Bolivian immigrants, etc.

So are you saying that because indigenous peoples in Argentina make up a small percentage of the overall population they should be forced into accepting the rule of the descendants of Spanish conquerers because those Spanish conquerors are now in the majority?

If so, then surely you must accept that the present day inhabitants of the Falklands are the only people with any right to determine who rules them*. Especially as the islands were uninhabited when their ancestors first settled there.

Why do you not support the wishes of the islanders; do you not believe in democracy?

* To be accurate, the Falklands are not ruled by the UK, they are essentially self governing except for defence and foreign affairs, which are the responsibility of the UK government.

[Jingthing]

Argentina has a dark history. England has a dark history. We are talking about now and the future over these islands which the democratic modern nation of Argentina feels a strong claim to. You can act like this is going away, but it isn't. This board is dominated by Anglo people so I am not surprised at the bias here but that's all it is, a bias.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Jingthing

[7by7]

So would you consider a vote of the Argentinian people on whether they should or shouldn't contest the F-lands legit as well? Kirchner doesn't want violence.

They can have their vote if they want; but whatever the result the vote of the people actually living on the islands is more important.

If the people of North Korea voted that they should own and govern South Korea, would you consider that legit and say that the people of South Korea should submit to their rule?

[7by7]

Will you answer my question: Why do you not support the wishes of the islanders; do you not believe in democracy?

[Thaddeus]

So would you consider a vote of the Argentinian people on whether they should or shouldn't contest the F-lands legit as well? Kirchner doesn't want violence.

That would be akin to the UK having a vote on if Hawaii should remain a US State.

[Jingthing]

Will you answer my question: Why do you not support the wishes of the islanders; do you not believe in democracy?

I do but you fail to admit it is a DISPUTED territory. So that calls for NEGOTIATIONS.

[RabC]

The Falklands have only ever been disputed when the Argentinian Junta/Dictator/President of the day has needed smoke and mirrors to distract the Argentinian people away from internal troubles.

[Jingthing]

The Falklands have only ever been disputed when the Argentinian Junta/Dictator/President of the day has needed smoke and mirrors to distract the Argentinian people away from internal troubles.

That simply isn't true. The Argentinians overwhelmingly feel those islands belong to Argentina. Wishing that weren't so doesn't make it not so.

[7by7]

Will you answer my question: Why do you not support the wishes of the islanders; do you not believe in democracy?

I do but you fail to admit it is a DISPUTED territory. So that calls for NEGOTIATIONS.

The Argentinian government claim the islands; the people that live there don't want to be Argentinian.

If you believed in democracy you would respect and support the wishes of the islanders.

If the UK government demanded the return of the original colonies of what is now the USA, would you support them?

Or would you support the wishes of the people actually living there?

Edited March 12, 2013 by 7by7

[Foxman888]

Argentina has a dark history. England has a dark history. We are talking about now and the future over these islands which the democratic modern nation of Argentina feels a strong claim to. You can act like this is going away, but it isn't. This board is dominated by Anglo people so I am not surprised at the bias here but that's all it is, a bias.

I don't think any 'Anglo' feels that this is going to go away, its just the rights and wishes of the islanders far outweigh what Buenos Aries thinks.

Every so often the Argies will bring it up, we'll tell em where to go.

[Jingthing]

Will you answer my question: Why do you not support the wishes of the islanders; do you not believe in democracy?

I do but you fail to admit it is a DISPUTED territory. So that calls for NEGOTIATIONS.

The Argentinian government claim the islands; the people that live there don't want to be Argentinian.

If you believed in democracy you would respect and support the wishes of the islanders.

The disagreement continues. As long as the UK won't talk even TALK to Argentina about their claims:

[7by7]

A video from that idiot Morrissey!

If you think he represents the views of the British people you know nothing about the subject!

You may have missed this next bit from my last post, which was added as an edit:

If the UK government demanded the return of the original colonies of what is now the USA, would you support them?

Or would you support the wishes of the people actually living there?

Edited March 12, 2013 by 7by7

[Jingthing]

A video from that idiot Morrissey!

If you think he represents the views of the British people you know nothing about the subject!

I know he doesn't but I think it was very brave of him to show that kind of dissent.

[Foxman888]

Err Uk Government has been prepared to talk, but the Argentinians threw their toys out of the pram when we insisted the islanders were represented!

A totally unreasonable request obviously

[Slip]

It's only a matter of time. Look at a map.

The UK channel Islands are a few feet from France, no problem, look at the map.

Tell that to zee Germans...

[tw25rw]

Don't get your panties in a twist. Brazil is on Argentina's side and Brazil is a rapidly emerging superpower. I don't believe in the LONG RUN those islands will remain British. Could be 100 years though so it's a safe prediction. (We won't know.)

Hopefully the Irish & Spanish won't have to wait so long ; the restitution to the rightfull owners of the northern provinces of Eire is WAY LONG OVERDUE....the UK should never have been allowed to be part of the EU due to occupation of 2 member states' territory.

Spain 'occupy' Morroccan territory. The colonial era has left a legacy of territorial disputes. Just be glad we don't live near China.

[tw25rw]

It's only a matter of time. Look at a map.

And if they invade again so will we kick their ass again its been British for 180+ years almost as long as America has been America

We might have a problem there, if the argies did invade again we wont have aircover, without aircover we would get hammered. Too many fighting men are involved in wars we cant win, that idiot in number 10 has practically neutered the military and i think we would seriously struggle to retake the islands now. Absolutely no offense to the military but their ability to do anything is now very limited.

There is an airbase there now and the islands are much more heavily defended than in 1982. If they attempted an invasion now, they would incur more damage than they would consider acceptable.

[Jingthing]

Each case is separate with different historical facts to consider.

[uptheos]

It's only a matter of time. Look at a map.

The UK channel Islands are a few feet from France, no problem, look at the map.

How far are the F-lands from England?

Almost 8,000 Miles.

[Jingthing]

So did ALL the Americas that farangs took from them. Falklands were baron but a few live a life, a British life.

F-rangs in America? I don't think so.

[7by7]

Each case is separate with different historical facts to consider.

But you cannot dismiss the fact that the Falkland Islanders do not want to be part of Argentina.

They have always been British and want to remain so; that is an historical fact.

The first country to show any interest in sovereignty over the Falklands was France; so if basing your argument on history rather than democracy the islands should belong to France.

France doesn't want them, next in line is Spain.

Spain doesn't want them either; after Spain comes Britain.

Argentina didn't exist when the British first claimed the islands. After independence from Spain, what is now Argentina did claim sovereignty (in 1833) but that was 143 years after the first British settlers landed on the islands in 1690.

So whether you use the democratic argument or the historical one; the British claim outweighs the Argentinian one by a long way.

[Steely Dan]

I think what upsets a lot of other nationalities is that both The Falklands and Gibraltar wish to remain British where as other countries overseas territories vote for independence .

There is something in this. I remember talking to a Filipino airport official when a flight was cancelled; He asked where I was from, I replied the UK, to which he paused and replied.. I wish we'd been colonized by you lot instead of the Spanish then things might run a bit better around here.

[somchai jones]

So would you consider a vote of the Argentinian people on whether they should or shouldn't contest the F-lands legit as well? Kirchner doesn't want violence.

Within Argentina, they can have a vote on whether they wish to contest the islands........however, whether they contest the islands or not, as long as the people livilng there keep voting to remain as a British Overseas Territory, any contest put forward will be futile.

As the inhabitants of the Falklands have just let the world know with their difinitive vote, their minds are made up........again, I salute you people of the Falklands for your fantastic turnout at the ballot boxes. Enjoy your celebration party.

[Bwanatickey]

It was very nice for the citizens of the Atlantic Islands to have their referendom,and the results heartly respected by Prime Minister Cameron. Now the mainland want a referendom,we desperatly want a referendom,just like those lucky Brits living on Islands in the Atlantic. Nice to see the plucky Brits willing to defend the Southerners against Argentina. David Cameron,when can the main ISLAND have our say in being part/or not part of Europe.

[smokie36]

So did ALL the Americas that farangs took from them. Falklands were baron but a few live a life, a British life.

Yes....I hear the food is crap.

[MAJIC]

It's only a matter of time. Look at a map.

You may be right,no one knows what will be changed in the future.

But Argentina's claim to the Falklands is spurious to say the least,considering the Falklands are 946 miles (1523 k) away from Argentina,so no flouting of International law connection there,and has been occupied by Falklanders of British descent for 180 years.

Looking at the map,it would seem if distance is anything to go by,then several other South American countries would have a more feasable claim than Argentina.

The Falklanders right to choose should always be paramount,and not for the first time they have given their descision to remain British,very close to a unanimous vote.

As did the Gibraltarians a few years ago.