Speaker’s corner! What a marvellous time. But to take things in order.
Had planned on going to Abbey Road with Amanda and Jessye this morning, while Bridget and David did Tower of London. But I couldn’t find my metro pass (it was in my back pocket the WHOLE time), so I sent them on without me, then spent my Sunday morning strolling through London. We met up at Speaker’s Corner at noon, and then the real fun began.
Speaker’s Corner comes alive at the Marble Arch every Sunday around noon. Anyone who has any point to make can bring a box or stepladder, get on their soap box, and spout out to the crowds of people who gather to listen.
First, we wound up listening to this CRAZY lady who was calling for England as the master race. She insisted everyone should stop immigrating and intermarrying, stick with people who look like them; that England is polluted with all these racial impurities; that people should stop being “what they are” and instead be “what they were meant to be.” My favorite parts were when she told a German man that only English people have any God-given right to speak English and that American English is a bastardized English. Other good quotes: “You will never live to be as old as me!” “Who invited you and your kind into England? Get out!” (At which point I began my constant muttering to Jessye, demanding, “Well who invited England into Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas?”) I grew so agitated with the BS she was spewing that I literally began shaking but I was determined to not make a scene, so I just muttered to Jessye. When she began speaking of the purity and importance of the English race, I politely inquired what the races were. Everyone knew she was crazy, though, and by asking questions that she couldn’t answer had backed her into a corner. So she kept lashing out, either by insulting the question-asker or telling them to shut up. She assumed my question was an insult and demanded, “Oh, and where are you from, you and your red hair?” I said my family was Irish, German, and Polish, that I was an American, then had to raise my voice to be heard over her childish taunts about the pitch of my voice, my red hair, and saying I was prissy for stating where my family was from (though she had just asked me, and just before that told everyone they should be proud of it). I asked if she realized that English was actually a language derived originaly from German and then fluffed up with French, Spanish, and Latin words; if when she spoke of the English race she meant the original tribes, or else the Saxon and Norman invaders. Furthermore, I pointed out that if she was going to continuously consult God as the creator of races, she should take into account that God originally created only Adam and Eve, not an Adam and Eve of every race, meaning that God created humans without race. And never has ANYONE sadi there is “an English race.” Unfortunately, she was so bent on imposing only her crack-pot ideas on everyone that she couldn’t handle dissension or anyone pointing out the obvious holes in her flaws, and was literally reduced to making an idiot of herself by throwing childish and petty insults. Everyone agreed with me, though, and another boy a little older than me who was one of the other most talkative gave me a thumbs-up. I just couldn’t remain silent any longer, though, when she called us “grey sexless, genderless, raceless, classless people,” and “gypsies intent on destroying the world.” She declared she was the only true Englander in the crowd, which INFURIATED the English people there, and also that she’s not the only one who thinks all this, that she has friends. The whole crowd grew weary of gawking at her outrageous ignorance and racism, though, and when one British woman suggested we stop giving her a crowd, we dispersed. The fact that people like her exist is depressing, but that everyone present realized how absurd she was is encouraging for the future of the world, I think. She could make fun of my red hair all she wanted; at least I wasn’t claiming to be a member of the master race. Bridget said later on she remounted her box and began calling for the uniting of the original twelve tribes of Britain. Mental . . .
We listened to a couple more speakers, but none that got me so riled up that I felt inclined to participate. I LOVED it, though; that atmosphere of debate and ideas is very much what I love. If/when I’m in London for longer, I believe I’ll frequent Speaker’s Corner quite a bit, and someday have my own box. However, such a thing would never work in America. Brits can yell at each other; when Americans yell at each other, someone throws a punch.
Wandered around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens a bit to show them the Peter Pan statue and the Diana Memorial. Went next to Harrod’s to buy scones and explore a bit more. Found the pet shop and Christmasland, and watched the pizza chef SING OPERA while he tossed the dough. Unreal!
Made it to Camden Market and searched for about an hour for an ATM for Amanda and Jessye to get money. All the ATMs were out of money, though, so I wound up loaning them cash so we could all buy scarves, which I’ve been looking forward to since July.
On the subway yesterday (forgot to write this), this mom and her adorable little girl were listening to me and Chris talk. When they got up to leave, the mom leaned over to me and said, “My daughter said she wants to be just like you when she grows up.” How flattering! Not sure why, but still!
Later that night, Jessye, Bridget, and me went to Platform 9 3/4 to take pictures again. It was kinda fun to go back to the same spot to take a similar picture as July. Went back and waited for people to get back from the Philharmonic concert (stuff like that and the Globe were only available to kids in certain classes; none of my classes got to do anything fun), then went dancing at the Rocket, a nearby bar that was having TERRIBLE karaoke. Oh, and because the drinking age is 16 in England, there are all these high schoolers in bars, which is weird. Hung out with friends until late, late and wound up stumbling into bed sometime around three.
Emily, David, me, Bridget, and Jessye dancing up a storm to Footloose! David is one happy&lucky guy! haha
