Reply to: Does the UK desire be like Switzerland after Brexit?

[vetran]

What about the Arabs? Didn't they have a big influence on our alphabet and numbering system?

You mean the 'Hindu - Arabic' numbers?

Arabic numerals

The Indian numerals discussed in our article Indian numerals form the basis of the European number systems which are now widely used. However they were not transmitted directly from India to Europe but rather came first to the Arabic/Islamic peoples and from them to Europe. The story of this transmission is not, however, a simple one. The eastern and western parts of the Arabic world both saw separate developments of Indian numerals with relatively little interaction between the two. By the western part of the Arabic world we mean the regions comprising mainly North Africa and Spain. Transmission to Europe came through this western Arabic route, coming into Europe first through Spain.

Also remember Alexander the great invaded most of the known world and spread knowledge on the way, one wonders how much impact he had?

[original PM]

UK has only been around since 1707, though that is earlier than Germany which was 1871 so you're only wrong by about 200 years.

Ok England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland all have unique cultures brought into being over the last 3000 years.

The UK is just a political and economic construct.

Which as far as I can tell in general respects those cultures and differences.

[original PM]

What about the Arabs? Didn't they have a big influence on our alphabet and numbering system?

Indeed the Islam religion was very science savvy till about the 11th/12th century

I think

[VectraMan]

Well actually modern Germany was formed in the 17th ish century. So they have as much history as the yanks.

You want history look at the UK, Italy, France.

Maybe the Greeks too.

UK has only been around since 1707, though that is earlier than Germany which was 1871 so you're only wrong by about 200 years.

[darmstadt]

Well actually modern Germany was formed in the 17th ish century. So they have as much history as the yanks.

You want history look at the UK, Italy, France.

Maybe the Greeks too.

What about the Arabs? Didn't they have a big influence on our alphabet and numbering system?

[original PM]

The a World Wide Web provides information, connectivity, knowledge, entertainment to millions. By your logic it is terrible, because it is also useful to criminals.

The world is not black and white.

All nations have a past. Look at Germany, Switzerland, USA, Spain, Cambodia etc.

Well actually modern Germany was formed in the 17th ish century. So they have as much history as the yanks.

You want history look at the UK, Italy, France.

Maybe the Greeks too.

[scooterscot]

I ordered some light bulbs a wee while ago from Switzerland (fancy ones like, don't ask) about €170 worth. They were custom made. Anyways when DHL delivered the goods I was given a €45 import tax invoice before the goods could be handed over. But still I buy the odd thing from that way... nearly always because they specialise in that area or the quality is amazing.

I'm sure the UK can turn things around from a low wage economy to a high quality high wage export industry in a few months. Dyson will be returning his manufacturing base to England as quick as a whip, just you wait. And wait. And wait...

[vetran]

And where was all his important work performed? Mmmm, an European organisation in...Switzerland.

what do you expect in a country that didn't even invent cuckoo clocks? They have to import experts, if the world ever needs an expert on how to paint your letterbox just the right colour I bet they will appoint a swiss chappie.

[Mordac]

Well the water was rising above my ankles

That's Scottish weather for you...

[LondonManc]

Are you nuts!!!

Uk is better than Spain.

The UK can't be compared with pirates that still invading our waters for fishing, try to steal tonnes of fruits from our farms, maintain an out of date nuclear power plant in Almaraz, planning to construct a nuclear trash near the Tagus river without an environment impact assessment ...

They were born pirates and they will die as Pirates. Nothing good from there...

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and David De Gea.

[Bee]

Spain has had some shady moments in its history, but you are right it was, is, and will be a great country.

Being in or out of the EU doesn't define us. We were, are, and will be the UK (well who knows about that).

The point is that we are who we are. We are not Switzerland or Spain. Why must we homogenise?

Are you nuts!!!

Uk is better than Spain.

The UK can't be compared with pirates that still invading our waters for fishing, try to steal tonnes of fruits from our farms, maintain an out of date nuclear power plant in Almaraz, planning to construct a nuclear trash near the Tagus river without an environment impact assessment ...

They were born pirates and they will die as Pirates. Nothing good from there...

[darmstadt]

We are still the country that produced Shakespeare, Newton, Whittle, and Berners-Lee.

And where was all his important work performed? Mmmm, an European organisation in...Switzerland.

[northernladyuk]

Spain has had some shady moments in its history, but you are right it was, is, and will be a great country.

Being in or out of the EU doesn't define us. We were, are, and will be the UK (well who knows about that).

The point is that we are who we are. We are not Switzerland or Spain. Why must we homogenise?

#cretinwatch

[PurpleGorilla]

You're contradicting yourself. Spain had a great past and may yet have a great future, but no one would say it's great now.
Just another European ex-big power, like the UK.
Past greatness does not imply future greatness, civilisations rise and fall.

Spain has had some shady moments in its history, but you are right it was, is, and will be a great country.

Being in or out of the EU doesn't define us. We were, are, and will be the UK (well who knows about that).

The point is that we are who we are. We are not Switzerland or Spain. Why must we homogenise?

[sasguru]

We were a great country, are a great country, and will be a great country.

All nations have a past. Look at Germany, Switzerland, USA, Spain, Cambodia etc.

You're contradicting yourself. Spain had a great past and may yet have a great future, but no one would say it's great now.
Just another European ex-big power, like the UK.
Past greatness does not imply future greatness, civilisations rise and fall.