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Colonialism Explained in 60 Seconds or Less

Yesterday’s post reminded me of the clip below.

The PBS special that I mentioned will undoubtedly feature a whole episode on Britain’s role in India’s history.  Hmm, or should I say India’s role in Britain’s history?  (You love it when I get all post-modern on you, admit it.)

But, really, who needs a whole episode when Eddie Izzard explains it so well in less than sixty seconds?

Sometimes, the best explanation is the simplest.  And, of course, your point is only emphasized further if you’re in drag.

Posted by Faiqa on January 7, 2009 8:55 pmCall Me an ABCD then Duck For Cover20 comments  

20 Comments »

  1. B.E. Earl Said,

    January 7, 2009 @ 10:17 pm

    Eddie Izzard is a homely woman, but he is fucking brilliant!

    [Reply]

  2. Pankaj Sinha Said,

    January 7, 2009 @ 10:46 pm

    Bloody brilliant! Eddie says it all..She is about right with 500 mil against a flag . After downing a few ales the poor man in Britain is still nostalgic about the “Jewel in the Crown” just like the Russian drinking vodka in the morning(actually cogniac in the am) and crying over the lost USSR. The elite snobs in GB would still like to say that the Brits left India because they were broke after WWII . They never accept that they came in as opium smugglers and were booted out. The disgrace of colonialism and atrocities is so powerful that only the national shame of the existence of the Third Reich comes uppance.

    [Reply]

  3. Sarah Said,

    January 7, 2009 @ 10:54 pm

    I love Eddie Izzard. Simply love him.

    [Reply]

  4. NYCWD Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 8:59 am

    God Save The Drag Queen!

    [Reply]

  5. Miss Britt Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 9:30 am

    I need to get a flag.

    [Reply]

  6. hello haha narf Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 10:25 am

    there is no fucking way i am even hitting play while being here at work. can’t wait to get home to check this out…

    [Reply]

  7. Sarcastica Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 10:28 am

    I’ve never heard Eddie Izzard before, but “No flag no country can’t have one” is engraved in my head. haha!

    [Reply]

  8. Faiqa Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

    @B.E. Earl: I think he’s quite attractive, actually.

    @Pankaj Sinha: No, but, please, tell us how you *really* feel. ;-)
    @Sarah: I wish he’d do another stand up show. I love Dressed to Kill, but I can’t keep watching it without it getting a little less funny each time.

    @NYCWD: Hahaha. Right clever that was (said in a British accent).

    @Miss Britt: “I claim Florida for Iowa”?

    @hello haha narf: Would I take you down like that?

    @Sarcastica: You have to watch his stand up. He’s hilarious. “Dressed to Kill.”

    [Reply]

  9. Sarcastica Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

    Alright! I shall definitely watch his stand up!

    [Reply]

  10. Finn Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

    I PPH Eddie.

    Clearly you don’t have BBC America. Eddie’s got a few stand up shows on rotation there: Unrepeatable, Definite Article, Glorious and, of course, Dress to Kill. Fabulous all.

    Saw him recently his “Stripped” tour. Hilarious.

    [Reply]

  11. Faiqa Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 12:46 pm

    @Finn: I *do* have BBC America, but I’m too caught up in Chef Gordon Ramsey to pay attention to anything else.

    [Reply]

  12. adnan. Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 1:50 pm

    “those are the rules i just made up… backed by this gun”

    that pretty much says it all.

    [Reply]

  13. Faiqa Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 7:20 pm

    @adnan: Power lies in the barrel of a… your friend Mao said that, I think? WInk, wink.

    [Reply]

  14. adnan. Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 7:35 pm

    hahaha, i actually have no ideas of mao’s ideology. i’m fairly illiterate in these matters.

    [Reply]

  15. Poppy Said,

    January 8, 2009 @ 7:42 pm

    I heart Eddie Izzard.

    [Reply]

  16. Turnbaby Said,

    January 10, 2009 @ 9:52 am

    I LOVE Eddie Izzard–he is BRILLIANT!

    I also PPH Gordon Ramsey–rawr–that naughty naughty boy

    BBC America is why I pay for premium cable.

    [Reply]

  17. martymankins Said,

    January 10, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

    I love Eddie Izzard. Such a talented guy.

    Of course, only Dave2 loves Eddie Izzard even more.

    [Reply]

  18. Coal Miner's Granddaughter Said,

    January 10, 2009 @ 9:36 pm

    Eddie Izzard deserves a dukedom. Seriously. And a Ph.D. And a Nobel prize.

    And me. Licking his heavily made-up face. :)

    [Reply]

  19. Allyson Said,

    January 12, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

    That is one of my fave Izzard lines. I am constantly asking people if they have flags, esp. when they tell me I’m in their seat.

    Every time I read you, I like you more. And then I realize that I really wish we could get together and hang out.

    [Reply]

  20. Karl Said,

    January 18, 2009 @ 10:30 pm

    But India got their shit together and made a flag – pronto – after that, I’m sure.

    [Reply]

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