James Bond - time to become a 21st century man.

Picture - Webmobilize

Before his death Roger Moore was quoted as saying that Idris Elba should not be the next James Bond after Daniel Graig, as he was not English enough. 

Roger Moore, later denied having said any such thing, and insisted he was quoted out of context. 

But it makes no difference because thanks to that quote or miss-quote, I'm seeing a lot of comments on social media, and in the gutter press saying that Idris Elba is not right for the part? 

Especially by one particularly nasty female, so called journalist. She makes the point that Idris cannot be James Bond because he's not upper class and does not belong to a time when the men did 'things' and women kept house.

Hey lady, what frigging century are you living in? Certainly not the 21st century. 

What this journalist really means, is Idris Elba cannot be James Bond because he is black.

Let's have a look at the six actors who have so far played the role of the misogynistic, womanising, sociopath. Only two of them have been English. 

I didn't see this woman screaming 'he's not right for the part because he's not upper class when Daniel Graig was chosen as James Bond. Nice ordinary guy with an ordinary background - his dad was a pub landlord not landed gentry.

Can anyone seriously call any of them 'toffs' - as the journalist said James Bond was. The most iconic James Bond, and the probably most loved was a Scottish weight lifter. 

We've had, a Scotsman. An Irishman. A Welshman. And an Australian. 

None of them were what you might call 'English-English'. Sean Connery kept his Scottish accent. George Lazenby never lost his Australian twang. And it was dead easy to spot that Pierce Brosnan was Irish. 

So therefore it doesn't matter if James Bond isn't really English - as long as he looks English - ergo - white. 

Let's look at Idris Elba's credentials for being the next James Bond. He's a good actor. And he is English. He was born 6th September 1972 - in Hackney - East London, England.

A man born and brought up in England, who named his son Winston. Now I'm thinking that makes him English.  

Surely the qualifications for James Bond should be as follows - Alpha male. Sexually attractive to the female sex. Handsome. Clean cut. Strong rugged jaw-line with a muscularly toned body for self-respecting women and or gays to drool over.  

     Yep -  looks like  Idris Elba, fits the James Bond character perfectly to me.

So how must this crass blatant racism against him, make Idris Elba feel? 

Being told he's not English enough. Me? As the Australians say - I'd be spitting dummies.

This post isn't only about who will be the next James Bond - frankly I can take or leave the movies - this post is about that no one, whether they are black or white -  should be discriminated because of the colour of their skin.  And until we are able too see passed the outside of a human being, and take joy at who they are on the inside, we will never have a truly civilised society, only the pretence of one. 

We have come a long way in eradicating racial and gender prejudice since Ian Fleming wrote the first James Bond novel, Casino Royal in 1953  -

Ian Fleming - 1908 - 1964 - 





Sad to say, obviously we have not come far enough.  

It isn't wrong to take pride in your nation, but it is wrong, not to take pride, in all of the people who make up the society of our countries. 

"If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

Shylock - Merchant of Venice

We would do well to remember William Shakespeare's words in our modern 21st century. Perhaps then, we would not have so much conflict in our world.

And with a large slice of pride in my country - I'd like to end this article with some humour.

The James Bond scene with her majesty Queen Elizabeth - from the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics - a great event when the world comes together. If only for a short while.