Current Use
References to the 'cricket test' now mainly appear in the media in terms of sports fans' direct behaviour rather than as a metaphor - team supported, colours worn, ticket-buying patterns, sportsmanship, nationalities of players, etc.
National identity is now seen to be more flexible than first thought, especially in multicultural, urban societies where people commonly speak two or more languages, and may belong to families formed from multiple cultures. Mutability and complexity of national identity is a major reason for the restriction of the use of the phrase to literal, rather than metaphorical use. The whole issue is also a notably individual one, so that broad claims such as Tebbit's original statement can easily be accused of generalising and stereotyping.
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Famous quotes containing the word current:
“The current of our thoughts made as sudden bends as the river, which was continually opening new prospects to the east or south, but we are aware that rivers flow most rapidly and shallowest at these points.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“We hear the haunting presentiment of a dutiful middle age in the current reluctance of young people to select any option except the one they feel will impinge upon them the least.”
—Gail Sheehy (b. 1937)