Poll: Proud to be British

[RewardMe]

South America called.

They want their island back.

Spain called. They want south america back.

 

[Rachel317]

Not proud at all. Nothing in this country gives me any reason to be proud. Our politicians are arseholes(well, they lie and cheat in EVERY country, I suppose), our country is a complete shambles...we try to put ourselves on a pedestal for other countries to learn from, but the rest of Europe is laughing at us. I'm pretty sure the French snigger as they point the illegal immigrants in our direction.

I'm definitely born in the wrong nation. I'm so much more like an American than a Brit, like I'll tell people to "have a nice day", even if they're serving ME (like in shops, yadda yadda), I actually talk to people when out and about...it's so NOT the English sensibility (not sure about Scotland, Wales or Ireland though).

To be honest, I don't see myself as British, just English. Not that I have anything against the rest of the British countries, but I think I have a bit of a burning resentment because Scotland gets their school fees paid for by the supposedly ENGLISH government, Wales pays very little and is only NOW upping the fees to £3000, whilst we're going to start paying at LEAST £6,000, £9,000 if the universities decide to screw everyone over.

I understand we have a massive debt to pay back (although I like how the banks, who originally got us into this mess, are only having to pay back 2 billion a year - yeah, that's really hitting THEM hard!), but I don't see why it should be English students that have to foot the bill when other countries get it for free/cheaper.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Snip

I stayed outside Weymouth, if thats any indication, but i know most of the people (besides the family I stayed with) who found out who and what i was were pretty close to spitting on me. Besides, its not hte fact that its hisotry, its the fact of hostilities. Immediately upon arrival i got bombarded with the typical questions I think are reserved for americans. How does it feel to be a war obsessed gun nut? Where's all your fat, I thought you people like greasy fast food, why do you think you can police the world?

Then after the found out i was native american, I got these questiosn: why do you complain? You're people were savages and better off after Britain arrived, we saved your people from their heathen ways (that mostly from the Protestants I met), and, the big main one, why do you complain, dont you kow what your people did to use when we got to that country to try and help them?

Afterward, my studies meant i had to travel pretty much from Weymouth up north to about the mid point of the country, and every time people found out it was the same questions. yes, like i isad, I made friends who thought it was cool for what i was, but mostly more of the same. So the British hospitality has left me with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. especially since i cant really bear to eat the salt and grease and fish that is "traditional" english food, which i had to eat for most of my trip. I'm not saying anyhting of this out of spite, this is what happpened to me there. maybe i got the short end of the stick, but that was my life experience for the year i was in Britain.

 

[Druss the Slayer]

South America called.

They want their island back.

Spain called. They want south america back.

Not even joking, I am staying up so late, just to read what you write next

 

[AcrylicHero]

As I said earlier, in the UK the only people who think being the native inhabitants of an island is worth a damn are regarded as racist. They have a fascist party and everything!

This is quite funny.
Our royal family is german.
The duke of Edinburgh is a greek nationalist.
After the Roman, the saxon and norman invasions, as well as the scandinavian ones, I wonder how much of the original britons remain, and how much of the entire population they make up of.

 

[maninahat]

I'm Welsh, and I have many relatives over in the British Isles, not to mention the person closest to me.
I may not be native British, but I do take some pride in what little I am.

Isn't Wales part of Great Britain? Shouldn't you be using "English" in this instance?

I mean that I don't live over there. And I am actually a bit English, so... British works in either case. xD

Ah, you're American talking in terms of ancestry.

Not aiming at you in particular, but I would like to take a moment to rant about America's fixation on geneology. It seems to be some kind of pick and mixing contest, where you get more points for being able to claim ancestors from more countries. "I'm Scottish, Dutch, Polish, Irish and 1/16th Blackfoot." I heard one American tell me (without me asking him about it). I assume you get bonus points for being Irish. If you can claim to be any fraction of a native American, you instantly win the game. Claiming to be native American is the most egregious by far. Bill Bryson mentioned how the number of Americans claiming native Indian blood had increased by 40% in a couple of years. The plains people weren't productive enough for that to be possible. It is entirely due to the uniquely American craze of exploring the family tree for any possible link to the natives (no matter how dubious).

All of this is nonesense to people from those "mother countries". As far as we're concerned You are not Dutch, Polish, Tinker-Tailor. You are American. Just having the appropriate ancestors does not give you a membership card to our nation's club. We just find it obnoxious, that's all.

Rant over. Sorry about that.

 

[Requx]

I think british people have sexy accents but my family hasn't been British for so long I cant really count

 

[zehydra]

I'm not British, I'm American, so no, lol. (I didn't vote)

However, I don't see the point in being proud for the endeavors of the ancestors of your nation. Every generation is a new country. If you want to be proud of your country, then do something that people can be proud of.

Personally, I just see national pride as a way of controlling the masses.

 

[Slavadil]

I know this is about Britain but there should still be a 'America is the best' option on the poll.

I am American, by the way.

 

[Greasemoicockneypalm]

Britain is dead. It is so obvious. People, inside and out, discredit her achievements, destroy her sovereignty, demand her money rather than contributing, and the religion, as well as the moral core, is now completely rotten. America destroyed the empire, took its glory, its wealth and power, and squanders it. Now things are changing, and there is nothing that any of you will do to prevent it or steer it in the right direction, because you only see the world through screens.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Snip

I'm confused :/ British people slaughtered all the native indians? I don't want to come across as an idiot, as I'm far from schooled about these things, but it was my understanding that we went across to form colonies in North Americia (I spell it wrong because I'm 'ard). It was eventually the people from these colonies that performed the horrific acts against the natives, but by then I really don't think they should be considered British. By the way, search 'The Slavery Abolition Act 1833' on google. It might be insightful for you.

Again, look into the trade policies you had with the Confederate States of america at the time and how ready you were to defend your cotton supply obtained from slave labor.

Also, you started the colonies and the process. France didnt take that approach and they had just as much stake in the country. So you started the ball to get it rolling.

 

[Druss the Slayer]

Snip

Snip

Don't even know what to say to be honest :/
Most English people are amazingly tolerent of other races and nationalities - We have to be, seeing as we live in a very ethnically diverse country. Maybe you didn't make it up to Manchester, and the southerners didn't treat you right... I'm at a loss as to what to say. I'd like to shout "FABRICATION", but I don't know why you'd stoop that low.

 

[Druss the Slayer]

Oh, my, Lord. I 'snip'ed a quote correctly. I'm getting bloody MLG pro at this commenting business.

 

[emeraldrafael]

The "knocking up" would be to the fault of you and your people.

No, that would be the fault of the person who did the knocking up.

yes, and he was British.

 

[Danzaivar]

As I said earlier, in the UK the only people who think being the native inhabitants of an island is worth a damn are regarded as racist. They have a fascist party and everything!

This is quite funny.
Our royal family is german.
The duke of Edinburgh is a greek nationalist.
After the Roman, the saxon and norman invasions, as well as the scandinavian ones, I wonder how much of the original britons remain, and how much of the entire population they make up of.

That's probably why we don't do the 'african american' style naming, we'd all be there all day.

"so where are you from?"

"I'm a nordic-saxon-celtic-germanic-roman-Briton, with relatives in Australasia, America, India and Europe."

...Yeah...

 

[Dimensional Vortex]

I am Australian, we are awesome.
I cannot partake in the poll because I am Australia (and we are awesome) so I'm going to say if I were british I would be. Also don't try to point out the fact that the English and the others, inhabited Australia so that makes us part English, because in 1901 Australia became an independent nation, So that makes us Australian.

 

[Danzaivar]

And it was my great (times... I think its five. maybe. I can trace it back to 1766 as to where they first conincided) that an ENGLISHMAN Had sexual relations with a native american woman. The "knocking up" would be to the fault of you and your people.

And the fault of your people too. You said an ENGLISHMAN knocked up a CHEROKEE.

If that 6% cherokee makes you a native American, her 'knocker-upper' makes you British too!

 

[Harrowdown]

I chose no (14-25) in the poll, but let me stress that i'm not ashamed of my country. I simply don't feel any reason to be proud of where i'm from, at least not in any patriotic way. I believe my country has dome some good things, and for that i'm glad to be a part of it, and to contribute to a society that by and large, has done right by me. That said, i'm no patriot, and I have criticisms as well as praise.

 

[Littlee300]

@Woodsey
Patriotism is for fools?
You know what, I cannot even be bothered explaining how much of a dick your post makes you look.

What he said kinda makes sense. It seems kinda silly to love a country as whole but it makes sense to love some leaders, inventors, authors and groups of a country.

 

[Meestor Pickle]

To be fair, Britain was the birthplace of modern economics

Shhh...not the best economic climate at the moment to be saying that too loudly.