The Problem With England

Recommended Videos

Silva

New member
Apr 13, 2009
1,122
0
0
I've quoted it before and I'll quote it again.

"The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously."

~ Julian Barnes

And in England, there's always plenty of that.
 

Archaeology Hat

New member
Nov 6, 2007
430
0
0
lostclause said:
D0WNT0WN said:
BNP is a huge problem but I do love England and the Royal Family and it's not just out of blind loyalty.
Pardon the tangent but why do you like the royal family? I haven't anything against them but i've never seen them as useful.
I don't like them either. But you have to admit a good amount of London's economy is made up of hawking stupid Royals crap to dense americans. They play the same role for London that See-you-Jimmy hats play in Edinburgh.

I don't feel English at all. Not even a bit. See, I am about as not-english as you can get and still be a Western European who isn't french. Mum's German, dad's Scottish. But I live in England, why? because I was born here.
Every single person who I know who identifies with "England" that I've ever met has been a borderline racist who hates the french "just because" and thinks throwing things (like, annoying things not rocks, I'm lucky enough to mainly have lived in... relatively civilized areas) at black people is funny.

The problem is, the patriotism angle in Britain (Well, England, the SNP are actually comparatively sane) has been claimed by the racists. Which is bad. In order to get it back people will have to stop doing things like giving the BNP MEPs and voting for UKIP. Show the racists that you're not interested in their closed minded drivel and you take away their voice.
 

pigeon_of_doom

Vice-Captain Hammer
Feb 9, 2008
1,171
0
0
D_987 said:
As for the lack of patriotism; have you ever been to an England football match?
Seeing football is probably one of the last refuges of tribalism in modern society, it doesn't really provide a great example of patriotism. And English international football over recent years has had a somewhat ailing support due to the poor performances and alienating celebrity culture of the team. They don't get the passionate support the team that reached the semi-finals over ten years ago did, although that will get an artificial boost with the world cup coming up. Another summer with hordes of face-painters and horn-blowers singing we're gonna win the cup after beating whatever mediocre team we manage to beat.
 

lostclause

New member
Mar 31, 2009
1,860
0
0
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
 

Archaeology Hat

New member
Nov 6, 2007
430
0
0
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
 

NeutralMunchHotel

New member
Jun 14, 2009
13,333
0
0
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
Why is that an arguement? Don't get me wrong, I love the monarchy and everything they stand for, (the 'good' side of English patriotism, the idealism that came from us being on top for most of history) but I could easily live with out them. They don't do anything majorly important (although my geography lessons have taught me the importance of tourism) but I think Britain could function perfectly well without them.
 

lostclause

New member
Mar 31, 2009
1,860
0
0
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
America seems satisfied with Obama. Most republics have a President instead of a monarch, although it varys how much power they have (E.g. America: Nearly all of it Israel: Not very much, most is with the PM)
 

lostclause

New member
Mar 31, 2009
1,860
0
0
Gilbert Munch said:
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
Why is that an arguement? Don't get me wrong, I love the monarchy and everything they stand for, (the 'good' side of English patriotism, the idealism that came from us being on top for most of history) but I could easily live with out them. They don't do anything majorly important (although my geography lessons have taught me the importance of tourism) but I think Britain could function perfectly well without them.
I think he's making a point about how pointless they are. Either that or how difficult they would be to remove form the system. I don't associate patriotism with the monarch, but living in the colonies may have influenced that (Go New Zealand!)
 

NeutralMunchHotel

New member
Jun 14, 2009
13,333
0
0
lostclause said:
Gilbert Munch said:
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
Why is that an arguement? Don't get me wrong, I love the monarchy and everything they stand for, (the 'good' side of English patriotism, the idealism that came from us being on top for most of history) but I could easily live with out them. They don't do anything majorly important (although my geography lessons have taught me the importance of tourism) but I think Britain could function perfectly well without them.
I think he's making a point about how pointless they are. Either that or how difficult they would be to remove form the system. I don't associate patriotism with the monarch, but living in the colonies may have influenced that (Go New Zealand!)
Maybe... he just says 'for the monarchy', implying he is for them staying.
 

lostclause

New member
Mar 31, 2009
1,860
0
0
@ Gilbert

True. I just wonder how delicate the monarchy is right now. Do many people in Britain support the monarchy or are they indifferent?
 

kaziard

New member
Oct 28, 2008
710
0
0
Gilbert Munch said:
lostclause said:
Gilbert Munch said:
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
Why is that an arguement? Don't get me wrong, I love the monarchy and everything they stand for, (the 'good' side of English patriotism, the idealism that came from us being on top for most of history) but I could easily live with out them. They don't do anything majorly important (although my geography lessons have taught me the importance of tourism) but I think Britain could function perfectly well without them.
I think he's making a point about how pointless they are. Either that or how difficult they would be to remove form the system. I don't associate patriotism with the monarch, but living in the colonies may have influenced that (Go New Zealand!)
Maybe... he just says 'for the monarchy', implying he is for them staying.
meh i dont see the point of having a vestigal monarchy. They dont really add anything except the christmas speech and DOE awards. Ever since parliment took over they have been pretty much the UK mascots. However this may all be to do with the fact im scottish :p
 

Layzor

New member
Feb 18, 2009
731
0
0
I don't even understand why patriotism is a good thing, just because i popped into the world and it happened to be on English soil doesn't mean that I should love England. England has been going downhill for years now, I personally hate England and as soon as I've finished getting my degree I'm emigrating to Canada, a much better country.
 

NeutralMunchHotel

New member
Jun 14, 2009
13,333
0
0
kaziard said:
Gilbert Munch said:
lostclause said:
Gilbert Munch said:
Archaeology Hat said:
lostclause said:
@ Hat
It's not that I don't like the royals it's just that i don't understand monarchists (although i have seen an article on the escapist about the queen playing a Wii which may turn some against her).
I'm about as "republican" as you can get. But the biggest arguement I've seen for the monarchy is one I agree with.

"What would you have instead?"
Why is that an arguement? Don't get me wrong, I love the monarchy and everything they stand for, (the 'good' side of English patriotism, the idealism that came from us being on top for most of history) but I could easily live with out them. They don't do anything majorly important (although my geography lessons have taught me the importance of tourism) but I think Britain could function perfectly well without them.
I think he's making a point about how pointless they are. Either that or how difficult they would be to remove form the system. I don't associate patriotism with the monarch, but living in the colonies may have influenced that (Go New Zealand!)
Maybe... he just says 'for the monarchy', implying he is for them staying.
meh i dont see the point of having a vestigal monarchy. They dont really add anything except the christmas speech and DOE awards. Ever since parliment took over they have been pretty much the UK mascots. However this may all be to do with the fact im scottish :p
Excuse me! I'm halfway through a DOE bronze award! Imagine if it stopped before I managed to get it... all that work for nothing... and I'd pay for a Prince Charles mascot bobblehead. +1 Ears.
 

Lukeje

New member
Feb 6, 2008
4,048
0
0
jimborious said:
Lukeje said:
England doesn't have a National Anthem...
Actually we do its called 'Land of Hope and Glory'

'God Save the Queen' is the British national anthem but in instance's like the commanwealth games where England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete seperatly the English anthem played is 'Land of Hope and Glory'
It's used, but it's not official. They also use Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, and that's not official either.
 

jj90

New member
Oct 24, 2008
404
0
0
a love England and i would love to be more patriotic. i want a flag pole so i can fly the ST GORGES CROSS! not the union jack, now nothing against Scotland, or Wales but im for ENGLAND. but however you much have council permission and if there are any migrants near buy they have to so much as look at it for the council to revoke permission. its stupid. i think it is because the government at the moment is loving being in bed with Europe, as we are the only country that follows its rules, other EU members have the balls to say no.
 

Shangrii-La

New member
Jun 10, 2009
9
0
0
This sounds like bullshit.
We might not sing out our praises to our country, because that's really fucking annoying. I'd see it more of a good point than a bad point. We are proud of our country (well, generally speaking, ignore the government), our history and achievements, but it isn't proclaimed to the world because really, we couldn't be bothered to say it.

Saying that you're a member of the BNP would mark you as a racist, but considering that I'm a Private Ever-reading Londoner with almost every culture at my doorstep I'd have to disagree.
 

lostclause

New member
Mar 31, 2009
1,860
0
0
Thanks pigeon. A further question if you don't mind: do the scandals ever really effect people's view on the monarchy (most recently prince William's (?) 'raghead' comment)?