Being English

[lostmyhouseski]

I have an England 2004 Euro Cup mug from ASDA. it's not my favourite cup but it's one of them

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

It means I was born here which doesn't make me any better or worse than someone born in another country. It also means I live in a country where, despite all it's faults, I'm a lot better off than a hell of a lot of other people around the world.

 

[Plaything of the gods]

Being fair, tolerant and grumblesome.

We put up with a fair amount of shit from our rulers without going into open revolt.

 

[Muzza]

I consider myself a Space Marine, for the Emperor!

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I class myself as English but I might be totally foreign - Dad born in Newton Heath and mum in Whitehaven!

 

[DelToro]

It means I was born here which doesn't make me any better or worse than someone born in another country. It also means I live in a country where, despite all it's faults, I'm a lot better off than a hell of a lot of other people around the world.

Nicely put.

 

[metalblue]

Being fair, tolerant and grumblesome.

We put up with a fair amount of shit from our rulers without going into open revolt.

Pretty much this.

 

[Dubai Blue]

Only when you go abroad do you realise how English you are, IMO!

This is very true, or it is for me at least. I've been away for 11 years now and don't really have any particular desire to go back permanently, but I always have a great time whenever I visit and the vast majority of my friends in both the countries I have lived (Thailand and the UAE) have been English.

I can't put my finger on exactly what 'Englishness' is, but we all share a common language, history, education, sense of humour and moral outlook. We grew up as kids watching the same TV shows, playing the same games and eating the same food. We also all like to have a drink and watch the football, cricket, golf, rugby, motor racing, and whatever else happens to be going on in the sporting world. As simple as it sounds, these are the little things that bind our group of friends together, and in turn probably define how we view ourselves as English.

I'm also very proud of how Britain (at least appears to) stand for what is right and fair. For example, I speak to people all the time from other countries who would find it mad that we flew in a helicopter of paramedics to save those two evil bastards in London yesterday. And my missus is always amazed at how much we challenge politicians and the police in Britain because in her country these sort of people are NEVER held accountable for their actions. Yes, we could go a lot further in that regard, but there is a lot to be proud of; you just need to speak to people from other less developed places to realise quite how much.

Edit: Another thing to be proud of is our manners. We put almost every other nation to shame in that respect. Sadly I experience that every single day here in Dubai.

 

[bluevengence]

Well I class my self as English. It seems to be fashionable nowadays to not be patriotic which I don't understand.

Nothing wrong with patriotism,nationalism is where it gets fooked up with the SS wannabees

 

[Anonymous]

i care more about being a city fan than being english to be honest.