Being English

[Unknown_Genius]

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." - Thomas Paine.

 

[mick10]

What does it mean to you?

Seeing comments flying about today after the sickening attack in Woolwich, I'm noticing a big chunk of patriotism, people showing their allegiance to this country and proclaiming their Britishness/English pride and so on.

For me, my only attachment was to wear an England shirt during a World Cup, we'd get knocked out, and that would be it.

I just see this place as an Island where people from all over the world have sailed/flown to over the many years, and have migrated here happily and brought about their influence.

From the Vikings to Anglo-Saxons, Romans, to the Afro-Caribbean's more recently.

What, is it the Royal Family or something?

I couldn't care less about them (they don't care about me so....)

It's just one big melting pot of Migrants (myself included, with Irish/Anglo-Saxon/Spanish blood all mixed into together.

Eh you're getting immigration mixed up with INVASION!

 

[Anonymous]

I like being English , in general ...... although admittedly there are days when i wish i'd been born elsewhere.

 

[BimboBob]

What does it mean to you?

Seeing comments flying about today after the sickening attack in Woolwich, I'm noticing a big chunk of patriotism, people showing their allegiance to this country and proclaiming their Britishness/English pride and so on.

For me, my only attachment was to wear an England shirt during a World Cup, we'd get knocked out, and that would be it.

I just see this place as an Island where people from all over the world have sailed/flown to over the many years, and have migrated here happily and brought about their influence.

From the Vikings to Anglo-Saxons, Romans, to the Afro-Caribbean's more recently.

What, is it the Royal Family or something?

I couldn't care less about them (they don't care about me so....)

It's just one big melting pot of Migrants (myself included, with Irish/Anglo-Saxon/Spanish blood all mixed into together.

Eh you're getting immigration mixed up with INVASION!

The Afrio-Carribean War was particularly brutal.

 

[BlueHubert]

As a kid it meant playing in a park with no real worries, since i hit adulthood it has been constantly evolving in many ways so i don't know.

Football and shit weather probably.

For me its about being polite,honest and being understanding of others who havnt got or had the luxuries ive been given..i.e education,health and a secure future...

This. Being the least racist nation I've been to would be one thing to be proud of, although with the EDL dicks around Woolwich I'm now not so sure.

 

[Rascal]

Im proud to be English and British and European.

Im mostly proud to be Mancunian mind.

Im proud of our tolerance, our welcome to others, our generosity, our understanding and our spirit of community values.

I love the fact that the people on my street look out for each other, they looked out for my old mam when i was in hospital and the lad down the street makes sure she gets her bins emptied.

I love the fact i get looked after by the best health service in the world and its employees are not cunts but offer to make themselves available to me 24/7


Manchester, England, UK, Europe is a good place portrayed as bad by nutjobs

 

[Plaything of the gods]

Rule Britannia

Proud to be british i guess those people who are so unhappy with being british forget that if their grandparents hadn't fought for their right to be sat at a computer and able to type on thus forum they would be either not here, dead from an early age or being rent boys for the nazi regime

If you hate Britain , don't consider it home and hate the british why oh why the fuck are any of you here?

You sound like that murderer yesterday interesting thought.

One of the very few things that make me feel patriotic is the British aversion - or perhaps disinterest is a better description - to patriotism.
We generally realise the ludicrousness of the stance and scoff at others who revel so mawkishly in it such as the Americans.
We know our qualities - understated and reasoned stoicism encapsulated so amazingly by the lady who talked to one of the murderers yesterday - and regard pride in our heritege and origin as a given. Why proclaim it at every opportunity? That's not who we are. We're more....evolved than that.
Instead we reserve patriotism for when it is justified - sporting events, jubilees, etc - in the same manner that we celebrate ourselves on birthdays or weddings. By which I mean there are times when we should celebrate our nation and our national character. And we do.
The rest of the time we get on with displaying the qualities that warrant the outburst of pride on such occasions. And the daily shouting out of our identity - who are you reminding, others or yourself? - is not one of those qualities. Quite the opposite.

Please dont confuse this fantastic attitude that is prevelent in most with hating the nation of our birth.

Our grandparents displayed unimaginable bravery and patritism so we wouldn't have to be burdened with such sentiments. So we could be proud of who we are but not ever again feel the need to shout or fight about it.

Actually, she is quite clearly a Francophone. London attack: interview with Ingrid Loyau-Kennett

Actually, those that are the most proud of their heritage and origin seem to be the ones who know the least about the history of the English, which is probably why they have to accept the pride as a given.

 

[andyhinch]

Not really answering the question, but if I lived in France I would conform to their culture as I would in any other culture, as I would in any other country, why would I wish to live or for that matter go on holiday to a country I am ideologically opposed to. Makes no sense.

 

[Ammy]

I'd suit being Italian so much more...

 

[andyhinch]

I'd suit being Italian so much more...

Foods better, I was there this time last year, the earthquake was a bit of a downer mind.