CJ Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 After reading a recent thread about celebrating St. George's day (I am Welsh by the way), I got to thinking about what we (as in all Brits) have to be proud of ? Maybe some of the mix have more to feel proud about than others? Discuss please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Dangerous thread this one. Remeber the last time nationality and race was discussed on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 According to the politicians, most of the pride should be in being part of a "cosmopolitan", tolerant and diverse society. Healthy mix I think they call it all around Europe. By talking to Americans it seems that they can't understand any of this, and are bewildered and impressed. But hey, hundreds of thousands over there believe they've been abducted by aliens (and experimented upon). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Dangerous thread this one. Remeber the last time nationality and race was discussed on here I really don't see a problem. I am asking why the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish feel they are proud of being just that. I am not asking about the current climate per se. If anyone sees that as racist then they have a serious issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 We have the only contry that has Great at the begining , we had the largest empire in the world at one point and the finest army plus our spec ops are awesome oh and we have james bond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I am not proud to be British, I am proud to be Scottish, I love Scotland and very very proud, it's home, some may say that scotland is part of britian which i agree in but so is England so is Wales but i bet 95% or more when asked what nationality they are they will reply either English, Welsh or Scottish I dont think for one minute that people in Notheren Ireland call themselves British, I have quite a few good friends from N. Ireland and they dislike getting called British apart from 1 of them. To me Britian is only a name now it is not what it used to be. just my humble opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 We have the only contry that has Great at the begining , we had the largest empire in the world at one point and the finest army plus our spec ops are awesome oh and we have james bond I was actually thinking more along the lines of the seperate entities making up Britain. The 4 home countrys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Its funny, I had a discussion with wifey whilst we were away in Wales last week. One of the things that you notice ceratinly in Wales & Scotland, is how proud they are of their nation, their national identity and traditions. Whereas in England, there certainly seems to be an absence of national pride unless England are in the world cup or England win the Ashes or the Rugby World Cup. There also seem to be more of a division in England than in the other home nations (maybe apart from Northern Ireland lets NOT get into a discussion there!), like the north/south divide and even up north the east/west divide. Everywhere you go in Wales, you know you're there, there's real pride in their heritage. Even in Scotland. In England, if think its sadly lacking. (BTW I'm Scots but I've lived in England for the past 30 years.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 I am not proud to be British, I am proud to be Scottish, I love Scotland and very very proud, it's home, some may say that scotland is part of britian which i agree in but so is England so is Wales but i bet 95% or more when asked what nationality they are they will reply either English, Welsh or Scottish I dont think for one minute that people in Notheren Ireland call themselves British, I have quite a few good friends from N. Ireland and they dislike getting called British apart from 1 of them. To me Britian is only a name now it is not what it used to be. just my humble opinion OK, so what exactly makes you proud to be Scottish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 We have the only contry that has Great at the begining , we had the largest empire in the world at one point Egypt had an empire that lasted longer. So did Greece and Italy. And Turkey. Germany failed in first couple of attempts, lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 yep but they didnt have a queen that just gave it all back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Whereas in England, there certainly seems to be an absence of national pride I think a lot of this is to do with the 'historical baggage' that England has to carry around. When we show our pride in the nation and hoist the flag we are deemed as being racist and have to be careful that we don't upset somebody. http://www.presidentreagan.info/images/english_flag.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 OK, so what exactly makes you proud to be Scottish? Well, basics really the countryside, the people that inner feeling that cannot be explained, its a bit like when you ask someone who is muslim why they follow that religion you never get a straight answer its an unknown source within you that cannot be explained oh and the fact that Scotland has supported great britian for many many decades with the north sea oil industry, as if scotland had got its independence back in the 30's or 40's then scotland would have been a very very rich country how ever this source has been abused and used by the british government, all facts submitted and published by the Scottish executive when devolotion was first mentioned also the coal industry scotland had a thriving coal industry like wales did and also england, and scotland having at one time the second best shipping yard in the world, but gig maggie thatch fucked that up good style, but we cant go back, but at least coal yards accross britian are opening up again which is a good thing its all those factors that make you proud to be scottish for me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 yep but they didnt have a queen that just gave it all back The wrongs of our forefathers have been altered by giving all the countries of the Empire their freedom from British rule (remember it was the British Empire). But equally 53 of those countries still remain in the Commonweath (of which the Queen is still the head) so it can't have been all bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Well, basics really the countryside, the people that inner feeling that cannot be explained, its a bit like when you ask someone who is muslim why they follow that religion you never get a straight answer its an unknown source within you that cannot be explained. That is a fantastic statement James. Shame your political rhetoric spoilt it a bit:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I think a lot of this is to do with the 'historical baggage' that England has to carry around. When we show our pride in the nation and hoist the flag we are deemed as being racist and have to be careful that we don't upset somebody. its is the same in scotland for st andrews day, when we opened our scottish parliment scotland was BANNED from flying the St Andrews cross on such an important day for Scotland it was only reversed on the 12th hour after 3 scottish newspaper got a petition going that it was not right there is to much of this racist nonsense, i may be a proud scotsman and i do suffer from the english/scottish devide but we are all one at the end of the day and we have to get on wether we are coloured or not religous or not St georges day is englands day and everyone should enjoy it to the fullist without having to mind there P's and Q's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 look at it another way! Which nation would you rather be. I see England a a great compromise. weather, wealth, location, history, freedom, health. Its all here. and we don't have any poisonous snakes and spiders to worry about. Just the occasional bad tempered badger I doubt Supraforums have threads like this. We Brits are selling are nation short. Over the pond is always USA!! USA!! USA!! we rule. Id rather live in a more mature nation like good old Blighty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 We Brits are selling are nation short. nah tony blair is and others we are to close to the usa imho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Call me old fashioned but I'm proud of: The sense of "fair play" that we still have in most things. The huge respect that our monachy and armed forces still have around the world. The fact that I belive that our society is still 99% uncorrupted, including the police (and I'm no cop lover) and our politicians (ditto). Our free speech (in 99.9% of cases) and our media from the BBC to the "Sun" who although sometimes get it wrong at least are fairly unbiased. Our awsome countryside from the highlands of Scotland and Wales to the rugged Yorkshire moors and the Wessex downs. But mainly the people, who in the main, are friendly, welcoming and truthfull. Before you blast me down - spare a thought for all the people in the world who are living in fear of speaking thier mind in public, who don't have enough money to get health care etc etc. Just my piece - fire away !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 there is to much of this racist nonsense, i may be a proud scotsman and i do suffer from the english/scottish devide but we are all one at the end of the day and we have to get on wether we are coloured or not religous or not I suffer with it too and am not about to change the habit of a lifetime. If Scotland are playing any sport under the Saltaire I want them to loose (Unless it against the French) and likewise if we are playing I except every Scotman to want us to get stuffed. St georges day is englands day and everyone should enjoy it to the fullist without having to mind there P's and Q's Too right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Call me old fashioned but I'm proud of: The sense of "fair play" that we still have in most things. The huge respect that our monachy and armed forces still have around the world. The fact that I belive that our society is still 99% uncorrupted, including the police (and I'm no cop lover) and our politicians (ditto). Our free speech (in 99.9% of cases) and our media from the BBC to the "Sun" who although sometimes get it wrong at least are fairly unbiased. Our awsome countryside from the highlands of Scotland and Wales to the rugged Yorkshire moors and the Wessex downs. But mainly the people, who in the main, are friendly, welcoming and truthfull. Before you blast me down - spare a thought for all the people in the world who are living in fear of speaking thier mind in public, who don't have enough money to get health care etc etc. Just my piece - fire away !!! That brought a tear to my eye! Agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 The way this country is being run has dropped a hell of a lot of my British pride. Britain as a place fantastic... Britain as a place to live not so good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Prawn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would like to say the one thing I am proud of is the English language. But judging by some of the spelling in this thread, I better not;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VELOCITY Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 its is the same in scotland for st andrews day, when we opened our scottish parliment scotland was BANNED from flying the St Andrews cross on such an important day for Scotland it was only reversed on the 12th hour after 3 scottish newspaper got a petition going that it was not right there is to much of this racist nonsense, i may be a proud scotsman and i do suffer from the english/scottish devide but we are all one at the end of the day and we have to get on wether we are coloured or not religous or not St georges day is englands day and everyone should enjoy it to the fullist without having to mind there P's and Q's Well said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Makes me laugh how so many of the scotch guys hate England and bang on about what a great place it is and what great people they are, yet they all come down here to work. If scotland is so fantastic why don't they sod off back there? You never see a jock with a GB sticker or number plate logo on their car, do you. They always have "Ecosse" on their cars, which I presume is french for 'Scotland'. I guess they're worried a frenchie might mistake them for English. And who do the scots support in the world cup or any other major sporting event? They support whoever England is up against. Usually scotland aren't in it at the Finals stage though - having been knocked out in the qualification rounds by the Pharoah Islands. And to be fair I love it that they do this, it makes winning all the sweeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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