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I am not interested in your specific political thoughts by asking this. Or even where else you would like to live.
Rather, if you're British, are you glad, or is there another nationality you would rather lay claim to?
I'm thinking in terms of our landscapes, our history, our culture, our architecture, etc., as it compares with that of others.
And finally, whatever the answer to that question, what other nationality would you like to be if you had to choose?
Me? I'm very happy to be British, and the longer I live here, the more this is the case. I love the land, and (mostly) love the people.
If I could, though, I would also love to be German.
I thought you were Canadian?
I thought you were Canadian?
I also thought he was a moose humper.
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7.5 billion people in the world. Simply by being born in Britain we are highly likely to be in the top 20% in the world in terms of opportunity, lifestyle, diet etc.
Not much to grumble about viewed in a global context.
You're not British you flappy headed beady eyed uncle fu.....
No but that probably doesn't come as a surprise to many folk on this forum
Makes me proud to be British!
I'm a bit embarrassed. IMHO we have disgraced ourselves with Brexit and the rise of the Right.
Not especially proud no.
Lucky? Very much so for the reasons danny mentioned.
Harry_the_Spider - Member
I'm a bit embarrassed. IMHO we have disgraced ourselves with Brexit and the rise of the Right.POSTED 57 SECONDS AGO # REPORT-POST
No question, but I'm glad I'm British rather than Syrian for example.....
While there are arguably better places to be born, there's an awful lot worse. So yes, despite the brexit embarrassment, I am glad I'm British. Could be worse
Yes I'm glad I live in Britain, although more specifically I'm glad I live in Scotland.
I wouldn't be glad to identify as British however, I would always prefer to say Scottish.
This isn't an anti-English thing, I simply don't identify with much of Britain outside of Scotland, and that which I do (lots of holidays in Ireland) I basically identify as 'Irish'.
I don't know which nationality I would prefer to be, I guess I think some of the Scandinavian countries seem to be a bit more progressive politically than we are, I'd certainly be glad to *say* I was Norwegian I think, but I don't know the reality of actually living there.
I'd happily defect if I got a decent offer.
It's nice that you have the luxury to think about guff like this though, you probably wouldn't if you were Chinese.
don't consider myself British and I'm happy about brexit
Glad, not proud, to be British. There is a very thin line that separates jingoism/patriotism and nationalism.
Italian. Beautiful language. Decent attitude towards life.
If I could, though, I would also love to be German
WARUUUUUUM? Kartoffelfresser, Sonnenliegeabdecker, Gesetzfolgender, Steuerzahle, alles Vorboten Arschloch!
I'm Scottish, I'm glad.
Glad, but also ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.
When I travel abroad I actually feel awkward now, I need one of those T-shirts which says 'Don't blame me, I voted to stay in the EU'.
Would prefer to be French at the moment.
Glad I'm EUish and British and English and Kentish, wish we had Merkel as prime minister though.
When I can back from Australia I couldn't believe how beautiful Kent was, green, lots of little lanes, interesting old buildings. Crap beaches though.
I'm proud of my Ethiopian roots.
Half Scottish, half German. Pretty happy with that. Don't identify as British despite living south of the border.
This thread is reminding me of the episode of the Simpsons where they go on holiday and lisa gets off the plane wearing a hat with a maple leaf on pretending to be Canadian 🙂
I am glad of being British even if our current politicians do us no favours, but neither do trump or marine le pen and we separate the American/French people from their political eejits
ashamed of...the rise in xenophobia / racism.....Would prefer to be French at the moment.
Not been following French politics or news, I assume?
While there's a lot to improve on in this country, I'm immensely proud and glad to be British.
Alternatives - I think Kiwis and Scandinavians would be a good shout?
Glad, but also ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.
Yep, same here. I'm still glad I live in a country where tolerance is still, as a majority, the accepted way of life. The minority who think otherwise can f*** off. The xenophobes will hopefully disappear but maybe that's wishful thinking.
What made Britain great was the fantastic, diverse cultural representation. The sooner we realise that again and instil that into our ethos the better.
Glad to have been born in the uk, but not arsed about being British, personally i want to live and work near mountains (real mountains that have lots of snowboarding) so the alps are calling
I'm proud of my Ethiopian roots.
Big shout out from the Afar Massive.
I'm glad I live in Britain, but I'm not that fussed about being British tbh.
Not been following French politics or news, I assume?
Last time I looked they hadn't voted to leave the EU and the far right had taken a good kicking in their last election. We seem to have an openly racist and xenophobic PM intent on purging the country of foreigners, whatever the cost.
I don't think of myself as British, I'm Scottish. Despite what Renton says in Trainspotting, I think we're okay - it's a pretty cool wee country.
It's a good place to live- not too terrible a climate, widely spoken language, good living standards etc. I'm not proud of it- my mum and dad *ed there, I didn't have that much to do with it- but yeah I'm glad, it's way up in the top end of places you'd like your mum and dad to have *ed. Maybe not top but definitely closer to the top than the bottom
And I will be honest, I've been incredibly negative about the UK's future- its inward looking race-to-the-bottom politics, its declaration that anything but a boot stamping on a human face forever is mad utopianism, its idea that things that we could do in the 1970s are now impossible, its insistance that first past the post is the only way to do things and that all protesters are students and looters, its acceptance that "fair" means "shafting lots of people". It's the main reason I've wanted scottish independence- basically I'd lost all faith in the UK. But more recently I've felt more positive. Still not super-positive mind, but no longer do I think it should slide into the sea.
no
and there are a few countries where i would rather live.
I thought you were Canadian?
Born and raised in Canada, with a British mother and Ukrainian-German father.
Lived in Britain for last 15 years.
Ashamed to be british due to brexit? Unbelievable. After all that the country has bought to the world, good and bad. How it stood up to the might of the germans went for strolls around europe, and at the same time how it colonialised and oppressed countries and you're ashamed of........brexit?
Get a ****ing grip.
Ashamed to be british due to brexit? Unbelievable. After all that the country has bought to the world, good and bad. How it stood up to the might of the germans went for strolls around europe, and at the same time how it colonialised and oppressed countries and you're ashamed of........brexit?Get a ****ing grip.
This entirely.
I quite like being British but I'd be just as happy (maybe more so) at being Canadian.
I ashamed of people who are over reacting to people being ashamed in a way that could be described as an overreacting.
Geographically, I love where I live. I can go day trips riding the islands, highlands, borders lakes or dales.
I also like the fact I can be in so many different countries in a few hours, had a few job offers in Canada and Oz years back, not having that cultural escape was a factor.
No really interested in the whole British thing, as it always seems to be hijacked by some lot celebrating whatever war they deem relevant.
Wouldn't say I'm a Scottish nationalist either per se, as I'm not anti anything, but would like to see us on our own two feet, to get rid of this chip off our shoulder, and just to grow up a wee bit and actually appreciate what we have.
wrecker - Member
Ashamed to be british due to brexit? Unbelievable. After all that the country has bought to the world, good and bad. How it stood up to the might of the germans went for strolls around europe, and at the same time how it colonialised and oppressed countries and you're ashamed of........brexit?Get a ****ing grip.
POSTED 20 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
The standard of trolling in modern day Britain is also shit.
No. I don't like being British (I am actually English but right now I am ashamed of that too) I wish Britain had been disbanded long ago and the individual nations set free. I would like to be English and European.
But I feel quite at home in France.
how long before "if you don't like it **** off" comment ?
The standard of trolling in modern day Britain is also shit.
Doesn't stop them though.
how long before "if you don't like it **** off" comment ?
There is quite enough of that in the NI/EIRE thread.
Definitely glad to be British 😀
Proud that's a bit different, proud to try and be a decent person but not proud of everything that has gone on in this country or been done in its name. Can't really think of another country I'd prefer to have been born in.
Neither proud or ashamed, it's just a place I was born in.
Kuco - Member
Neither proud or ashamed, it's just a place I was born in.POSTED 2 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Yes, but that wasn't the question. I see our, hopefully momentary, descent into petty insularity as a bit of an insult to many people on earth who don't have the fortune to be born here. Being born British is still a remarkable stroke of luck and it's not one we should denigrate when there are so many other people who have much harder lives than we enjoy.
Not proud or ashamed, but I do feel lucky to have been born in a country that is relatively wealthy, safe and modern. There are much, much worse places to be in this world.
ootflaps - Member
Glad, but also ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.When I travel abroad I actually feel awkward now, I need one of those T-shirts which says 'Don't blame me, I voted to stay in the EU'.
+1
I do feel very lucky to live where we do
Pleased (very lucky) to be British. Annoyed by the politics (Brexit,May,HS2) and people who make manipulative videos like:
May isn't exactly keeping the country in order.
In reality everything is chill apart from price hikes.
Wouldn't mind France or Holland.
ootflaps - Member
Glad, but also ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.
When I travel abroad I actually feel awkward now, I need one of those T-shirts which says 'Don't blame me, I voted to stay in the EU'.
I find a bit of an apologetic shrug and a grin that says "I'm sure you've got pillocks in your country too" does the trick.
Yup, feel very lucky.
I wouldn't mind being from Brazil, Ireland, most bits of Africa, Poland, Bulgaria or Romania, but I'm not telling you why.
Glad, but also ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.When I travel abroad I actually feel awkward now, I need one of those T-shirts which says 'Don't blame me, I voted to stay in the EU'.
I doubt very much that your average European citizen really give a flying one about you or your self-imposed Brexit shame, TBH.
And those who wish they were Canadian, had a look at Canadian politics lately?
And as for the rise in xenophobia/racism/The Right, that's very much a minority view, amplified by the Daily Wail foghorn; I mean, can anyone honestly make a direct comparison between us and the US and what's happening there? I get out around a large chunk of the UK, and I just don't see it, except for the occasional loudmouth who you're going to find anywhere, and the number of central/Eastern Europeans I meet who seem to blend in quite naturally without apparent issues is really quite gratifying.
When did anyone see a massed march of fascists and skinhead thugs parading through a largely immigrant area of any city or town in the UK?
The whole extreme right in the UK has been thoroughly discredited and wiped out as a political force.
And quite right, too.
The US, however, is just one huge cluster****, and I just can't see how it's going to repair the damage in less than several generations.
I love the country I was born and brought up in, I love its history, it's landscape and all the great things it's given the world, art, music, literature, etc., and I am happy to live here.
Very Proud of being From Yorkshire. It is specifically where I am from.
Not at all fond of being 'english', not one I associate with, not a label I like, not something I find many positives in tbh.
Quite happy with the British label, I feel the broader inclusion, the bunch of people who mock each other quite harshly, like a good bunch of mates who only bicker because of how much time we spend together, I'd like to see it as an identity be less "London and pals" though.
Very proud to be European, such a mix, such a mix of food, music, culture, landscape. A chequered history but one which I think is informative and gives us much to learn from.
Quite proud to be from Earth, I think we're doing OK, when you look at where we came from, long way to go, hungry people etc. Come on chaps sort it out.
I've not had time to think too much about how I feel about the solor system, I think some other planets let us down. I'm looking at you here Neptune, get your shit together.
I don't understand how people stay in a country they are not happy to live in or feel ashamed to live in or be a passport holder of said country. The world is very small and the chance and opportunity to up sticks and move somewhere you feel will be better for you and if applicable your family has never been easier. I appreciate there are some country exceptions!
Very Proud of being From Yorkshire. It is specifically where I am from.
Do you like what you say and say what you bloody well like?
genesiscore502011 - Member
I don't understand how people stay in a country they are not happy to live in or feel ashamed to live in or be a passport holder of said country. The world is very small and the chance and opportunity to up sticks and move somewhere you feel will be better for you and if applicable your family has never been easier. I appreciate there are some country exceptions!POSTED 21 SECONDS AGO # REPORT-POST
That's the flowery version of "if you don't like it, **** off" in case anyone was wondering. 🙂
Do you like what you say and say what you bloody well like?
Do you know, I sort of do a bit yes. 🙂
No it's not. 🙂 I would have said that if I meant that. Just explaining how i don't understand how people don't make the changes they feel is good for them. Fear I guess of the unknown?
Feel quite glad, but we're a fairly flawed lot. I enjoy some vague ideas of decency and politeness though acknowledge that probably never really existed in a meaningful sense - just a load of repressed/violent nutcases underneath the veneer of civility. As an idea Britain still has a lot to make up for - global slavery, buggering up various economies with colonialism and then further screwing up of regions with hasty and ill-considered withdrawal from said colonialism.
What I will never take for granted is that I was born in and live in a country where most people have the opportunity to shape how they want to live their lives. We are eminently pragmatic and I feel that generally we have a tendency to limit the excesses of power. What I am definitely not proud of is a growing sense of material inequality in modern Britain.
I don't understand how people stay in a country
FWIW I can't understand why you can't understand why.
unklehomered - Member
Do you like what you say and say what you bloody well like?
Do you know, I sort of do a bit yes.POSTED 4 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
I think Yorkshire and the "God's own county" thing is brilliant and I am a teensy bit jealous.
I'd never admit that to a northern monkey, though.......
Wish I could have been Italian. I reckon they have it sussed out.
I think that from the 60's (maybe even earlier) to the noughties, was a special time for creativity in Britain. Music, comedy & satire, theatre, film and television we just seemed to produce more originality than any other country. I think I was lucky to be brought up in the middle of that era.
Unfortunately I think that era is now fading away.
Glad yeah, I mean it's a piss easy life compared to most of the world currently and historically it's like wining the lottery.
Proud, nah I didn't do any of the things that made the UK what it is.
I do love Britain (Welsh and British) I've traveled a lot, lived aboard, but despite the lack of lift-accessed MTB trails I do love it here, love my home town too, lived in other places but I like the mix I have here, it's not perfect, but on balance I don't know anywhere else I would live permanently instead. (But I might sod off for a couple of years for big piles of cash).
I am proud to be British .. and having live for 2X4 years in Switzerland and 1 x 2 years in Germany, I may have a better perspective than many on here.
I wanted to come back ...
CH is lovely - but very, very dull. And the most selfish culture I have ever come across ...
Germany is far more livable ... and more honest people but despite al its issues, I like the UK..
Btw, consider myself scottish - by birth and up bringing ...
Ri elf Xenophobia ... take a visit to Rostock, or Warsaw, or anywhere i Croatia, Northern Italy, anywhere i Austria, most of NL outside of Amsterdam, France south of the Vichy line ... and Northern Spain.
And Belgium ... where they all hate each other.
Ironically , I I know this will surprise a lot of you how have not traveled/ lived abroad,,, the UK is not actually seen as a third world country.
The inhabitants, however, are seen as major whiners about just about everything ....
They may have that just about right ....
BTW wanting to be Italian. You really have no comprehension of how f***ed up that country is by gross corruption and the mafia ...
could be worse, could be Scottish
"It’s SHITE being Scottish! We’re the lowest of the low. The scum of the ****ing Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don’t. They’re just ****ers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by ****ers. Can’t even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We’re ruled by effete assholes. It’s a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won’t make any ****ing difference!”
I was born white in the west
I basically won the lottery of life and I'm incredibly grateful
This is the most Yorkshire thing ever.
Good old Fiery Fred congratulating Dennis Lillee on his 300th test wicket.
Well, fifteen seconds of congratulations followed by a nearly a minute of rucking at a perceived injustice and a further reminiscence about his own achievement!
When did anyone see a massed march of fascists and skinhead thugs parading through a largely immigrant area of any city or town in the UK?
Halifax a couple of years ago, ironically the night of an Asian in-law's stag do.
We'd decided on Hebden, next stop down the train line.
That was fun.
Bolton town centre a couple of years before that.
I'm sure there's been loads more, but those are the only ones that I've experience of.
Still, the fact that the far right are allowed to do so is a sign of our tolerance as a nation.
could be worse, could be Scottish
The irony of all of this is I am Scottish, born there , raised there until 7. Support the national team in football, and rugby. But I speak with an English accent ....
Despite their great Europhile rhetoric, hating the English is number one on the agenda ....
I am very sad to say, that outside of Russia, it is the most racist place I have every been . But 99% of the racism is focused on the English. It's pitiful ...
I'm Welsh(ish).
piemonster - Member
I don't understand how people stay in a country
FWIW I can't understand why you can't understand why.
POSTED 28 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Are you a teacher by trade? 😀
ootflaps - Member
Glad, but also totally ashamed of Brexit and the rise in xenophobia / racism.
When I travel abroad I actually feel awkward now, I need one of those T-shirts which says 'Don't blame me, I voted to stay in the EU'.
Yes, this. But I'd also have one of those Acid House 80's smilie faces on it, but the smile would be upside down.
One thing about Britain I find really odd, it's the lack of region/county pride. It's all sort of "all the same man"
The British do not celebrate regionality, diversification nor regional home produce.. it's all sort of "the same man" and folks when asked about the county they were born in invariably move away, for work or escape. Sad that is, very sad. But it's an accepted part of being "british" ... reserved reticence.
As,for the troll up there, nice try .. take a break.
The British do not celebrate regionality, diversification nor regional home produce..
WTF? Really? There are still cheeses that you only get to find out about if you're from that parish of Yorkshire/Lancashire and you are shot on the spot if you reveal their existence to outsiders!
Bide on.
You want to see something to be ashamed of;
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/24/brazil-abolishes-huge-amazon-reserve-in-biggest-attack-in-50-years?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_New_Post
So whilst the entire world is pushing for conservation, environment, climate change; the state of Brazil are still cutting down the amazon.
That's disgraceful. Whinging about the result of a vote which didn't go your way is just pathetic and grown adults should know better.
WTF? Really? There are still cheeses that you only get to find out about if you're from that parish of Yorkshire/Lancashire and you are shot on the spot if you reveal their existence to outsiders!
Yep!
And, taking that futher - CHEESE! We have the most excellent cheese in this country. That's got to count for something! Beauvale and Tunworth for lunch, BTW.
Yeah, but only you know about them. Not promoted or celebrated are they. It's not like anyone knows about them.
That's my point..
But you knew that.
wrecker - Member
Bide on.You want to see something to be ashamed of;
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/24/brazil-abolishes-huge-amazon-reserve-in-biggest-attack-in-50-years?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_New_PostSo whilst the entire world is pushing for conservation, environment, climate change; the state of Brazil are still cutting down the amazon.
That's disgraceful. Whinging about the result of a vote which didn't go your way is just pathetic and grown adults should know better.
Wonder what happened to our indigenous forest......
Ah yes, we got to cut the bugger down before anyone realized it was a bad thing. Go us!
This country's trolling has gone to the dogs I tell you.
bikebouy - Member
Yeah, but only you know about them. Not promoted or celebrated are they. It's not like anyone knows about them.That's my point..
But you knew that.
POSTED 11 SECONDS AGO # REPORT-POST
Yes, but this is uber-level regionalism. The core assumption is that anyone from outside of your region doesn't [u]deserve[/u] to know about the good stuff.
This country's trolling has gone to the dogs I tell you.
Never mind trolling, if you can't tell the difference between the importance of the amazon and what was once forest covering the UK to the environment, it's the school standards I am concerned for.
So why not promote it, share it and celebrate it ?
Or.. keep it quiet and to yourself.
Britain needs to promote a regional culture IMO. Produce from those regions should be distinct and protected and celebrated as such. That way regions become places of interest other than places to pass through on the way to somewhere else.
You know what I'm saying, the points I'm making.
I'm surprised you fired back with a "what he hell" type of response.. but it's late I guess.
Never mind trolling, if you can't tell the difference between the importance of the amazon and what was once forest covering the UK to the environment, it's the school standards I am concerned for.
And if you can't see the irony in the first country to rape its natural resources (hate that term) in the drive to industrialise lecturing others on environmental responsibility then it's the playschool standards I am concerned for.
Britain needs to promote a regional culture IMO. Produce from those regions should be distinct and protected and celebrated as such.
Leicestershire pork pies, Hampshire wine, Highland beef, Devon cream tea, Brummy Chicken Tikka Masala, Cumberland sausage, London jellied eels, Bakewell bakewell, Mersey Trout. Actually, hold the last one....
There are so many wondrous foods out there, and they are celebrated. I agree they should be protected, however. Pork pies come from Melton Mowbray. Nowhere else.