Are you proud to be a British citizen?

[JTrader]

Are you proud of being a British Citizen?

Generally speaking, as a 21st century British citizen, are you proud of GB, and proud to be a GB citizen - in terms of what to you GB offers, and what to you GB represents?

 

[Marwan2010]

Generally speaking, as a 21st century British citizen, are you proud of GB, and proud to be a GB citizen - in terms of what to you GB offers, and what to you GB represents?

Absolutely.............................
Having travelled the world over, and being of ethinic origin and an immigrant into UK. I was welcommed by the Brits, have suffered very little racism. I think looking at the Indians and the way they prosper in the UK, shows that UK is the place where talent will be recognised.

I think UK is a very fair nation ( I mean the people) NOT the politician.
and YES proud to be British

I wish we will be more independant from the blooody yanks
I hate Yanks, really do( the govt - not the people)

 

[Splitlink]

Generally speaking, as a 21st century British citizen, are you proud of GB, and proud to be a GB citizen - in terms of what to you GB offers, and what to you GB represents?

Yes, I am. We're not perfect but who is?

Split

 

[yacarob1]

What is there to be proud of exactly ?

 

[trendie]

a very interesting question - one that has been raging here in the office (curretn contract) for a couple of days.

I have voted neutral.

My standpoint is I did nothing to "earn or deserve" being british. I am british by birth. (even though I am ethnically indian)

(did anybody fill in a form, or pass an exam to be born in the UK, as opposed to be born into a poor family in Somalia?)

I am british by LUCK. How can you be proud of a random event?

EDIT: one of the guys here is proud to be from Yorkshire. same logic. random event!

 

[yacarob1]

Yes, I tend to agree.

Pride comes with achievement.

Being born British is not an achievement.

Hence there is no pride in being British.

Mind you I am sometimes embarrassed and even ashamed when people like Blair start wars and kill people indiscriminately.

On balance I am neutral.

 

[barjon]

..............are you proud of GB,?..........................

I think the key is in the first part of the question. Yes, I am proud of GB. I moan about "the state of the nation" quite a lot and I'm rather less proud than I used to be - but that's probably a symptom of advancing years

jon

 

[JTrader]

Having thought about it, I've selected options 2-5.

I've selected neutral because i cannot be proud of an event that i had no control of - being born in the UK, or being born in a particular county.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed by GB's role in war.

I am embarrassed and ashamed at the British government generally.

I cannot claim to be proud of being English. The main opportunities for active leisure seem to be binge drinking, dogging , shopping, the gym (which i enjoy, but it is a bit sterile and indoorsy, and makes me feel a bit like a rat in a cage running around its wheel, but the gym is a good meeting place) & getting stuck in traffic jams.

I cannot claim to be proud of the (particularly) English (maybe Western) materialistic philosophy that most people I know seem to adopt.
I dislike the notion of buying into a system whereby this seems to be highly valued - working every hour god sends to afford a modest house full of top gadgets, but living in an urban area (like around 80% of the population) where there is not a lot to do during leisure time, or space to do it in.

But although there is an element of embarrassment and shame, there really shouldn't be, as there is no reason why any of this should reflect on me as an individual.

Perhaps embarrassment and shame, and any small desire to keep my nationality quiet only come into the equation, if i meet people from a "nicer" (IMO) country...

I believe there are far worse places to live than England, and also some considerably better places.

My pros & cons of GB -

I like the climate, but would prefer it to be slightly cooler all year round.

I dislike the fact that i live in a vastly over-priced country, in terms of the quality of life that money can bring.

I dislike the fact that i live in an over populated country, where the roads are jam packed.

The GB landscape is fairly mundane IMO, in comparison to "better" countries like Canada, NZ, France, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden.
As a result, generally, opportunities for high quality outdoor leisure activities are limited IMO, especially in England.

I would be fairly proud to be Scottish, and perhaps Welsh also, if I lived in a nice rural and peaceful part of Scotland (abd maybe Wales), as I believe the layout of these countries (especially Scotland) is more condusive to my interests and values.

I can't really criticise England for the quality of its -
shopping malls, pubs, nightclubs, mainstream sport & leisure facilities, cinemas, theatres, art galleries, architectural history, CCTV surveillance systems.

Generally, I like & perhaps feel most comfortable with British people, and the British sense of humour.

Naturally there are several quieter regions in England that I like - such as Cumbria, Northhumberland, County Durham, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Norfolk.
I generally dislike densely urbanised/populated regions.

Britain is super for urbanites, who adore the cafe culture, shops, theatres etc. but not so great for nature & outdoor lovers. Scotland is nice for outdoors people, as is Wales, & rural parts of England such as Cumbria.

Britain has no wilderness'. Although there is countryside, this is mainly farmland - even up in the hills. Therefore you're not really free to do whatever you want in the countryside.

Britain has some super woodland, although not much of it is left.

Britain has a good mixture of wild-life. I like the fact that there are no highly venomous creatures. A few wolves, lynx & bears would make the countryside more exciting though!

Nice beaches exist in all four corners of Great Britain.

Britain has some super golf-courses, especially Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland, albeit golf is an elitist sport, vastly over-priced.

 

[the blades]

EDIT: one of the guys here is proud to be from Yorkshire. same logic. random event!

I'm proud to be British and more proud to be from Yorkshire (but that goes without saying ).

Seriously, I think most people get far too hung up with what's wrong with their country, rather than what's right. Ask Split - he's so proud he moved to Spain (only joking Split!)

UTB

 

[0007]

For those who do not have anything good to say about the UK, why do you stay?

 

[JTrader]

For those who do not have anything good to say about the UK, why do you stay?

Good question. Some possible reasons are -

Family
friends
difficulties of relocating - such as emmigration etc. to anywhere outside the EU.
Habit/apprehensive regarding change

I don't think there has been anyone who hasn't had anything good to say about GB yet.

 

[Splitlink]

I'm proud to be British and more proud to be from Yorkshire (but that goes without saying ).

Seriously, I think most people get far too hung up with what's wrong with their country, rather than what's right. Ask Split - he's so proud he moved to Spain (only joking Split!)

UTB

Touché!

I'm doing the good work and spreading the word over here, though, don't you worry. My three kids still have British passports and the English language has increased considerably since I've been here! I'm, also, known through my wife's considerable family as "el Inglés".

Split

 

[Crap Buddist]

hmm, I believe the UK is pretty good, I still retain a sense of felt core fairness that Brits radiate . hmmm I'd like to think thats the case, but the country is changing and ive probably lost touch with reality slightly.

LOL.

ok well whats special about Great Britain? wells lets build a list of pro's please add what you think Rocks In Great Britain, loads of people want to come and live here...

1. Humour,
2. Free healthcare.
3. Good emergency services.
4. Employment ratios ?
5. We are Not France
6. Fine Curry Houses. and other eats.
7. positive cohabitation with mixed communites & cultures
8 Music
9 British women still know a sink is an extension of their being, deep down . And its o.k. with them.
10 British men, recognise women have been going through a "Reason for being crisis" whilst pursuing careers away from the sink and have been happy to help out, while women "Find themselves"

Morning All.

who has a list of 10, lets have a look.......

 

[Splitlink]

hmm, I believe the UK is pretty good, I still retain a sense of felt core fairness that Brits radiate . hmmm I'd like to think thats the case, but the country is changing and ive probably lost touch with reality slightly.

LOL.

ok well whats special about Great Britain? wells lets build a list of pro's please add what you think Rocks In Great Britain, loads of people want to come and live here...

1. Humour,
2. Free healthcare.
3. Good emergency services.
4. Employment ratios ?
5. We are Not France
6. Fine Curry Houses. and other eats.
7. positive cohabitation with mixed communites & cultures
8 Music
9 British women still know a sink is an extension of their being, deep down . And its o.k. with them.
10 British men, recognise women have been going through a "Reason for being crisis" whilst pursuing careers away from the sink and have been happy to help out, while women "Find themselves"

Morning All.

who has a list of 10, lets have a look.......

You're pushing it, aren't you? You mean 10 more different ones?

Split

 

[trendie]

hmm, I believe the UK is pretty good, I still retain a sense of felt core fairness that Brits radiate . hmmm I'd like to think thats the case, but the country is changing and ive probably lost touch with reality slightly.

LOL.

ok well whats special about Great Britain? wells lets build a list of pro's please add what you think Rocks In Great Britain, loads of people want to come and live here...

1. Humour,
2. Free healthcare.
3. Good emergency services.
4. Employment ratios ?
5. We are Not France
6. Fine Curry Houses. and other eats.
7. positive cohabitation with mixed communites & cultures
8 Music
9 British women still know a sink is an extension of their being, deep down . And its o.k. with them.
10 British men, recognise women have been going through a "Reason for being crisis" whilst pursuing careers away from the sink and have been happy to help out, while women "Find themselves"

Morning All.

who has a list of 10, lets have a look.......

01: there is cheap and easy access to clean, drinkable water
02: there is a wide range of cheap, plentiful food
03: there is access to a good standard of education
04: there are laws that ensure that workers are not exploited (excessively)
05: there are, (most of the time), mechanisms of redress against the law-makers and those in power, irrespective of the ability to pay for lawyers
06: there is access to basic health and hospitals
07: there is access to libraries and books, even to ideas that challenge the status-quo
08: there is some attempt at a balanced system of law
09: there is at least the illusion of choice of political systems

10: there is the power of the electorate to vote politicans OUT of office

 

[Atilla]

01: there is cheap and easy access to clean, drinkable water - 10/10
02: there is a wide range of cheap, plentiful food - (Food is dear in the UK. Very dear but you can find anything you want to eat including lots of foreign stuff so 10/10)

03: there is access to a good standard of education - 10/10
04: there are laws that ensure that workers are not exploited (excessively)
05: there are, (most of the time), mechanisms of redress against the law-makers and those in power, irrespective of the ability to pay for lawyers
06: there is access to basic health and hospitals - 10/10
07: there is access to libraries and books, even to ideas that challenge the status-quo - 10/10
08: there is some attempt at a balanced system of law - 10/10
09: there is at least the illusion of choice of political systems - ????
10: there is the power of the electorate to vote politicans OUT of office

- 10/10

1. Humour, - 10/10
2. Free healthcare. - 5/10
3. Good emergency services. - 10/10
4. Employment ratios ? - a?
5. We are Not France - 11/10
6. Fine Curry Houses. and other eats. - 10/10
7. positive cohabitation with mixed communites & cultures - 10/10
8 Music - 10/10
9 British women still know a sink is an extension of their being, deep down . And its o.k. with them. - PC dodgy
10 British men, recognise women have been going through a "Reason for being crisis" whilst pursuing careers away from the sink and have been happy to help out, while women "Find themselves" - PC dodgy

To add to it...

1. Great pioneering nation
2. Fantastic discoveries
3. Fantastic inventions
4. Fantastic place to live
5. London city of all cities
6. Sense of fair play
7. English gentlemen are legendary
8. Establishing system and order out of chaos and nothing
9. Fantastic at creating prosperity
10. Invented football
10+b. Hyde Park Corner

It's my national heritage damn right I'm proud to be British. As for criticism and freedom of expression it doesn't make me any less or more proud. That's life. That's the great thing about speakers corner in Hyde Park. Where else in the world can you find a place like that? Anyway, nobody and no country is perfect remember - let's be fair. :cheesy:

Of all the greatest nations and empires that existed and walked the earth, England / Great Britain is one of them ( and there were a good few in the history of earth ) and whether I participated back then or not, does not matter to me. I participate now and it is my heritage and my childrens future. May long live the Queen and her Kingdom - er that includes parliament. I'm certainly not shy or bashful about it. Proud I am. (PS. I would like to see the back of PM Blair though. Had enough of him... :cheesy: )

Having re-read it looks a little confusing but I was agreeing mostly with previous lists...

 

[AsifA]

For those who do not have anything good to say about the UK, why do you stay?

because , thee oh rose tinted bespectacled one, the UK is good but its not utopia ! The benefits of residency outweghs the negative aspects. This doesn't mean we cant make it better. The UK is one of the highest taxed countries. Infrastructure requires taxation - however currently my taxes are being used in an illegal war so that Mr Blair can feather his vanity and legacy - you advocate complacancy with your question, and thats a path to disaster.

 

[chump]

Trendie,
"03: there is access to a good standard of education -" ....there is if you are willing to pay for it otherwise what can I say except 0/10 ..which leads me on to.....

"For those who do not have anything good to say about the UK, why do you stay?"

In day gone by the answer to the second part of that statement was carried in the first part of the statement ....that is , if you are to fleece the sheep would you be better recommended to do so where they are uneducated and unwealthy , or uneducated ,but 'wealthy'...of course the latter is much more effective which is why we do so well with IPO's...
Not being in the shearing business any longer the answer no longer applies.

 

[JTrader]

Perhaps a good 6th option to have had in the poll, to be placed just below number 1 - "proud to be British", would be "Proud to be British, but ideally would prefer to live in what i consider to be a nicer country overseas"....................

Is it too late to add such an option?

Cheers.

 

[Atilla]

because , thee oh rose tinted bespectacled one, the UK is good but its not utopia ! The benefits of residency outweghs the negative aspects. This doesn't mean we cant make it better. The UK is one of the highest taxed countries. Infrastructure requires taxation - however currently my taxes are being used in an illegal war so that Mr Blair can feather his vanity and legacy - you advocate complacancy with your question, and thats a path to disaster.

Yes very true. Agree with you AsifA 100%.

To me what makes Great Britain great is it's past pioneering aspect of the Common Wealth countries and mult-cultural diversity.

People who can't elaborate on their ideas come out with - If you don't like it you can leave remarks.

They too are proud and are offended by anti-government comment but can't see or understand what is being said to them despite their perceived education in some cases.

The reason why people make negative comments is precisely because they feel they are part of the process that makes up Great Britain.

Communication and Comprehension problem. Not one of national unity or being British if you ask me. It's just that representing these arguements in terms of being British or not is simpler but devisive.

Prince Albert - Queen Victoria's love - did some fantastic work for Britain. She was devastated when he passed away. Prince Albert was really into science and learning. He organized the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace, which showcased British advances to the rest of the World. Yet despite all his hard work and effort he was distrusted and resented by many for fleecing the British.

Why because he was German and not British...

How should one interpret the perceptions or actions of such people who take this view?

What statement are people really trying to make about Britain?

Hitler comes to my mind but be interested in all your replies.