Are you proud to be British?

Marmot

Marmot

Marmot

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It wasn't too long ago that I was sat watching the Summer Olympics of 2012 and feeling not only a sudden urge to buy myself a road bike and start cycling to work, but also that I was just really genuinely happy to be British. For a while afterwards it seemed like everyone I spoke to had positive things to say about life and everyone was smiling. I feel like the sentiment has most definitely changed over the last five years, and factors such as ISIS & Syria, the Scottish independence referendum and Brexit have pushed us towards a far more negative and regressive outlook.

One particular recent quote has stuck in my mind which the Russian foreign ministry responded with after Boris Johnson's cancelled trip to Moscow this year:

“The decision to call off Johnson’s visit to Moscow confirms once again doubts in the presence of added value in speaking to the UK, which does not have its own position on the majority of present-day issues, nor does it have real influence on the course of international affairs, as it remains ‘in the shadow’ of its strategic partners. We do not feel that we need dialogue with London any more than it does.”

I remember at the time thinking with raised eyebrows that it was a little harsh but ultimately just propaganda, however, since then I have come to the realisation that it might in fact be all too true.

The days of the empire are certainly over. Yes, I'm sure the financial services industry is booming, unemployment is at a record low thanks to zero hour contracts, the deficit is decreasing and the big mac index shows us in a great light etc, but none of this really matters to the average hard working Brit I don't think. I can't help but feeling I'm not particularly proud to be British these days.

Are you proud to be British?
 
Having people like Boris Johnson representing our country? How can you be proud??

With Brexit, our government, current news it is actually quite embarrassing as we seem to be a nation of not really knowing what to do!
 
Always try - though the media and the government make a damn good go of making it bloody difficult.

Ignore the tabloids, don't bother with social media, call out people on their prejudice, do what you think is right, and surround yourself with the best people you can find - the storm shall pass.
 
not anymore, with Brexit as my number one reason and the shower of ****s we have in power. The phrase international laughing stock springs to mind.

B@
 
The British have no more or less to be proud of than any nation when PROPORTIONALITY is taken into account. Scientifically (meaningful reseach and high tech like Space for example ) we lead the world as well as Higher education. Our Legal systems is widely regarded as the best ...unfortunately we live in a world where the car one drives or the white goods in peoples kitchens are more visible 'signs' of positive influence.

Oh and The idea of using bringing up the Russians is a joke and a bad one at that - Russia has an economy around the size of Spains (with almost 3x the population) with No positive influence ANYWHERE. the country is a nightmare that gets in the papers because it is corrupt and belligerent.

I look around Europe and I can hold my head up when thinking about our achievements certainly compared to our nearest 'competitors' like France for example.
 
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I wouldn’t say proud is the right word. I feel lucky to be born into a fairly liberal western democracy and I’m thankful for the opportunities that it’s given me in life.

Brexit, Boris Johnson, et al make me embarassed to be British at times but other countries have their own embarrassments.
 
There are things about our country and I wish we built on them more, etc. that I'm very proud of - I'm also aware that our country has done some things that no one should be proud of - but I haven't personally done those things.
 
Since my mothers knee!

They were both widely travelled, working in countries around the world, in Africa mainly. I have taken their views probably in that I still consider the UK to be the best place to be from and to live in. This cannot be too wrong with so many other nationalities wanting the same ideals. Whatever is said, we are a most progressive and fair country. Many countries could look to our legal and political systems and wish for them as their own. Our taxation, health and welfare arrangements are amongst the best in the world.
 
Superficial said:
The British have no more or less to be proud of than any nation when PROPORTIONALITY is taken into account. Scientifically (meaningful reseach and high tech like Space for example ) we lead the world as well as Higher education...unfortunately we live in a world where the car one drives or the white goods in peoples kitchens are more visible 'signs' of positive influence.
Click to expand...

Funnily enough when it comes down to research and education, Britain stands above many only because the combination of prestigious image and acceptance of foreign students/researchers that fight tooth and nail to get here as well, as our own researchers, allow us to stay ahead of the fields. The government has neglected research funding for years and many fields are seeing far less local applicants. I would most certainly say British science owes as much to external contributions as it does internal, if not more when talking about recent times. It could be argued that much of the science community has been relatively border-less in terms of country and affiliation, with projects taking place in many lands by people of many backgrounds, paid for with contributions from countries.
 
I'm happy to be British rather than proud.

I'd agree with OP too, in that it's kinda gone a bit downhill since the olympics. I'm not sure if I'm just more aware of things now, but even on a local level the idea of staying here isn't as attractive to me as it used to be.

Weather's a bit **** too.
 
I still wouldn't pick any other country to have been born in, even if it is a shadow of its former self. :(

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life"
 
I do love Blighty but i'm not proud of what its becoming and its increasingly being governed by a dangerous group of people. I think internationally we have a major identity crisis and instead of showing what the oldest democracy in the modern world could achieve we've decided to be idiots that relies on people mistaking us for some sort empirical superpower.
 
Britain has become homogenised with the rest of the capitalist west, where materialism and narcissism reign. Our once proud culture has been reduced to a " funny accent" and a few quirks like being able to queue, and pseudo-worship of a woman in a shiny hat.
 
No, I'm not proud of anything I happened upon accidentally. I feel fortunate to have been born in a relatively wealthy and stable country, however.

Being proud though has never made any sense to me. Be proud of your achievements, not of things you have no say in.
 
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