There'll always be an England... (Patriotism)

Member Name: gollygumdrops

Product:	Patriotism
Date:	21/10/01 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's a great nation

Disadvantages: Very few when compared with the alternatives

... and England will be free, if England means as much to you as England means to me.

I'm English by birth. I'm also British, my ancestors hail from various points in the British Isles, and I'm an American by administration.

I can't quite work out whether I'm British or English in patriotic terms, I love both 'countries'. If it's just down to sports I'll cheer England if they are playing, but if they are up against any of the home nations or Eire I'm kind of ambivalent, I'm happy whoever wins. I know the Scots, Welsh, NI and Irish don't feel the same way.

I am distressed at how patriotism is viewed in this country as an act of racism or old fashioned jingoism. That's not what I'm about. I'm certainly no great lover of the monarchy, and the embarrassing behaviour of the global community, not just my countrymen over the death of Diana Windsor did rather shame me.

I have however been distressed by several opinions that berate Britain for being what it's never set out to be. Perhaps my reasons for giving up US Citizenship and coming back here will help you.

In the US it's simply socially unacceptable not to be proud of America. People are refered to as Americans rather than simply people in most cases, as though that simple citizenship document makes a huge difference. In the US a large proportion of immigrants proudly display American flags on their homes. Americans should be proud. Their systems of democracy and justice were imported from Britain, where we maintain a stronger right to a fair trial by keeping cameras out of court rooms.

In the UK to display either the flag of the Union or that of St George is oft considered racist. WHAT????

Racist to be proud of Britain. It's almost to silly to be true. Should we believe that people who choose to come to live in Britain, and millions worldwide would love the opportunity, a
re in someway demeaned by a pride in their chosen nation. I think not.

I love Britain because of all the free speech, and the right of suffrage that so many Britons take so much for granted.

I love Britain because it is the most racially tolerant country I have ever visited, and with the exception of the Netherlands it is the most tolerant of religious, cultural and sexual differences. I love Britain because we have an ability to laugh at ourselves and our predicaments. I love Britain because as a nation we will go to the aid of other countries who need our help be it for security, technology or basic human rights.

I love Britain because we were there in the early stages of WWII, no we were not alone, but that is rather the point of a World War, it's kinda there in the title.

I love that we have a NHS, it may not be perfect, but that is one of the areas where I'm not so keen on the British character, people see it as a free resource and therefore abuse it rather than focus on it as a community funded service.

I love that without Britons there would be no dics brakes or jet engines, and no vaccine for smallpox. Nor would we be able to fight anthrax with antibiotics, again discovered by a Brit.

I love that we have fair access to education on ability, although I'm not so keen that not many people take full advantage of it.

You may have already noticed that I love Britain because we have really nice beer and all day opening on Sundays! Add to that the fact that I am a woman and can not only vote, but also go in to a pub and drink if I like.

The jet engine makes the world accessible so Britons can live all over the globe, in any country that think is better than the UK and still return home and visit friends and family.

I love America too, and am slowly coming around to their view of patriotism - 'love it or leave it, baby'. Everyone here has a right to choose wh
ether they live in the UK. Eire and Europe are open, and many countries will offer citizenship to individuals with worthwhile skills. If no other nation appeals to you, or if you have nothing to offer the rest of the world, then perhaps it is time to start feeling some patriotism for the country that produced the man who turned a dull set of linked US computers into the internet for you to express your ideas freely and without fear of punishment.

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