At least one of those can be changedIt's true. There are other countries with shit weather and awful governments.
At least one of those can be changedIt's true. There are other countries with shit weather and awful governments.
Cloud seeding?At least one of those can be changed
This needs rephrasing. What is it about being from any country that is distinct and worthy of pride?Ok. What is it you are proud of? What is it about being English that is distinct and worthy of pride?
Speak for yourself. I shoved a flare up my arse one time at an England match.Most of us have contributed bugger all to the national identity
But that is the point. What is about being proud about being English that is distinct from the pride of being French or American? If the basis of pride of the French is the same as the pride of the English and the American, then the pride has to have something in common, whereas being proud of being specifically English requires something distinct.This needs rephrasing. What is it about being from any country that is distinct and worthy of pride?
I get that some people feel a positive emotion about their country, but how can it be a feeling of pride? Most of us have contributed bugger all to the national identity, nor are most us close to anyone that has contributed.
Spot on - the modern nation state, with a silly bit of coloured rag to salute and a silly song to sing, developed slowly, but really came to full fruition in the the Thirty Years' War. I personally find it bizarre that particular characteristics are attributed to what amount to administrative divisions on a map. It really handicaps us when we face global-wide problems that need global-wide solutions, such as climate change, loss of natural habitat, overutilisation of natural resources and, of course (and very topically) people seeking a better life elsewhere.And I'm conscious that the modern nation state is largely a construct - and historically nationalism has been a useful tool for those in positions of authority to consolidate their power. Politicians getting the flags out always rings an alarm bell for me.
If your country did something or does something to make the world a significantly better place, you cam justifiably be pruod of it. Say you had helped elect a government that, oh, I don't know, welcomed asylum seekers from less fortunate countries, or looked after the sick, old, and needy, or even, heaven forbid, didn't steal funds from something that wasn't *actually* party funds so they didn't *actually* steal it from party funds.This needs rephrasing. What is it about being from any country that is distinct and worthy of pride?
*IF* my country stood up for the repressed, looked after the sick and old, etc and I didn't contribute to it other than by voting and paying my taxes, I could feel proud of that, with justification. However we have a current government of which I am ashamed and appalled by turns.I get that some people feel a positive emotion about their country, but how can it be a feeling of pride? Most of us have contributed bugger all to the national identity, nor are most us close to anyone that has contributed.
You mention governments twice, but in my life I have no positive feelings about any uk government. Dismay is what I have felt.If your country did something or does something to make the world a significantly better place, you cam justifiably be pruod of it. Say you had helped elect a government that, oh, I don't know, welcomed asylum seekers from less fortunate countries, or looked after the sick, old, and needy, or even, heaven forbid, didn't steal funds from something that wasn't *actually* party funds so they didn't *actually* steal it from party funds.
*IF* my country stood up for the repressed, looked after the sick and old, etc and I didn't contribute to it other than by voting and paying my taxes, I could feel proud of that, with justification. However we have a current government of which I am ashamed and appalled by turns.
I have, on occasion. They went on to foul up, but there you go. In any case, regardless of that, I said "*IF* your government did XYZ you could be pruod of it" and that remains the case. The fact that they haven't means that I can't, but that's the nature of conditional clauses.You mention governments twice, but in my life I have no positive feelings about any uk government. Dismay is what I have felt.
Yes. Not a coincidence that expressions of English Nationalism involve dressing up as a Crusader!What I do not get is the veneration of Saint George as though he was English. Many other countries worship him as an archetype of a warrior.
Bollox, as you stated yourself:Where I come from the attitude has always been “we‘re not English, we‘re scouse“.
Having moved to Scotland after Uni and never lived in England thereafter, I consider myself Scottish and very thankful for it.
Whats to like about:
Abject fealty to the royalty and aristo’s
The Tory party
Worship of a glorious past long gone, a country built on the back of slaves and colonial exploitation.
English exceptionalism, other places have nice countryside too you know.
The whole country based around what’s good for London
Right wing arseholes, especially the thick working class ones.
Apart from that it’s a great place
I do think that Bill gets a bit muddled up sometimes. Blake's Jerusalem is ill conceived - and he used that revolting tune from the church (Parry/Elgar!) Why?“Theirs is a land of hope and glory, mine is the green field and the factory floor.”
And I suppose Jesus was a foreigner too? It's Woke Gone Mad.What I do not get is the veneration of Saint George as though he was English. Many other countries worship him as an archetype of a warrior.
At least one of those can be changed