Proud Of Britain Yes

[fender62]

with all the loss of life tragedy, and schools jobs etc are you proud to british
thinking were te first to be vaccined and invention, harks back to, again
british inventions leading the world...

[ichkeria]

When someone (admittedly not so much on AB) suggests “if you’re not proud of being British” you can always leave” then I call that sinister despite the predictable sneers.
It would be a lot worse in a dodgy pub with a fat skinhead in a “Proud to be British” t shirt going round asking the unfamiliar faces if they agree and if not why not
But all part of the same thing.

[AuntPollyGrey]

A few replies on this thread prove to me that some British people are very much proud to be British in the wrong ways. 'If you're not proud then leave', ' Go back to where you came from' How dare you criticise us , 'we can slag off Britain, but you Johnny foreigner must unconditionally love our country or get on the next plane home.' those attitudes are both juvenile and sinister to me.
I've lived in a few countries and national Pride is celebrated differently - National Anthems are sung every day before school starts or at public events, people criticize their country of course, like you sometimes fall out with your family, but you love them all the same for all their faults. When you arrive as an immigrant in Canada yo are welcomed with ' Welcome to Canada enjoy our beautiful country.' Not 'well if you don't absolutely adore us then sling your hook back home. I know which I prefer -just saying.

I have to add that I went to high school in the UK (boarding) and spent a lot of time in the North East of England with my Nana and can say hand on heart I am extremely proud to have spent that time in the North East, where I now live.

[Zacs-Master]

You’ll be labelled a leftie, APG!

[ichkeria]

Nice one APG

[iluvmargie]

Yes, and very proud to be English too!

[emmie]

yes i guess i am proud of the land of my birth England, Britain..

[Apc2604]

APG I would not suggest that if you are not proud you leave Britain. I would suggest if you constantly complain and criticise it's Government and are unhappy with it, that you consider moving elsewhere.

[Theland]

What upsets me are those who airbrush our history to suit their agenda. Hence our suggested overtly racist past, and our institutionally racist present.

[ichkeria]

“I would suggest if you constantly complain and criticise it's Government and are unhappy with it, that you consider moving elsewhere.“

Which is wholly objectionable. Why do you want to exile people because they are unhappy with the government? Perhaps you haven’t thought that through

[Bobbisox1]

I agree with Emmie , it should be England then Britain

[naomi24]

Ichkeria, Actually your post in response to APC’s is wholly objectionable and I suggest you haven’t thought it through. No one has suggested exiling anyone. There are people here who have either come from elsewhere - and incidentally haven’t done too badly for themselves here - or live abroad, who never have a good word for this country - and they know who they are. APC’s suggestion that if they're unhappy they might consider living elsewhere is a common sense reaction to that. I agree with her.

[Theland]

Criticising our country is fine if the criticisms are valid.
What is lacking, is a comparison.
What other country would not warrant the criticisms?
For example, we are a racist country compared to where?

[Apc2604]

Thank you Naomi. You understood what I meant. There are those that constantly moan about our country and the government regardless and seem so dissatfied. Quite a few on AB I am not talking about the present Government. I am talking generally. If I was so dissatisfied in would up and go. At 70 + I have enough experience and travelled enough to realise that we are damn lucky. There is nowhere else I would rather live.

[Apc2604]

Very true Theland.

[ichkeria]

The bottom line is you are suggesting someone should consider leave the country - ie they aren’t welcome.
The reaction to my posts shows you indeed have not thought it through.
Personally I think its very bad manners to ask someone to do that.

[Apc2604]

And I have never considered exiling people, just suggested they might wish to go somewhere else that might make them happy!! What an aggressive post Ichkeria!

[naomi24]

Ichkeria. APC didn't say they’re not welcome either. Nothing more ill-mannered than making it up as you go along in order to misrepresent people you disagree with.

[royfromaus]

ichkeria
The bottom line is you are suggesting someone should consider leave the country - ie they aren’t welcome.
_________________________
To save me going through the answers...who has said that?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Surely people who come to this country to work, pay taxes, and in my case provide local jobs, should be able to complain about certain aspects of life in the UK without being told to 'just go home then'? Everyone else does!

[Apc2604]

Have you a chip on your shoulder, Ichkeria. I have never inferred that anybody is unwelcome. But if I lived somewhere that I continuously complained about or wasn't run well in my opinion I would seek another option.