proud to be English?

[B00]

seeing as it's St Georges day today.

How many of you are proud to be English? All my family and friends think I'm barking to be as patriotic as I am, for example when we're having convos about what we'd do if we won the lottery, I'm the only one who says I wouldn't leave the UK to emigrate, I'd miss Britain too much. I think, that despite it's many faults we live in a fantastic part of the world.

Any one else agree?

[raysparx]

oh yes boo, i am standing here erect as we speak, that sounds rude I mean I am saluting my picture of the queen that is on my mantlepiece, GAWD BLESS YOU MAAM!!!

seriously,yes I am proud to be English,but some people take it that I am therefore Rascist, that is there problem!!!

[B00]

Lol @ you being erect- oooer missus!

I honestly thing that folks who are genuinely proud to be English are a dieing breed. How sad is it though that if you're seen as being patriotic that you are also deemed a racist?

[shammydodger]

Boo

Probably because there are plenty of thickos about who can't appreciate the difference between race and nationality.

[Grunty]

The trouble is that we are confused about which country we live in and patriotism is difficult. The words 'England', 'Great Britain' and 'United Kingdom' are used interchangeably. Our flag has been quite happy for 400 years being called the Union Jack, but now that people have discovered that there is also a little flag called a jack, we have a debate on what to call it. We have a patron saint who probably never visited England, and who may or may not have been Turkish and may or may not have fought in the Roman army. The previous patron saint was known for dying a virgin after 35 years of marriage and for playing a very debatable part in the Norman conquest. We have stories about the flag being a distress signal if flown upside down, although that would be only visible within shouting distance. We have a national anthem which many people find inappropriate and the words of which refer to fighting with the Scots.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/custom s/questions/anthem.html (scroll down to verse 6).

[lankeela]

St. George was half Turkish and half Palestinian and is the patron saint of many countries.

Its just an excuse for the pubs to sell more beer and the card companies to sell cards (yes really, there are St. Georges day cards!).

[littleoldme]

Part of the reason why patriotism is often confused with racism is down to evil b'stards like the BNP and National Front hijacking our flags (whether Union Flag or St George's Cross) for their own disgusting organisations. This enables them to hide their nefarious beliefs behind the cloak of patriotism and also gives the impression to outsiders that they represent the views of the ordinary Brit. They sure as heck don't represent me.

I am patriotic and proud to be both English and British. Being proud of your own country doesn't make you racist. It's the putting down of other races and creeds that does that.

Happy St George's Day, B00! ;-)

[B00]

you too LOM, my old friend

xxxx

[Drusilla1S]

I love being English, but it has nothing to do with flags or royalty and more to do with my pride at the freedoms we so often take for granted.

[sunflower68]

I agree with Drusilla. I am a anti- royalist but a proud Brit. Am I therefore patriotic? Hope so!

[Lonnie]

I am what I like to call a true patriot, I love this country, and its way of life, i'm Jewish, but I celebrate St Georges day, I volunteered, and served ten years with the British Army, i'd give my life defending the freedoms we have.

As for St George not being English, true, but St Patrick wasn't Irish, St Andrew wasn't Scottish, and St David wasn't Welsh, it really doesn't matter. If the truth be known, there's no-one who calls themselves English that doesn't have some foreign blood in them.

Three cheers for God, Queen Elizabeth, and St George.

[andy-hughes]

I have no thoughts either way. I am not 'proud' to be English, or British, I regard my country of origin as an accident of birth. I have nothing at all against people who want to feel a sense of pride, but I don't share it.

[shammydodger]

Andy

In which case, you do have a thought either way. Be proud that you live in a country that allows you that thought and the right to express it.

[Loosehead]

I'm with you all the way Boo, The people who say they'd leave would end up comming back, you see if you think the grass is greener then you are automatically in the "world owes me a living" camp. So it won't matter where you are you'll always be a loser. Look at the �10 to Aus mob back in the fifties, 75% came back because they found out that success involves work (50% within 1 year, and quite a few on the next boat!)

[andy-hughes]

shammydodger - I do appreciate the rights and freedoms I enjoy, but that's not at all the same as being proud of my country of origin because of them. As I said, origin is an accident of birth, I am very lucky, but not at all proud.

[Bohne]

Well, I am not English in the first place, but I am certainly not proud of my Nationality, since there is nothing I did to get it.

I am proud of achievements, not given facts.

I do like Britain, though!

[berniecuddles]

i flew my countries national flag (england) outside my front window as we were playing in the world cup, opposite was a primary school i was asked by the headmistress would i mind taking it down as it might upset the ethnic people who go to school here, i asked her where she was born she said she was english,i said then why should i put our national flag away, you ought to be ashamed of your self. Next day i bought a flag which was 10 times bigger f**k em all im proud to be english, no other country would put up with this,can you imagine going to the usa and saying to someone excuse me your national flag offends me i would be kicked out of their country.ENGLAND RULES GOD BLESS ST .GEORGE !!