What it is to be British...
Before I get into this whole question, I feel that I need to set out my stall as it were.
1. I am not a Labour supporter (gasp, shock horror).
2. I disliked what Tony Blair did in some things (NHS, Iraq) but think that some things he did alright in (Northern Ireland)
3. I do however, think that, currently Labour are probably the best of a bad lot. The Tories offer little policy, being stuck, as they are, on the right wing. The Lib Dems, if we are honest make up numbers, to make it seem like Britain is not just a two party state. Being fair to them, the seat on which they would like to be sat is currently straining under the weight of New Labour. Labour occupy the centre ground, and as such will appeal to the fickle British public the most.
Right. That's that.
Now onto the point of this whole thing.
I was looking through another blog, http://buls.org, and the question of Britishness is something which came up. Mr Brown, trying his best to look like someone who knows what he is doing, thought that appealing to 'Britishness' would be a sure fire way of winning voters for the election- that- never- was.
The trouble is, as far as I see it, that, very clearly is ground occupied by the Tories. Remember them? Those guys who talk about 'national' interests rather than 'international' concerns? Yeah, them. Now Labour can move to the right as far as it feels it can, but in doing so they will vacate a space which, subsequently will be filled by the Tories, or heaven forbid, the Lib Dems. Well. Maybe.
Anyway, returning to the question. What does it mean to be British?
Does it mean puffing out your chest whenever you hear the national anthem? Or enjoying fish and chips at the seaside?
Or is it far more indescribable than that? Is it a concept like love, or god which in reality is very hard to define? We can all clearly point to things which symbolise Britain, red phone box, double decker bus, even a dressed up bull dog. But that is not what being British is all about. Surely.
As an Englishman, yep, not a Briton (although for the purposes of this I will refer to myself as British), I take pride in my country, whilst maybe being a little hostile to those from Scotland or Wales, and even more so to those who enter the country to sponge from it (at this point I relate you to something I wrote a little while ago).
However, what it is I take pride in I am not quite sure. It certainly isn't the gum covered pavements of our towns, nor is it the hostility from chavs in the streets. I wonder what it is those who fought in the wars fought for. The stereotypical image of rolling hillsides and sweeping valleys. Maybe.
I didn't ask to be born here, but I am sure I would feel the same about it if I had been born in Australia, Tibet, or even Iraq.
I think I take pride in the history of it all the most though. The fact that the last time Britain was successfully invaded was 1066, the fact that we were the home of world industry, the fact that we have produced some of the best scholars, Newton and Darwin for example. All make me think we are in a special place. The point, I feel, is pride. Being able to take pride in your country for what it has done throughout the course of time, (even when it was invaded) is what I feel it means to be British. History is so very different to tradition. I do not observe every tradition, I am not particularly fond of fish and chips for example, but I bear in mind my history. The colourful past full of incident and character, that is what it means to be British. Being able to look at someone and say, yes, I am proud he did what he did. That is what it means to be British.
I am trying to sell patriotism here, and feel I am failing. However at this time of the year in particular, it is important that we as Brits (and some of us as Englishmen) remember what it is to be willing to die for your country. If nothing else, remember that.
Luke
1. I am not a Labour supporter (gasp, shock horror).
2. I disliked what Tony Blair did in some things (NHS, Iraq) but think that some things he did alright in (Northern Ireland)
3. I do however, think that, currently Labour are probably the best of a bad lot. The Tories offer little policy, being stuck, as they are, on the right wing. The Lib Dems, if we are honest make up numbers, to make it seem like Britain is not just a two party state. Being fair to them, the seat on which they would like to be sat is currently straining under the weight of New Labour. Labour occupy the centre ground, and as such will appeal to the fickle British public the most.
Right. That's that.
Now onto the point of this whole thing.
I was looking through another blog, http://buls.org, and the question of Britishness is something which came up. Mr Brown, trying his best to look like someone who knows what he is doing, thought that appealing to 'Britishness' would be a sure fire way of winning voters for the election- that- never- was.
The trouble is, as far as I see it, that, very clearly is ground occupied by the Tories. Remember them? Those guys who talk about 'national' interests rather than 'international' concerns? Yeah, them. Now Labour can move to the right as far as it feels it can, but in doing so they will vacate a space which, subsequently will be filled by the Tories, or heaven forbid, the Lib Dems. Well. Maybe.
Anyway, returning to the question. What does it mean to be British?
Does it mean puffing out your chest whenever you hear the national anthem? Or enjoying fish and chips at the seaside?
Or is it far more indescribable than that? Is it a concept like love, or god which in reality is very hard to define? We can all clearly point to things which symbolise Britain, red phone box, double decker bus, even a dressed up bull dog. But that is not what being British is all about. Surely.
As an Englishman, yep, not a Briton (although for the purposes of this I will refer to myself as British), I take pride in my country, whilst maybe being a little hostile to those from Scotland or Wales, and even more so to those who enter the country to sponge from it (at this point I relate you to something I wrote a little while ago).
However, what it is I take pride in I am not quite sure. It certainly isn't the gum covered pavements of our towns, nor is it the hostility from chavs in the streets. I wonder what it is those who fought in the wars fought for. The stereotypical image of rolling hillsides and sweeping valleys. Maybe.
I didn't ask to be born here, but I am sure I would feel the same about it if I had been born in Australia, Tibet, or even Iraq.
I think I take pride in the history of it all the most though. The fact that the last time Britain was successfully invaded was 1066, the fact that we were the home of world industry, the fact that we have produced some of the best scholars, Newton and Darwin for example. All make me think we are in a special place. The point, I feel, is pride. Being able to take pride in your country for what it has done throughout the course of time, (even when it was invaded) is what I feel it means to be British. History is so very different to tradition. I do not observe every tradition, I am not particularly fond of fish and chips for example, but I bear in mind my history. The colourful past full of incident and character, that is what it means to be British. Being able to look at someone and say, yes, I am proud he did what he did. That is what it means to be British.
I am trying to sell patriotism here, and feel I am failing. However at this time of the year in particular, it is important that we as Brits (and some of us as Englishmen) remember what it is to be willing to die for your country. If nothing else, remember that.
Luke
