Being British...

you are European so not sure what you mean in saying ‘they’ hate us.

 

Aren't you, ok.

 

Yeah I’m good thanks. Just don’t understand why you don’t think you are European when factually you are.

 

It's OK if you don't get it, I'm not biting.

 

im not wanting you to just genuinely puzzled why you don’t think you are European when factually you are.

 

You're in Barnsley Ian and I'm in......Dundee! Coast and Castle ride from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

 

You’re not stupid, as you can read the other responses.

So; as you’re not stupid you’ll know that statistically it’s a very small proportion of asylum seekers that want to come to Britain. I’m fairly sure you’ll have seen the many responses on this very board pointing to the official statistics.

So, I have to ask; why keep believing that the issue of asylum seekers is worse for us? You know that it’s factually incorrect, so why repeat a lie?

 

Pride in something is different to accepting the facts about where you were born. I was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, Britain, Europe. I wouldn't say I'm proud of being British or English - it's just a simple fact that I was born there.

Yorkshire is a bit more complicated. I've now spent more of my life in North Yorks than I did in Barnsley. I don't really identify with Yorkshire but I definitely identify with South Yorks and specifically my mining heritage. The 'values' between North Yorks and South Yorks are a million miles apart and I happen to prefer the Southern ones!

Also hugely 'proud' of my family's Irish heritage

 

LOL
Will you be visiting Dundee on your return from Aberdeen?

 

Not unless the train diverts to Dundee and then breaks down for a few hours. I'll raise a glass in your absence.

 

Train? I thought you were a real cyclist and would be peddling all the way.

 

Bloody hell Lad. It's enough to pedal up to Aberdeen from Edinburgh. It's then the train back to Northallerton. 1st Class!!!!

 

But please correct me if I am wrong. Is the journey Aberdeen to Edinburgh not all down hill.
You could free wheel all the way.

 

Chuckling

I'll let you know.

 

I was in Zimbabwe last week. Rhodes is one of the worst individuals this country has ever produced. Up there with Cromwell and Bojo.

 

Agreed.

 

Yes, I meant it to show the arrogance of that attitude, not as a compliment

 

I passed the point that you're at in the Thatcher years....

When I'm abroad, as we are now, I occasionally feel shame for my Britishness.

 

Is it Britishness though or English?

If we take football as a common denominator, Scotland,Wales & NI fans all travel well and although they also drink like the English are generally perceived as fun and welcomed, whereas English are not so much.

100,000 Rangers fans at final and despite loosing, not one arrest.

 

Europe is a very large area combining many different countries with many different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. So on one hand it's wrong to throw a net over it and class it as one. Just like England is made up of multiple different groups, just as is Ireland, Scotland, Wales and our clumsy representation as Britain. But Europe sits better with me than Britain does. At this time. And increasingly so by the year.

It's easy to just focus on the good or the bad. There is both. Everywhere. But my belief and perception is that the bad in the country I was born is increasing, while the good is being curtailed and hindered and suppressed.

There are some unbelievably generous people in this country. Some ethical people. Some giving and compassionate people. But there is more visible hatred and loathing of others than I can ever recall. Its not transcended to aggressive direct violence that we may have seen at times 30-40-50 years ago as yet, but the weight seems more towards that than away. Even though we've made some strides in some areas of diversity, my feeling, even just from this microcosm is that some would gladly burn all that down to be an empirical nation telling others what they have to do just because we believe we're better. Often with no rational basis other than an ingrained notion of superiority over all others.

We have some lovely countryside and nature in this country. But we're destroying it. No longer ignorantly, but knowingly. And the groups trying to preserve it are constantly overwhelmed by individuals actions and an increasing corporate greed. The levels of strewn litter are incredible.

And our governing structure is corrupt as can be, yet still supported by a third of the public because of their hateful stances and nods to the far right. Our monarchy is outdated, out of touch, selfish, greedy and our lead monarch can't even do her job properly, yet refuses to step aside because she wants a big party. Yet the media fawn over it.

And we have the increasing yobbishness, vandalism and online hatred directed at anyone who just happens to get in the way. Just off the back of a hopefully, once in a lifetime global pandemic that has killed millions where you'd hope a connection for humanity and the sanctity of life may be something that shines through.

As others have said, all nations have their issues, some more than others. So it's not like other countries are a utopia. But I wonder, how many have a nation that regularly belittle others? I genuinely don't know, but I've never seen it like I do in the UK.

I've seen national pride in other countries. Or pride in something from a nation. Or someone wanting you to love their country, and them and what they represent, and their values, however humble. But i've not seen our version of "pride" that essentially is often one of faux superiority. I'm sure it exists out there, and probably in fellow populist nations. But I fear for Britain more than I feel pride in it.