What makes you ashamed to be British?

Question

For me it's our imperialistic history, our 51st US state policies and the ignorence of some of it's people.

If you aren't or don't see yourself as British, what makes you ashamed of your nationality.

Answer 1

Nothing makes me ashamed of being British... sometimes I feel shamed for being in the human race though!

We have advanced so far in technology, but as human beings we are still in the stone age... we still haven't learnt to respect or get along with each other.

Everybody knows we are "supposed" to be honest, kind and sharing, but then we look at the rat race. Even worse, those of us that try to ignore the rat race and be nice anyway are punished for it.

For example: If I left my wallet on a bench in the street and it was stolen, people would say I was a mug, not that the person who stole it was bad. Whist this basic attitude exists we can't improve as a race.

But to answer your question more directly, I think that any particular thing that might make you feel nationally ashamed, you would find the same, or worse in any other country in the world.

The difference here is that we are able to talk about it without being locked up or tortured.

Reference to "Saddams" comments above...

why would we be ashamed of the weather? we can't control it , and its the weather that made Britain great... because of the weather we learnt to always think ahead and have a plan b.

sports... these are another form of "playing" at war. We don't play very well, because playing is a way of doing something without 100% seriousness. We don't play at war, or treat it as a game, we go out, and get it done. Thats why we were able to liberate Iraq from the Turks in WW1, the germans in WW2, and the real Saddam more recently.

Tomato faces... hmm I guess your talking about awful sun tans generated by YOUR weather LOL.

Answer 2

Stupid questions like yours fill me with shame.

Why on Earth are people so caught up on the bloody negative?

Face facts people, there is not a single nation on the planet that has a 100%-beyond-doubt clean historical sheet. I dare you all to try and find one.

For once, just for once, let us all focus on the good things that make the United Kingdom a decent place to be. Yes we have had a bit of an Imperial past. However, look at all the great stuff we did.

Isaac Newton (British) was the scientist to devised the laws of motion which are still used today as a bench-mark for making everything from Automobiles to Rockets work in the way they do.
And was it or was it not a British citizen by the name of Charles Darwin to got into motion the Theory of Evolution which is the standard and high mark that is the corner-stone to modern biology and natural studies?

I could go on but I'd much rather leave all you intelligent people to pick-up where I left off and find other examples of what I'm on about.

And if you're still not happy with being British, stop complaining and do something to be proud about - set an example for the rest of us!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

I like being British, the weather is comfortable, the people are pretty tolerant (all things considered) and public services work better than they do in most places.

Things I don't like. The way anything not nailed down is stolen, the tabloid press and the sheer inanity of commercial television.

And if you think Blair is bad - have a look at Cameron. So far as I could tell from his conference speech he's in favour of apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves and not a lot else.

Answer 4

We used to be a multi-cultural society, but forces not entirely out of our control have really screwed things up. Where did religious tolerance go? Where did racial tolerance go? Problem is, New Labour has left the country in a complete mess, and I'm not sure that the Tory party can pull the UK back from the brink.
I for one would be reluctant to vote Tory on a wing and a prayer.
I keep feeling I have to apologise for being British. It used to be because of our Imperial past, now it's because of our kow-towing present.
We may not be too happy about the Euro, but do we really want the USD?

Answer 5

I am not British, I am Scot-Irish, and my people left over there in the 18th century to get out of the control of the crown.

They need to dump the queen and all the crap that goes with them and their inbred families. Next they have to find someone for Prime Minister who can walk around without his nose being up Bush's tail end.

The present British royalty traces back to Willy D. Conquerer, also know as William the Bastard. He was the grandson of Hrolf the Ganger, a Viking, who was given Normandy (named after the Norse Men) so they would not sack Paris any more. So their geneaology is nothing but thieves, brigands, bastards, etc.

Answer 6

The fact that while as a nation we pretend to be a multi cultural society, underneath is a bubbling pot of prejudice. I feel every time I see a newspaper headline about refugee so called invasion, I want to wear a badge saying THAT'S NOT ME.
The English abroad.
The constant moaning about the NHS.
The consumerism.
Lack of Soul.
Political madness.
Having my nationality akin to USA when the Americans stand for everything I despise.
Lack of respect for our elderly population.
Loutish behaviour. I do not believe they need a hug.
Drug culture.

I spend a lot of time in India. What a contrast, smiles, generosity
helpfulness, soul, pride in ones work no matter how menial. Respect and colour.

Answer 7

Ignorance. I was watching the news yesterday, and it was talking about the attacks on that muslim dairy. They interviewed some teenagers who were so incredibly thick and racist it made me feel ashamed to belong to the same country as them.

Regarding our imperialist history, yeah it was pretty appalling but i don't think we should be feeling so ashamed for what did not happen in our own lifetimes and which we as individuals had no control over. It's what's going on now today that we should really feel concerned about.

Answer 8

I will never be ashamed of being British but I'm annoyed at Britain for becoming to PC and worrying about the small things to much
I'm annoyed that thugs get away with it because if the public do anything they get arrested not the scum
I'm annoyed that people complain but do nothing about it
I'm annoyed at the physical state of most of my countrymen
I'm annoyed that people feel they should be ashamed about there past and not embrace and learn from it
It pisses me off that I joined the Army to defend all these people that annoy Me and it pisses Me off that you seem to think I should feel bad about going to the Middle East every now and then well I don't You make Me ashamed

Answer 9

The fact that we are forced to live in a multi cultural society that non of us wants but we are to afaid to complain.

Jack Straw apoligizing on behalf of the British nation for the slave trade.(Nothing to do with me so why does he feel I owe anyone an apology)

Stupid overweight English people making a fool of themselves abroad

Stupid Scots high on drugs and drunk tapping people up for money in London (Why are there so many alcholic Scots living rough in London)

Thugs getting away with loutish behaviour with nothing but a caution

Rapists etc being released from prison only to cause more innocent people to suffer(just keep them locked away)

The Royal family.

People with no talent or ability being turned into celebrities (why)

tony blair

Those ads that sell designer clothes for kids

And all our major football clubs who buy endless forign footballers while refusing to develop there own players .

Answer 10

Note to Spanners - We did not invent concentration camps, the Spanish did that prior to the Anglo-Boer war, I believe in Cuba.

It has to be Brits abroad, what an embarrassment, I am always embarrassed by orange chavs on their package flights, football fans, rugby tours, its all the same intimidating disrespectful behaviour, perceived as acceptable on our streets at night but wholly offensive in most foreign cities.