What does it mean to be British?

Question

Who exactly is a British person? Do you have to be "white" to be British or do you have to be born in the UK to be British? Can you be a practising Jew/Muslim/Hindu and look different from everyone else and still be British if you fulfill all the other requirements? Does it mean you need a British passport because many people can apply for one even if they've never stepped foot over here. Do you have to celebrate Christmas to be British? Do you have to wear certain clothes? Is our cricket team really British (Monty Panesar is Indian, Kevin Petersen and Strauss Africans, Mahmood a Pakistani, Ed Joyce is Irish, we've had Robin Smith and Allan Lamb, M Ramprakash play for us in the past. Are these all British? What makes them if they are? If someone rejects British values are they British?

How exactly would you define "British?"

Answer 1

British cannot be defined. As a scottish woman I'm british but my traditions are probably very different from someone who lives in Wales. The welsh still speak their own language as do many people who live in the highlands of scotland. Let's look at England. If you compare Glastonbury to somewhere like Birmingham, it's like two different worlds. I think anyone born in Britain is british no matter what colour or religion. Christianity has nothing to do with being british, paganism was around long before that. Britain is just a big melting pot and I like it that way. I like being able to eat Jamaican food and see a Bollywood movie. I love buying Indian sari fabric and using it to make my home cosy and colourful. I love hearing different accents, it's like a wonderful musical every day. I don't really like to think of myself as british, i'm universal.

Answer 2

Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as being British. One can be a citizen of the United Kingdom (this includes Northern Ireland, which is not part of Great Britain) either by being born and brought up here or by moving here and obtaining a United Kingdom passport.

As far as "Britishness" is concerned, I think we're reserved; don't want to make a fuss; know we're better than everyone else and, to prove it, are content not to win any international events - we know we're best, there's no need to show off. And there is no problem that cannot be eased by a cup of tea.

We have given the world the English language, which is rapidly becoming a global tongue; provided the greatest literature ever written (albeit 500 years ago, unless you're thinking of Harry Potter), and the world's largest (and shortest lived) empire - though I'm not sure we should be proud of that. We sit. sometimes uncomfortably, between the USA and Europe and do a pretty good job of keeping them both on track.

Anyone, regardless of religion and colour, can be British. I'm proud to be British, but don't want to make a fuss about it.

Answer 3

Being British is being tolerant and accepting, I know there is racism but I find that where I live there really isn't that much. We have loads of Polish people here and there hasn't been any trouble at all. I think you would be British if you were born in the UK, no matter what race you are or what religion. I can't stand it when religious extremists are intolerant towards the British way of life though, I don't like seperate communities either, you know where cities have black or asian parts and no white person can walk down the street. I think Britain is one of the most accepting places in the world. We are just becoming a little bit too pc, but that's better than being full of hate.

Answer 4

Nothing. You're defined by your individuality not your place of birth. The notion of a national identity is vast and pointless for some of the reasons you mentioned above. Black players on the England squad still get racially abused when they play for the local clubs but loved when scoring goals for the nation. Asians, Africans and particularly Caribbean people were invited to the UK (the Motherland) in the 1950's then given the worse possible jobs and living conditions. Institutional racism and the self-fulfilling prophecies about underachievemnet in education and the heavy police tactics like SUS etc. Polish people invited here to work in the buliding trade but still get called asylum seekers etc.
To be British is to be a number of things but it certainly is not about colour or heritage because we know about the Romans, Nords, Saxons, French and Barbarian influences and interbreeding here. Princess Charlotte (relation of the Queen) is of African heritage.
To be British is similar as being American. Native Indian or descendant of the Founding Fathers? You choose.

Answer 5

This rather succinct overview of what it is to be British was written by members of Woodland Junior School who have a website all about being British.

British people live in the UK. They are people who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. British people can also either be English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish.

The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline and especially for their sense of humour. British people have a strong sense of humour which sometimes can be hard for foreigners to understand.

Britain is a country of mixed cultures. London has the largest non-white population of any European city and over 250 languages are spoken there. Therefore not all British people are White or Christians.


Their site goes into detail on various aspects of Britishness and the address is

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/index/people.htm

Answer 6

"Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a
Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a
Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch
American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all?
Suspicion of anything foreign"

Answer 7

British
British is the adjectival form of Britain. In terms of etymology, it is derived from Pretannic, a term once used as collective description for the inhabitants of both Great Britain and Ireland. For full detail of its use see British Isles (terminology).

The term can be seen in the following contexts:

In a geographical context, it usually applies to someone or something from the island of Great Britain, or less frequently to someone or something from the United Kingdom.
In a political context it can be applied to a person or object from, or the people or nation of:
1707 to 1801 – Kingdom of Great Britain
1801 to 1922 – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1922 to date – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The British Empire, notably British North America and British India
Additionally the prefix British was often applied to an area or territory governed by or a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, for example the British Virgin Islands, the British Indian Ocean Territory, or British Columbia.
In the phrase the 'British Isles'
In an historical context it can refer to territory of the British Empire, or a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, or territory under occupation of British forces.
As a term used by linguists for British English dialects collectively, or of the extinct British language (Celtic), now called "British" or, more correctly, Brythonic. ("British language" is never used when "English language" is meant; historically most English writers from the Tudor period up to the 19th century referred to the Welsh language as "British" or "the British tongue", and to the Welsh as "Britons".)
In an ethnological context it refers to a person of British nationality and/or descent whether resident in the United Kingdom or abroad.
Anthropologists sometimes apply it to the Brythonic-speaking people who once inhabited the island now known as Britain south of the Firth of Forth or the earlier Pretani, who incorporated people throughout the British Isles[1].
In a competition or sporting context it can refer to a competitor or a number of competitors representing the United Kingdom (or in the case of the Olympics, Great Britain) in a sporting event, but who does not otherwise possess a strong affiliation with the United Kingdom.

Answer 8

British is anybody born in the United Kingdom, no matter race, religion, and all what you ask. Can be British even if born abroad, if can prove the required requisites.

Answer 9

a citizen of the British Empire. On a less serious note: Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV.

Answer 10

no you donot have to be white to be british, as we are a multicultural country now. you DO however need to abide by our laws, oppose terrorism and strive to intergrate your own culture along with our's. you must legally work here, pay taxes and contribute to our economy.(eg not sending all money home) ones choice of celebrating xmas and how to dress should be up to the individual, but to safeguard our security 'burkha's' should be banned. if you abide by our values, soveriegnty and laws then anyone is british i believe. if you differ with these then you are not and should go home!!!!