What ever happened to British patriotism?...?

Question

So many Britons these days moan about their country. Why? Really why? Tony Blair blah blah blah... Most people who complain about politics don't vote so aren't entitled to an opinion!

Some complain about the weather. Is it a problem that we don't have tornadoes? Or earthquakes? Or tsunamis? Infact we've had quite warm weather in recent years.

Is poverty a problem? No, it is in other modern countries like the US. Infact poor in Britain means you go on the dole and get a council house, damn what a kick in the teeth.

I personally am proud to be British, our achievements. There isn't a continent we haven't reached (or invaded). Our language is the most important on earth. Our military (both past and present) is amazing. We invented hard work (i.e. the industrial revolution) and it paid off. I hope one day the Great British public can wave the Union Flag with pride again.

The question is what happened to British pride in your opinion?

p.s. ALLEN B, if I didn't want the opinion of others I wouldn't have wrote this. I put my opinion forward, then asked for others... What would be the point opening this if I did not my own opinion into it.

Answer 1

I'm an American, but I wanted to tell you how much I like what you've written. I haven't been to England, yet, but after reading this I think I will go in the fall. Patriotism is a positive quality when a country is filled with good people who want to do right by their families, friends and neighbors. If each of us did one more positive thing every day, including writing our opinions, the world would be a better place. Good, bad or indifferent,I love reading and writing Yahoo Questions and Answers because it gives me a more tactile sense of what is going on in the world from a wide range of people.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world," Ghandi.

Answer 2

I think the main issues are tax and miserable people. We were voted the most antisocial nation in europe in a recent poll. For me I would forgo the cushy british way of life for a better more enjoyable and friendly lifestyle abroad.

There are certainly other issues such as our freedom is massive quashed, the infrastructure is crap. The free NHS is good but I wouldnt mind paying so Im not waiting for 3 or 4 hours because of people hurt their little finger in front of me.

Tax is imense and the cost of running a car abroad is much cheaper, houses are bigger for your money and tony blair kept down inflation here - did he? inflation was at a world low at the time.

Trains are expensive, border control has no control (although I like the immigrants better than the english bums that procreate tonnes and claim benefits). Crime in my mind is out of control, prisons full, prisoners suing the goverment for not have a telly and being saved if they want to commit suicide and all that nonsense. Crime is virtually unpunished, there is little funding in the science sector and most of our GDP comes from insurance companies in london. On top of that there are greater fines for speeding then killing people, the NHS is becoming increasingly privatised, you cant find an NHS dentist for love nor money and pretty soon guile tax will be introduced under the big green enviromentally friendly hood.

Thats not to say I wont get fed up and move back! But were see eh? The grass is always greener on the other side thats what sums it up in everybodies opinion.

Answer 3

I think a lot of the problem is that school children are not taught about our wonderful history,we are as a nation, not encouraged to have pride in ourselves and our achievements, we have schools teaching that nobody is a looser, ie school sports days, every child is a winner its ridicules,we have exams where nobody is allowed to fail! we have PC gone crazy when its just not possible to voice honest opinions, and with 4 million immigrants, allowed in, in the last 2 yrs, we will have no Country of our own left to have any pride in.

Answer 4

The 21st century British are second class citizens in their own country because they are weak and servile. They have no pride, no strength no balls. The generation that built the Empire have all gone. What remains isn't capable of building a garden shed, let alone an Empire. You fight for it, or you lose it, its that simple. Britain and its people are under attack from their own EU lead filthy parasite parliament. Until they rid themselves of the lib lab con, Britain, and its children's future, will continue to slowly die.

Answer 5

The concept of the Union is outdated.
Scotland has its own Parliament.
Wales has an assembly, which will probably evolve into a parliament too.
England and the English get treated like 3rd class citizens.
The Barnett Formula
The West Lothian Question
Inferior Treatment on the English NHS (compared to Scotland & Wales)
Top up Fees (not in scotland)
Road Pricing (only in England)
The elderly having to pay for their care (only in England)

Why should i be proud to be British, when i am ripped off every day?

Answer 6

Its no longer cool to be proud to be British, in fact you would probably be classed as being a racist in the present climate, Still I'm proud to be British and yes I'm proud of the achievements our ancestors have achieved, everything from Nelson to our boys fighting in Iraq. Plus our inventive spirit that has made Britain Great, But as i say "its no longer cool to blow our own trumpet, just in case someone is offended by it"

Answer 7

You cant be patriotic in this country in case you offend someone else.. Political correctness gone mad.
Had our government grown a back bone, our children would be able to appreciate a school nativity display & Christmas trees in our local shopping centres. Dare we hang a union jack, that would be blatant discrimination to other races.
I am proud to be British, but on the other hand, I'm ashamed at how other countries view us. Very possibly we are deemed weak, and give hand outs to anyone. Thats why soo many immigrants wait at France, looking for a way to get here to get their free ride. So many of our grandparents lost their youth fighting for this country and within 10 years all their hard work has been undone.

Its become a very sad country.

Answer 8

I 100% agree with you. Many people I speak to hate the government, the police, royalty. They are all corrupt, over paid, on ego trips....
My friend (who lives in a council house, doesnt work and gets knocked off diesel for free) says we are taxed far too much..
Most people who have this assumption or belief dont put any money into the pot in the first place, they just live off it.
Everytime I have needed to go to the hospital for treatment I have had fantastic service, most of the tax I pay goes towards proper services that I can see - clean roads, streets, clean water, grass cutting, policing, hospitals, GPs, fire service, bins emptied....loads of stuff.
And yet many people think we are hard done by.
I look at other countries and and think how lucky we are to live in this lovely country.

Answer 9

WOW! Patriotic or what!!!
You have made some good points and although I am proud to be British I am even more proud after having read your views.
Good on you.
God save the Queen.

P.S. I still don't like or trust Tony Blair or any Politician.

Answer 10

I am BRITISH & very proud!

Everybody moans - its human nature.

You missed out an important fact - British people are p*ssed off because there country is being taken over by every other nationality - did u know that us (british white people) will be a minority in our own country in 20 years ? Thats a very sad fact indeed