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Original poster

Just what has Britain got to be proud of ?

112 replies

ivanhoe · 20/08/2011 19:08

The British Empire was built on the slave trade.

Right wing Capitalism continues to use the poor as fodder for making the rich richer.

Just what has Britain got to be proud of ?

OP posts:
edam · 21/08/2011 17:12
Grin
edam · 21/08/2011 17:12

Ok, according to this the internet is the network and the www is the medium (I think).

Pan · 21/08/2011 17:12

My work here is done then.Smile

edam · 21/08/2011 17:10

I am no wiser...

Pan · 21/08/2011 17:09

um..I don't know!

I think the web connects computers by a particular 'platform', or device, whereas the internet is just a whole bunch of servers talking with each other using info gleaned off the web connections.

I am now at the very limit of my webby knowledge.

edam · 21/08/2011 17:06

thanks pan. um, what's the difference? I get that the web connects computers (at least, I think that's right) but what's the internet, then?

Ittybittysmum · 21/08/2011 16:59

Are we still going?

What about Ancient buildings, hilarious comedy shows, excellent tv and radio, people who care deeply about the land (and animals and one another) village pubs, free museums, amazing archaeology, right-to-roam, friendliness, bacon and egg sandwiches...

I could go on. I visited twice in the noughties and fell in love.

EldritchCleavage · 21/08/2011 16:49

Why do we have to be proud? Even if the entire history of our nation has been unmitigated shit from start to finish, do we just give up?

I've little time for all these proclamations of pride in nation, race, religion or gender. Doesn't mean I'm not motivated to make things better.

Pan · 21/08/2011 16:46
edam · 21/08/2011 16:45

(Darn, having mentioned the Civil War, I've now got Horrible Histories Charles II rap going through my head. My name is, my name is, my name is... Charles II.)

edam · 21/08/2011 16:44

The BBC (especially Radio 4) and the NHS.

Also being the first republic in modern Europe - although we decided it wasn't a good thing after all we were still first.

And our history of civil rights. The cotton boycott when the Lancashire cotton workers starved rather than support slavery. Seem to recall we were one of the first countries where women won the right to vote (may be wrong about that). The industrial revolution - we basically built the modern world. (Although obviously there are a few negatives, including possibly destroying the whole planet.) Ooh, and computing - British scientists, geeks and companies were v. important at the start, although we've ended up not exactly leading the pack any more. But from Charles Babbage to Tim Berners Lee, we've not done too badly. I mean, inventing the internet (or the world wide web, can never remember which is which) is pretty darn important.

Pan · 21/08/2011 16:38

oh come on ivanhoe - you seriously can't have a poster name like that, then feck up your spelling of pompous, accuse everyone else of being arrogant, AND expect to be taken seriously.Grin

peeriebear · 21/08/2011 16:36

Did you start this thread just to knock Britain, Ivanhoe?
The countryside. I'd take the British countryside over pretty much anywhere else.
Friendly local pubs.
Blackadder.

Original poster
ivanhoe · 21/08/2011 16:22

""We do sometimes have a very ruthless attitude to 'the poor'""

Yes, and this is because we are largely a pompas and arrogant little nation full of pretentions and class distinctions.

OP posts:
Valetude · 21/08/2011 14:48

As I get older, I feel that very little can be done without disadvantaging others, however far away. Short of buying myself a couple of acres of land, building myself a wattle-and-daub house, growing all my own food, and selling enough to pay voluntary NI contributions, I can't see how I can live a totally blameless life. (Of course if we all did that, there'd be no land left to farm, bringing disadvantage to some. And not employing anyone to do anything has its effects too.)

Not an apology for the worst bits of colonialism or anything, but we are here, now, and we can't take responsibility for those, obviously.

I'm proud of the people I know who work away at small projects, trying to tackle the worst disadvantages, and make a difference both to individuals and to policy. (They then come home and worry because they can only afford to buy goods that they know are cheaper because someone, somewhere has been exploited.)

Lilymaid · 21/08/2011 14:42

We were largely responsible for drafting the European Convention on Human Rights after WWII (unfortunately some of the present government would like the UK to opt out ...). The drafters had recent experience of what happened in countries where such rights are not protected.

Pan · 21/08/2011 14:34

Our kids will be fine tomorrow thanks carmina.

carminagoesprimal · 21/08/2011 14:29

Ha ha at Mumsnet

carminagoesprimal · 21/08/2011 14:27

Yes absolutely -

Hopefully as a country we'll pull together and move on. ( signs are good )

Oh, and good luck to Man.U tomorrow.

Pan · 21/08/2011 14:22

Mumsnet.Grin

Pan · 21/08/2011 14:01

s'okay! Am sure relative poverty was something to do with the riots, but also chuck in a load of people who didn't think before they acted, some malcontents, some crims. who had it in for the police, young people getting caught up in the 'exciting frenzy' that mass psychology does to people, and people going 'free shopping' even when they could afford whatever they stole.

MugglesandLuna · 21/08/2011 14:00

Gay marriage.

MugglesandLuna · 21/08/2011 13:59

Free press.

carminagoesprimal · 21/08/2011 13:57

No pan you didn't - sorry Blush

claig · 21/08/2011 13:57

Great newspaper