What makes you proud to be British?

[AnythingButMagnolia]

A friend and I were talking about coming home from holiday and appreciating the UK 'anew' after being in other cultures. One thing she said was "we are so *tolerant". It gave me a warm fuzzy glow. I think that's really something to be proud of.
*
i recognise some posters may disagree but I am thinking in broad terms and historically etc etc...
Don't mean to start a 'heavy' thread, just a place to share other warm fuzzy things.

Some British people live in a parallel universe. Proud of your colonial past, UpOnTheDowns ? From my ancestors to you and yours: piss off back to your windswept islands and leave us alone. To think that you feel pride in your people’s enrichment by the enslavement, theft, looting, torture, deliberate starvation, decimation, pillaging, bombing of the lands and population of nearly half the planet is what makes you proud?? That’s inhumane and warped, not “un-PC”. Give me a break.

You could be proud of that type of Brit who stood up to, for example, the East india Company and the monarchs it enriched. Ordinary and less ordinary people with exceptional moral fibre who saw what was happening for what it was and called it out, often to their own detriment. Those Brits should have their statues dotted around the country, not the looters and murderers.

Er, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833. Maybe learn a little of our history before hitting the knee-jerk talking points?

King Leopold was fucking crazed, and the Belgians did terrible, terrible things in the Congo. If someone had started a thread about Belgium, maybe it would have come up.

As a nation I would say we are generally kind to animals and love our domestic pets in particular.

Er, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833. Maybe learn a little of our history before hitting the knee-jerk talking points?

@UpOnTheDowns Learn a little of your own history. Start with John Hawkins. Then we can talk about penal colonies.

I'm off, hiding this thread for my own wellbeing

Am not proud of being British at the moment but as it's light hearted we have good cakes and some lovely pubs.

It’s a good thread @AnythingButMagnolia

My parents are from the Dominican Republic and I went there on holiday recently. When I came back home I saw the green farmland and the grey sky with a chill in the air and felt all warm and fuzzy! I made a cuppa and put the TV on and ooooo it was lovely! I can’t articulate what it is but, I love it

Oh God. Democracy’s be the best form of government available to us, but it pains me that UpOnTheDowns has a vote.

Hold the door Vauxhall, I’m coming too.

OP, the geography of the British Isles is beautiful and varied. Caring for your lands in the way you do (mostly) is something to be proud of.

I am not British but have been in the UK for over 20 years, and I was at one point very proud of living here. I was proud of the music production here, the theatre, the art in general, the fab movies produced here, the sport, fashion, etc. I felt that it was a welcoming country, but my views, perceptions and personal experience (and the experiences of many of my friends) have proved to me that I was under some ill conceived illusion that people here were tolerant and respectful. Did my bubble burst or what. I am somewhat embarrassed about living here now, especially when travelling in Europe. I have been tempted to wear a t shirt saying something like It wasn't me, I didn't vote for this.

I have been tempted to wear a t shirt saying something like It wasn't me, I didn't vote for this.

I’d wear that.

Don’t have anything else to add since I don’t consider myself British.

British literature, British music, the rich variety of British arts and culture in general.

The BBC. I know that's unfashionable but my life would be less rich without BBC radio in particular

The SOH

The British countryside in all it's various forms.

The Red Arrows

British architects and architecture

Cannot compete with British humour imo

The public parks are excellent.

Public footpaths, and rambling.
Youth hostels in the countryside.

It's funny that if you're from Scotland you're Scottish, If you're from Wales you're Welsh and people are proud to call themselves Scottish and Welsh.

If you're from England however you're not classed as English - you're British! The other 2 countries don't often refer to themselves as British so it's bizarre why the English do.

Or does British mean something else now?

Or does British mean something else now?

British and English are often used interchangeably. Usually by the media rather than people to be fair.

Goingon I'd wear that tshirt too. I'd move to another country if I could, I'm deeply ashamed to be part of this backwards-looking place these days.

And the last time I said that on here someone replied 'Fuck off then, don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way you' which made me realise all over again how inclusive a country it has become [hm]

Most countries had a bloody history and were tribal, Britain is not the only country with a regretful past. GB is known to be one of the most tolerant countries of the world, hence the immigration pull.

One wonders why those people who are so embarrassed and ashamed of Britain continue to live here.

I like our food and gardens

"One wonders why those people who are so embarrassed and ashamed of Britain continue to live here."

I often wonder that too? If you are that ashamed and embarrassed then why not up and move? Or make a serious plan to get there if that's not affordable right now.

Hee haw

The fact that the inhabitants of a small set of windswept islands forged the greatest empire the world has ever seen is quite the point of pride for me, regardless of how un-PC that might be today. Quite apart from our towering achievements in the sciences and humanities, the fact that the world speaks our language, etc etc etc

Yes, the British had a real talent for mass murder, enslavement and theft, so proud. Visit any British museum and you too can enjoy the bounty plundered by the British. We actually enjoy spending time admiring all that we took with out any shame or embarrassment.