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.

And I've heard that Brexit is likely to kill off John Lewis.

Before 23 June 2016, I was definitely proud to be British. I thought of my country as modern, tolerant, liberal and forward looking.

How wrong can you be?

I’m now ashamed to be British, and every time colleague from mainland Europe who asks me why we are leaving the EU, I get more ashamed.

Yet we favour EU workers over the rest of the world because we have to. Doesn't seem very fair to me..

I'm seriously embarrassed to be British these days.

Because we're in Europe and part of the same family,enjoying the benefits that comes with that. Of course it's fair. USA prioritises its citizens re jobs as do other countries.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing these days.

Interesting how many people explain that even if they love Britain, they aren't "proud" to be British because they just happened to be born/live here (fair enough, I agree with that) but so many are "ashamed" or "embarrassed" - so clearly the argument doesn't work both ways! Brexit is deplorable but I'm not ashamed of it because it's not my fault that people voted for it, or that I'm British...

After spending some time in California over the summer , I was astounded at the amount of homelessness over there but what's more shocking is there were a huge amount of homeless people with physical disabilities ( I mean missing limbs , in wheelchairs etc ).

I live in the US, but when I go to San Francisco in particular I'm astounded by this - there is so much more of it there for some reason.

Mind you, I'm also shocked by the amount of homelessness I see in major UK cities when I go back there too.

We as a country voted for it and are dumb enough to be making it happen. It's embarrassing. How can you be proud when you are embarrassed?

Aside from Brexit I honestly find nothing else to be proud of.

I think people claiming UK is not tolerant should maybe try living elsewhere for a while. In the UK you are free to believe what you like. There are many countries where you would be beaten, imprisoned and even killed for daring to not follow the prescribed religion. Same for same sex relationships, women's rights, help for the needy etc. We are far from perfect but we have freedom of speech, freedom of belief and I also think there is an expectation of honesty ' an Englishman's word is his bond' which other cultures often find surprising and maybe we are starting to lose a bit now but generally are an honest, up front, what you see is what you get type people.

music
films
books
sport
humour
red buses
cream teas
cooked breakfast
regional accents
queuing
BBC

Vdb- well said.

I also did nothing to become British - pride in nationality is as daft as pride in looks.

I do however feel very fortunate to live somewhere with drinkable tap water, toilets for all, free if staggering health care, no conscription, a free press, freedom of religion, ( including atheism without being stoned to death) and many other good things.

I am Irish and Scots, only 2% Scandinavian. I don't consider most Brits to be native at all - they are German/Scandinavian/ West European. Your empire builders are still causing untold misery. Our native language isn't even English.

There are many countries where you would be beaten, imprisoned and even killed for daring to not follow the prescribed religion. Same for same sex relationships, women's rights, help for the needy etc.

I think comparing yourself to countries where those things happen is setting yourself a very low bar.
"Not as terrible as some other places" isn't exactly something to get excited about.

After spending some time in California over the summer , I was astounded at the amount of homelessness over there but what's more shocking is there were a huge amount of homeless people with physical disabilities ( I mean missing limbs , in wheelchairs etc ).

I live in the US but have never seen a homeless person.

I am proud of my grandfather who served in the British Colonial Service after the Leaving the Navy.

Redneck which state doesn’t have homeless people?

Nothing. It's an accident of birth, not something I've "achieved, so there's nothing to be proud of about it. There are some things I feel grateful for, being British, and some things I feel, frankly, embarrassed about (our government, Brexit etc). But proud? No.

Sohardtochooseausername

Maine (northern) probably because it’s -10 for half the year.

Great thread!

Church weddings-love every hymn going.
Street parties
Last night of the Proms
Sarcasm
Obsession with the weather.

Redneck yes that’s not ideal weather for sleeping on the street.

When there is a significant black middle class then I'll be proud.

I'm not, I'm embarrassed to be British. I identify as European over British. I was in France a few weeks ago and I was utterly mortified when people realised I was British, despite speaking fluent French.

I am proud of London though and although I moved out of the city almost 10 years ago I still consider myself a Londoner. It is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet with some amazing people living there from all over the world, contributing to a vibrant and multicultural city which still retains a strong sense of itself. If London could declare independence and remain in the EU I'd be bloody proud to be a part of that.

Nowt.