What makes you proud to be British?

[cheeseismydownfall]

... and does Operation Raise the Colours represent that for you?

I'm British-born with mixed heritage. Being British has never been a particularly important part of identity, and I wouldn't say I've ever felt "proud" of it as such (I mean, it's something I am, not something I've earned), but things I appreciated about "Britishness" when I was growing up were...

Our democracy and respect for justice
Our NHS and the foundational principles of a welfare state
Our cultural identity of politeness, respect and tea drinking
Our ironic, understated and absurd sense of humour
Our landscapes and architectural heritage
Our scientists, artists and musicians through the centuries to today
Our belief in fair play and sportsmanship
Our tolerance and multiculturalism

Obviously I recognise that I was seeing many of these things through rose tinted glasses, but I guess that's not really the point. I'm talking about things that made me feel warm about being British.

But now I look at that list and I feel all of the things that made be feel positive about this country are are under threat, and much of that threat is coming from the the beliefs and behaviours that Operation Raise the Colours represents.

I'm interested in how other people feel - especially if you are "pro flag" (for want of a better term) - what values do they represent for you?

Our history in engineering and architecture.
Rich history in general.
Our contribution/sacrifice to the efforts of the "Great War" and ww2.
The principles of the NHS although very aware it's at breaking point yet somehow we still keep delivering it.
Women's football.

Don't necessarily understand or support the flag raising.

Oh, and our ability to queue!

I’m proud of our tolerance. We can do a lot to make these minority of haters not hijack our flag and British values.

What is operation raise the colours?

I'm not British, but I have a very good friend who is. He's 22, from a very Reform supporting family, with a long history of mental ill health. He's intelligent, considerate, funny and kind. He's had the hardest of hard lives and yet hasn't turned into an immigrant blaming foreigner hating flag worshipper.

I'm proud of him, because when someone defaced our local bus station with a shitty so-called St George Cross, his first thought was what he could do with his meager budget to paint over the damage. Fortunately the council moved swiftly and were on it, but still.

He's one of the oh so many many things that are still good about the UK.

That we are a very tolerant nation compared to some others. Our self-deprecating sense of humour , our rich history

The great tradition of British liberalism
Our history of engineering
The scientific discoveries and inventions of great Britons.

I do think though that (in general) the people waving flags around are those who have not left Britain much (if at all) and have very little idea about the UK in comparison to other nations or an idea of history.
It comes from a need. And I do understand that.

But I find it uncomfortable and I am sure plenty of immigrants do. Lots of countries have flags all over the place but it isn’t indicative of right wing or reactionary tendencies (e.g Denmark). One must ask why it does in the UK and I think the above is why.

Terf island.

I’m wary of any kind of flag flying. It speaks of brain washing rather than critical and independent thinking.

I’m not proud to be British and always thought national pride was an odd and often harmful concept. Now it’s gone completely the other way and I’m totally appalled at way the government and many residents of this country are behaving right now.

I’m not proud, and I dislike that idea, but there’s lots about Britain that I love.
second thoughts, I am proud of being TERF Island

Britain is my adopted home, been living here for almost 30 years, have passport, been paying taxes and consider myself British. I love it here. Britain is amazing. Architecture, history, countryside, castles, country homes, traditions, films, TV, comedy, sense of humour, language, accents, villages, people, NHS, music, literature, art, London - I love it all. Best place for me )))

So odd people are proud of NOT BEING PROUD of their own country. Listen, you haven't lived in a really shit embarrassing country to compare.

I wouldn't use the word proud, because I've contributed little, but I think it's easy to forget how well-regarded Britain has historically been, globally. Many people look up to and idealise the UK for its culture and influence.

The flag fuckers have been pissing that legacy away since UKIP first started acting like pillocks in the EU parliament.

Things subjectively I value:

• our phlegmatic temperament and sense of humour
• we’re both ironic and sincere (we’ll understate and take the piss, but if we express emotion or commitment we usually mean it)
• I mostly like the weather, and I mostly like the best bits of our architecture
• our relative openness and multiculturalism

Things I think we’ve objectively done very right:

• developed classical liberalism and modern democracy
• opposed the slave trade, at great national financial cost
• helped defeat fascism in WW2 when we might have tried to sit it out
• huge contributions in science and technology
• alongside a lot of bad, our brand of colonialism delivered a lot of good (other brands were available, and mostly they were worse, often very much worse)

Pride: healthy in moderation. I’d feel sorry for a Norwegian who wasn’t proud of Norway, a Chinese who wasn’t proud of China, etc. It’s a pretty bleak worldview that says we can only be proud of what we individually achieved. Given the power of nature and nurture (let alone stricter determinism) what does that leave any of us?

Flags: not personally a big flag person. Understand why and when it’s threatening and I don’t like that. But the types who see flag waving as only ever petty and hostile are one half of the coalition who make it so.

I'm neither proud of it nor ashamed of it because nationality is an accident of birth and what happened in the past is no reflection on me either way. I'm glad though that it has generally been a safe, tolerant and stable country in recent years. Though I feel the Tories and Brexiteers embarrassed us on the international stage from 2016 and Reform would only make it worse. Nigel Farage et al are doing their best to make the place frightening, hate filled, unwelcoming and intolerant to suit their own ends, and are constantly trying to destabilise the country.

Another who is very proud of TERF island