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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel extremely bloody proud to be British today?

510 replies

hehitmeanditfeltlikeakiss · 19/05/2018 14:29

I take our country for granted because I live in a town that is the polar opposite of what Windsor looks like. But wow - watching the Royal family today I got shivers down my spine and felt so overwhelmed with emotion.

In the past I've looked at ways of emigrating because I've been fed up of living here, but I've just realised that it's a free country and to feel better about life I can actually make the move and go and live somewhere nicer (ok, maybe not Windsor but still).

We're so lucky aren't we?

OP posts:
kalapattar · 21/05/2018 09:05

The Élysée presidential palace costs £103.5m a year

Simple idea - should a democratic country have

a) An elected Head of State - powers to be decided depending on the model they choose to adopt

b) A Head of State who is the first born of a family or the next relative in a line of succession.

One is democracy. The other is not.

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 21/05/2018 09:17

New York is the most visited city in the world, their tourism takes in billions, they have no monarchy, says it all really.

MissConductUS · 21/05/2018 09:58

You certainly do not speak for all Americans, the vast majority of whom don't give a flying fuck about royals and many more are proud to be our own nation

First, the original post was not about pride in the royals, but pride in being British. As to the vast majority not caring about the royals, 22 million of us made time to watch the wedding despite the fact that it started at 7:00 AM east coast time on a Sunday. Six TV networks carried it.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-ratings-royal-wedding-brings-18-million-viewers-us-broadcast-1113498

Being proud to be an American is not mutually exclusive with being proud of our historic ties to Britain. I live in New York, in New England, and have British ancestors.

The war of independence was over 200 years ago. We won. We can be friends with the Brits now.

kalapattar · 21/05/2018 10:00

As to the vast majority not caring about the royals, 22 million of us made time to watch the wedding despite the fact that it started at 7:00 AM east coast time on a Sunday. Six TV networks carried it

What's the US population nowadays? 325 million.

So the vast majority didn't watch it.

traciebanbanjo · 21/05/2018 10:09

I'm sure millions watched the karsashians wedding, doesn't mean they want to have them as head of state and receive billions in public money.

InkSnail · 21/05/2018 10:39

a) An elected Head of State - powers to be decided depending on the model they choose to adopt
b) A Head of State who is the first born of a family or the next relative in a line of succession.
One is democracy. The other is not.

In any dictionary, there are various definitions of democracy. I also found this, outlining both the Classial and Modern definitions of democracy.

On modern democracy: "Because the definition of the term democracy opposite to monarchy and aristocracy rather creates confusion with regard to constitutional monarchies instead of establishing clarity, it is more appropriate to define democracy opposite to authoritarian and totalitarian regimes".

InkSnail · 21/05/2018 10:41

Why would you want to save one person?

The song is about the monarch. It doesn't mean you don't care about everyone else! If you sing happy birthday to one person, does it mean you want everyone else to have a horrible day?

siwel123 · 21/05/2018 10:45

No but why should we by God save the queen? Shouldn't it be God save the country?

InkSnail · 21/05/2018 10:46

I wouldn't object if you wrote a new one siwel123.

Slartybartfast · 21/05/2018 10:49

When the Queen retires/dies, and Prince Charles is King. We will sing God save The King

siwel123 · 21/05/2018 10:50

Ok Hmm.
I'm just saying why are we basically swearing alligence to an undemocratic leader who we have to pay for? Seems a bit ducking stupid to me.
But no I won't be writing a new one Hmm

Slartybartfast · 21/05/2018 10:50

Charles
William
and then George.
We wont have another Queen in our lifetime

siwel123 · 21/05/2018 10:51

I know. I still will find it wierd to pledge basic allegiance to a king. Who we don't decide who it is.

Slartybartfast · 21/05/2018 10:52

I guess you dont have to sing swivel

Slartybartfast · 21/05/2018 10:53

sorry Siwel

InkSnail · 21/05/2018 11:05

Why the Hmm?

kalapattar · 21/05/2018 11:05

I guess you dont have to sing swivel

It's depressing to have a National Anthem where people are expected to ask a deity to save the Monarch - when there are many people who don't believe in such a deity nor do they believe that a Monarchy is a good idea.

Then they get called unpatriotic if they don't want to stand and sing.

siwel123 · 21/05/2018 11:07

Because I wanted to HmmGrinGrin.

Precisely @Kalapattar. It's seen as rude not to sing the national anthem, so instead were expected to pledge alliance to undemocratic rich people

Slartybartfast · 21/05/2018 11:19

I think it is sad to think that one day the Monarchy may not longer be, if some people get their way.
It is a funny situation, having a monarchy, but yet one I do not wish to give up.

kalapattar · 21/05/2018 11:24

I think it is sad to think that one day the Monarchy may not longer be, if some people get their way

It will be like the Truman show. People will just find something else to adore, to watch, to hang outside their hospital whilst they are giving birth and to obsess over.

Life will go on.

siwel123 · 21/05/2018 11:24

I won't be sad but you're allowed to be Grin

marchin1984 · 21/05/2018 11:55

First, the original post was not about pride in the royals, but pride in being British.

it was, in fact, about the RF and pride in being British.

10.3 million people watched the last episode of breaking bad. I wouldn't call the US terribly interested in the RF based on those numbers. Some bling when you wake up. So what.

expatinscotland · 21/05/2018 13:29

' Some bling when you wake up. So what.'

Or don't bother due to the fact that its vast geographical area covers 4 time zones. 7am on the East Coast is 4am Pacific. And then there's good ol' 'Arizona time' (most of the state stays on Mountain Standard Time but the Navajo Nation also observes Daylight Savings Time. Makes for interesting watch changes on visits).

Most of the places with names taken from Britain are in the East. There's a whole rest of the nation out there, including two other heavily populated states that were once Spanish colonies! Shock, with Spanish or Indian place names. This fact is often lost on some people in the NE, however, IME - it's a bit like the so-called 'London Bubble' here. Rather ironic given that New York was originally a Dutch colony called New Netherland and Manhattan is a Native American place name.

'We won. We can be friends with the Brits now.'

Yes, we are allies, that goes back a long way, very patently obvious whilst maintaining our independence, the one that people have repeatedly died to maintain, or valuing a monarchy any more than most value The Kardashians.

Dapplegrey · 21/05/2018 16:04

I thought New York was originally called New Amsterdam rather than New Netherland but happy to be corrected.

expatinscotland · 21/05/2018 16:10

'I thought New York was originally called New Amsterdam rather than New Netherland but happy to be corrected.'

The colony was New Netherland and the area that's now the city was New Amsterdam.