To be so ashamed of my country and being British?

[KenDodd]

For so many reasons recently. I feel so, so sad about what has happened to our country.

YANBU to feel that way
YABU to feel that way

I think you are overthinking things. YABU.

As a tiny country we stood alone against Hitler for years until America joined (after Pearl Harbour

For crying out loud - do you really believe this? Britain actually had a lot of help from many other countries.

Having lived in other countries, I have never come across the deep shame that liberal Brits feel about themselves and their country

I agree (have also lived in other countries). They also tend to be obsessed by the inadequacies of society in the US but totally blinded but the horrors that go on in India and China (to name a few countries) and will often quickly jump to defending China

Is it white privilege guilt ?

not sharing the PPE
The brief German ban on exports was in response to an embargo by France. Glad to see that the EU put a stop to all the grabbiness in the end.

and will often quickly jump to defending China

Yes, it's quite fascinating. The fanatical defence of some of the most repressive places on the planet.

Having lived in other countries, I have never come across the deep shame that liberal Brits feel about themselves and their country

George Orwell nailed it almost 80 years ago. The hatred of alleged liberals in the 21st century West for their liberal democracies is comical to behold.

@grecianwomen well said!

Actually, my analysis is completely the opposite. I think people voted for Brexit AGAINST the wishes of the privileged middle classes. I think that is part of the reason remainers are so furious. For the first time people they see as inferior to them, less educated, poorer, were able to democratically assert influence over them. They hate that

I absolutely agree with this.

Gosh does anyone in Germany actually believe that in Italy's time of crisis they banned PPE exports and did nothing to help for weeks because of the "grabby french"!

And here comes the blatant racism within the EU. The French are grabby and need the fairplaying Germans to keep them under control. The "southern" countries are lazy tax avoiders who siesta all day and then want the hardworking northern states to bail them out. It is no accident that groups of these countries are known by derogatory names such as "Club Med" or "PIGS". I'm not sure the EU will survive unless Macron is allowed to carry the day.

I think that your thinking is bizarre. It kind of suggests that there is a hierarchy of countries which is xenophobic. It also suggests that you think that Britain is better than some other countries. I am proud to be British but it doesn't make me better than someone from another country. That sort of imperialist view is outdated and should be left in the past.

Reality is more complicated than what we think based on impressions of other countries from abroad. For example in the UK Jacinta Arden is often reported as a woman who is firmly in control but I saw a link on here saying that she's in fact considered too woke and embarrassing by many Kiwis.

Personally I don't give a shit if someone is from Fiji or France. I wouldn't assume someone from the US is a gun-toting, bible-thumping Trump fan so people from other countries can't categorise me based on my nationality.

The US has it's share of crappy tabloids- we've heard of National Enquirer. It reports stuff that we certainly don't need to know like Jeff Bezos sending dirty pics to his affair partner.

The UK is a democracy. Sometimes you'll agree with the majority, sometimes you won't 🤷‍♀️

I should have added, the Brits, the English really unfortunately needed to be taken down a peg or two
This is hilarious. Teh French have always thought themselves superior to most other countries , possibly all other countries. I think they are in some ways btw.
And the Germans encouraged two world wars because they thought what - Oh, maybe that their white superior race should rule the world.

for heaven's sake think around teh subject a bit before you post peeps - it's like listening to kids in the primary school playground - I'm better than you because .......

the "grabby french"
I was referring to this specific example of German and French grabbiness. I'm sure other countries have been grabby too, in other ways. The EU might well be crumbling under this pressure. Lucky Britain was already on the way out, perhaps?

Cool Britannia was a soubriquet we coined for ourselves. Other countries call us that.

Didn’t call us that!

they banned PPE exports and did nothing to help for weeks
Interesting idea that it's particularly Germany that should be helping other countries, when, as I pointed out, other places were also banning exports. I wonder if this is because Germany is seen, like Merkel, as a sensible "mum" that should be responsible for her European children?

@ravenmum - and that is where we agree, of course other countries have been grabby too and Bill Gates is lecturing us all in the west on leaving PPE for the third world. When it comes to the crunch it is country first and look after your own.

Italy asked everyone for help and got nothing. Germany gets picked on because it is the biggest economy in the EU not because Merkels a woman. There may be 28 members of the EU but it is dominated by the major economies, many members are tiny.

www.politico.eu/article/eu-aims-better-control-coronavirus-responses/

ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/DDN-20180511-1?inheritRedirect=true

Not ashamed because as a PP said O didn't vote for the Tories or leave.

Embarrassed yes, hugely.

Germany gets picked on because it is the biggest economy in the EU not because Merkels a woman.
I was wondering more why people look only to Germany to take control, rather than also France. In the past, no-one expected Britain to be in control, either, though it was the second biggest EU economy. No doubt it's because of Germany's economic strength, but I do think it might also be a reflection of stereotyping: Germans being seen as more sensible, like Merkel, and thus as the responsible parent of Europe (female or male).

No I like living here.Visited other countries and always happy to come home.

The only other country I could live in is germany.

Do you have friends or colleagues etc from other counties to discuss it with? Everyone has their criticisms of where they live or are from. Other countries had just as much stockpiling/ignoring of rules/changes to decisions about Covid before settling on a plan. It isn’t just the UK. It’s not like the rest of the world is a utopia we are actually very lucky in a lot of ways.

OP - to start this thread on a day when we are acknowledging the sacrifice made by this country you are so ashamed of is in IMO - very shameful.
I am grateful to each and every member of the generation before me who endured so much and did not whinge like so many of you. I suggest the BBC 2 series on the greatest generation is required viewing for everyone who says they are ashamed - we should all remember those who fought and died and otherwise kept this country going through 6 years of war and another 6 or 7 years of rationing and hardship.

Have a bit of respect - I am proud to be English (out in the shires) and proud of every member of every generation who cares about more than their own selfish 'wants'.
I am grateful I am not part of the London liberal bubble.

OP started this thread yesterday.

we should all remember those who fought and died and otherwise kept this country going through 6 years of war and another 6 or 7 years of rationing and hardship.

Like many other countries did?