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

Oh Op....yes, I agree, I’m ashamed...not because of what the ‘woke’ lot want us to be ashamed of (those not alive 50+ years ago cannot answer for their sins)...but what we are today is a sad reflection of a populace led by propaganda...mail, telegraph & times all have owners who financially benefit from a right wing agenda...what really amuses/upsets me in equal measure is from the outside I’m pretty sure people assume I’m a through & through Tory...I was for a very short while😳🙈...however I’m not saying Corbyn would ever have done better in this situation. If a woman pm had as many kids by how many (?!) partners as BJ they’d be vilified.....Let’s hope Kier heralds a new generation...

I work in a hospital and the work I have seen take place in transforming services and supporting patients is phenomenal. I’ve never been prouder. It’s hard to know if the politicians are doing a good job or not because the media spouts so many untrue “facts”. “Facts” I know are outright lies or misunderstandings through my work.

All countries have the good and the bad. None of our politicians are fully trained for a pandemic so I think it’s a bit unfair and unrealistic to expect everything to be perfect and smooth running. They can only make decisions based on the advice and science available at the time.

@m0therofdragons what a refreshing post! Thanks for that - a touch of positivity straight from the horses mouth - better than any "journalist"

@KenDodd i felt exactly the same as you and couldn't imagine wanting to raise kids there.. I emigrated to Australia as soon as i could,it was the best decision of my life.
Im eternally grateful i had the opportunity/financial means to relocate when i did and have enjoyed the best years of my life here,with DC being massively unimpressed with UK every time we have returned over the years. I would start planning your escape post-covid, if its an option for you.

@VenusTiger it’s infuriating. There’s also a complete lack of understanding as to how info is reported which the journos refuse to explain because they don’t think the public will get it.

The cascade of info is sometimes short notice but it’s actually been pretty good and chief execs are able to contact senior nhs England team direct and I can get help from the National team if I need it - I’ve asked twice and had calls within an hour of three request.

From the inside it feels like a whole team effort across the country.

We actually won’t speak to the local newspaper anymore because we don’t trust them. It was a tough decision but the scaremongering meant we cannot support them.

Thanks for that - a touch of positivity straight from the horses mouth - better than any "journalist"

This made me laugh.

Distrust of the media is fair enough but to then buy hook,line and sinker a post on anonymous forum from a random poster? Why? Because it tells you what you want to hear?

This "shame" is self inflicted. I can't believe anyone gives a shit about newspapers or the Press. In fact the media in general. As for following mentalists on FB, you think that's the alternative to your little echo chamber? Ridiculous. I agree totally about the trope of being "proud" to be XYZ, it's nonsense just as being ashamed is

The level of public discourse is often just in the gutter now. Very little regard for truth, honesty or thinking things through from multiple angles.

We’re so polarised and the ability to listen before forming an opinion or to see both sides of a story is seen as a weakness more often than not.

It really saddens me.

I am ashamed and furious with the government and the people who voted for them. Brexits a fucking nightmare and the CV response is a fucking nightmare. There are too many selfish in it for themselves people who haven’t taken lockdown seriously and gone bonkers stockpiling stuff. The NHS has been driven to its knees by cuts for at least a decade, the railways and buses are a disgrace and we produce less and less and rely on imports for products we used to specialise in manufacturing. There’s growing racism and xenophobia and I’m pissed off with it.

Keir Starmer’s question to Johnson sums up my feelings, “How on earth did it come to this?”

m0therofdragons - excellent post, thank you.

Okay @PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock you carry on laughing because we've all seen the interviews where journalists ask "how are you for ppe?" and the nurse says "fine" and the interview gets cut.
Really funny isn't it these media lies are you going to be suspicious of every person who disputes the media are you?

I just found it ironic that's all. Because guess what ? Your "better than a journalist" ray of sunshine could be anyone from a russian bot to Mike from Hull to a little blue alien sending a very confused distress signal.

I'm ashamed of people like you OP stating here telling people they have no right to vote the way they wish taking the hood stuff and demeaning those in this country in favour of a continent that has spat on us for years for free thinking and questioning
Ashamed of qcgovernment who have broken EU laws to be able furlough and support those in need
An NHS that didn't end up in the state we saw of the highly regarded Italians and all those news reports we watched weeks ago
Whose old people's homes have suffered but the staff haven't abandoned the residents to die whilst the workers fled like Spain
Who have been open about our death toll and not tried to hide anything
Ashamed that you and others in the minority dance and rejoice to hear the high death toll because it means the government was "wrong" yeah I'm ashamed of you there too
Ashamed that democracy didn't die just because most people disagree with you?

YANBU

And at the risk of going on a bit are you ashamed of the state we have that thousands upon thousands risk their lives to come here to live in this country rather than almost any other in Europe

You're funny. Wrong, but funny.

I didn’t vote for this government. I also think it’s not healthy that 75% of our print media follows a right wing agenda. There needs to be more balance across the political spectrum in our media.

@Didkdt
What Didkdt said.

And at the risk of going on a bit are you ashamed of the state we have that thousands upon thousands risk their lives to come here to live in this country rather than almost any other in Europe

@Didkt, Who are you referring to exactly who risked their lives to come to the UK and what time period? UK has taken in a low number of refugees last ten years compared to other European countries. In 2004 when some of the Eastern European countries joined the EU we had s surge of people from these countries as only the UK and Ireland didn’t choose to wait 7 years as they were entitled to. However, when Germany’s labour market became open to these Eastern European countries in 2011 they had a big surge and have higher numbers than UK does from these economic migrants. None of these risked their life to get here. They have all contributed a lot to the UK.

Ohjustboreoff I'm totally with you, lots of countries are in a 'mess' mainly because the population is not tolerant like they used to be in the past, and that's democracy. The govts do try and respond to criticism and demands like neer before in W.Europe. UK is really not the onlt country with many poblems, and a lot better than others.
Italy is more corrupt on gvt level and has a much bigger unemployment issues, and Greece is desperately trying to get out of itsa huge unemploymen - no one is happy there!
France - look at all the yellow vests strikes. It's ageneral trend - the revellion, but the difference is, govts are made to reaspond to it.

Try the censonship countries instead - China, Russia, M/East where you'd just nbe shut up sharpish, or the chaotic Mexico with huge drug deaths/crimes etc.

I might accept that some of the Scandi countries are doing better, they are much smaller and well-organised, but could learn smth from them. Germany is better also on some counts (like he health system) but not on every count - racist element is prob higher than here or no lower at least (but still low compared to other countries).

sorry for typos!

Where are you and all your like minded friends going or are you already there.

@guylan a bit of proper digging rather than 1 article would let you see you are wrong
Sitting in IATS for a day or 2 would prove you wrong
Working with refugee groups might change your mind but I wouldn't want to trouble you with reality

An NHS that didn't end up in the state we saw of the highly regarded Italians and all those news reports we watched weeks ago

Our NHS workers on the frontline have all my gratitude and respect. The reason why we saw hospital wards overwhelmed in Italy was because there were high numbers of infected people concentrated in the Lombardy region. UK have areas with higher infected numbers of course but not to the extent Italy.

As for Brexit, I am a remainer as the economic damage in my view is just too huge and the benefits of EU membership in my view outweigh any negatives. UK had a leading voice as well and of course voting rights including power of veto in some areas.