Embarrassed to be English

[Traballi]

Got ancestry results back recently and apparently I'm 98% English, tiny bit of Irish but not even Scottish or Welsh. It wasn't a surprise as already looked into family history and been here for centuries.

I'm actually embarrassed of my English lineage to be honest. What's there to be proud of with our appalling history of colonialism and more recent dallyings with the far right and flag shagging?

I see the British flag up where I live and I honestly cringe. I'm also married to someone who is from a country we have a history of conflict with too so that doesnt help although DH doesnt hate us excessively (won't name country in case outing but with our history of wars/ conflict/ invasion, it could be dozens of places lets be frank)

I guess I've had a different perspective on Englishness over many years through the people I know from overseas and I speak other languages too. I also went to a Catholic school (in England) which taught us about slavery and what happened in Northern Ireland. None of which was nice about the English (teacher was Irish). I'm grateful for these perspectives though as I wouldn't want to be brainwashed into being a blind patriot.

I have friends with strong Irish and Welsh roots and they have a real sense of identity to hold onto with it, ancestral languages that they're interested in and a feeling a pride.

If you're English, it's hard to feel like that unless you're in Tommy or Nige's crew, which makes me even less inclined towards patriotism tbh.

Does anyone else feel like this? It's a bit sad really. I'd love to at least be half something else to cling to that identity instead and ignore the English but.

Luckily my DC is only half English and has two other nationalities through DH, and is being brought up in Wales so will probably feel more Welsh. I'm also obtaining a passport from another country through DH soon and I'll be using that for all overseas travel as soon as I can so I can appear to be from there instead.

AiBU or do others feel like this? Being English just isn't cool.

What are you proud of?

Let us all know which pure country you live in/are from and we’ll compare histories

So you’ve decided to go on MN and insult all English people? That’s not ok.
If you said you were embarrassed to be from any other country/culture, you would have your arse handed to you.
How dare you.
I think you need to take a long, hard look at yourself.

The Chileans called the Spanish Conquistadores. They destroyed the Inca race. Yes, other countries also have histories of oppression and conquest. Have a look at South-America and do a bit of research. They were all at it . . . it was mostly about gold, silver, spices, tin, copper, diamonds etc.

From you, yes. Not from anybody else.

OP's gone.
Obviously left the country.

Anyone making you feel bad about your nationality is being xenophobic! How would you feel if it was English people making them feel bad about their country?! When I was a kid I read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Roots in quick succession - I felt terrible for being white until I had to accept what I am, learn the lessons of the past and try to be a good person and build a better future! Did you know that Lancashire cotton mill workers supported anti-slavery even though the Civil War meant less work and poverty for themselves? Don't make your kids feel ashamed to be half-English either, for goodness sake! Look around at the generally fair, safe, multi-cultural country we live in!

Slavery happens in the UK too, it's not just other countries.

Proud of the development and evolution of parliament over the last 1000-1500 years and the struggles to contain monarchs power

that we are tolerant, although that’s changing

They are Irish, you can see their posts on other threads. Obviously not aware of their own history including white slave trading, Atlantic slave trading and more recently Nazi appeasement during WW2.

I think you miss understood the post.

Then go down to the pub for a pint.

This country did not invent slavery.Slavery existed in every continent ( and sadly still exists in many places still)
The trans Atlantic slave trade WAS particularly horrific but the people who benefited included black Africans and Arabs who were involved in slave trading .
If you care about slavery what are you do about present day slavery / human trafficking?

There’s still a lot to be proud of within our history. I listened to a great podcast this week about when the Americans came over here during WW2. They were concerned that the English wouldn’t be racist enough to treat their black soldiers with the same disgusting behaviour that they did. And they were right. The majority of the British population outright refused to treat them any different. Refused to go along with segregation or ban them from our pubs. We simply weren’t racist enough for the Americans. And that made me pretty proud to be British. Not every part of our history is shameful. Look for the good in the world.

Always a bit confused about people who bring up colonialism as part of thr reason they're ashamed to be English. Sure, with retrospect we did an awful lot of horrible shit but truth be told, we wouldn't have become a first world power and you wouldn't be living the cushy lives you're living now without it.

You don’t notice any contempt towards other nationalities ? Interesting

You evidently don’t know very much history. You should be embarrassed about your lack of knowledge about England, not embarrassed about being English. (I’m not English)

Are you Scottish, Welsh or Irish? :-)

OP remember that many other EU countries like France, Spain and so on also have a colonial past. Germany and Italy have periods I'm their history that they are not going to be proud of.

So I would not get too focused on what happened in the past.

I agree though that it is a shame that we have people like Farage and Robinson who are trying to turn being English into xenophobia & narrow-mindedness and are the flag into a far right accessory.

Which is why it is important to show that this is not what being English is about. so be proud of your heritage and enjoy being a fair minded and decent human being instead.

Its not you who made the history. I dont get why you feel ashamed of someone who happen to live on the same island as your ancestors.

You do realise that slavery was started in Africia and that the British where the ones to end it?
I've known people have the st George's cross up before the recent 'raise the flag' and they are deffo not 'far right', that phrase makes me laugh as actually the ones who kick off when they dont get their own way are actually 'the lefties'.
If you hate your heritage so much and when you get your new passport for the country where you do is from, would you consider moving there?

Nope - not at all actually. Most people here are disagreeing with OP and saying they’re proud to be English, and anybody who isn’t has made well reasoned points why but absolutely has shown no contempt to the English. Also - OP isn’t Irish. I don’t know why you’re telling people that. She literally states in the post that she’s almost 100% English, and her DH celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve which wouldn’t indicate he’s Irish either?

That sort of thinking plays into the hands of reform and its ilk. ‘ look at this woman, ashamed to be English’ No country is exempt from some questionable history. The average German isn’t angst ridden over their history. They accept it was a moment in time and vow it won’t happen again,

Accept that colonialism wasn’t ideal, embrace what England did well ( have you seen the canal system or Westminster Abbey) and stand up to xenophobia. I love England and I’m an Irish republican.

don’t allow the racists make you part of their narrative.

Some of you lot on here need to travel. You'll soon find out the history you have been fed is very selective. It rarely talks about when almost our entire nation were slaves under the Romans, or under Muslims. Have a read about the seige of Gozo. Travel in Sth America and read their history from their perspective.

I don’t use deliveroo, uba, nail bars, car washes - always check out where people have come from and ask questions if feels off

always tip if it’s a predominately minoritorised groups in the role

what do you do?

everyone knows that - red herring with Arabs and Africans - minuscule and often used to deflect the arguement

where on earth have I said we are only country to use slavery?