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.

You are delusional

Oh booo hooo I’m so scared.

Youre a liar - you said those unashamed of being English are happy with rape. Fucking disgusting vile human you are.

Because I haven’t behaved badly

Now - why do you continue to lie? Have you a personality disorder?

Insane.

Christ, you need help

I’m not, because they arent

Now, why do you lie? Seriously, it’s not normal. Why did you say you’re embarrassed for people proud to live in England then deny you said this?

Coming from you, i shan’t worry too much. It’s a good thing if dim wits think I need help

I think it is envy too.

Is Anyone else still here? Dont let @DontFallInTheHaHa derail the thread. Im not engaging with you anymore @DontFallInTheHaHa . As several people have said to you, your posts are seriously crazy and unhinged

Envy of myself?

I am English.

Lol

I'm about to spend £1700 to be a proud british citizen, on top of already being a proud french one. And I'd be very happy to see my name on one of those blue passports.

Congrats on your citizenship!

I cannot stand the narrative that we have all benefited from what “our ancestors” apparently done in the past when the only thing most of us have benefited from is the passage of time and the remarkable endurance of our ancestors.

Actually I’d like an answer to that one

This is about to be full and we have all exhausted our points now. Happy new year everyone!

Course you are 😂

Why wouldn't I be?

Because I said that I feel bad about what our ancestors did?

OP is also English, and she feels the same as me.

I’m English and proud of it :))

I don’t know. I don’t like penitent or “proud” English

seems two cheeks of the same arse really

I'm about 40% English and I find nothing more bizarre than the English obsession with putting themselves down.

I agree that the Industrial Revolution was a high point - and probably the high point - of English pride - although there were dark sides to that too.

However, the point about the Enlightenment to me demonstrates exactly the sort of problems I see with much of the thinking on this thread. We tend to hear more and understand more about English Enlightenment thinkers, but it was, if anything, France who was the principal driver. Yes, there was Locke, and Newton with his more focused contributions; but only the most English-centric and almost parochial slant would not place Voltaire, Rousseau and even Diderot with his Encyclopedie at least as much at the heart of this movement which really started in France post-revolution and even then had its roots strongly embedded in the Renaissance, which, in its turn, was very firmly driven by Italy.

Yes, England played a role, but to pretend it was the decisive one is just being inward-focused and self-important.

I came on this thread to object to the op's embarrassment as an OTT and unjustified position, but equally it is just as futile to swing to the other end of the spectrum and proclaim England as being at the heart of every great human development. England has done what it has done and in my view has no more to be ashamed of than many other countries. But the part has been played with high points and low and very much in concert with achievements - and atrocities - by other countries too. But whatever your nationality, obviously your own country's history and contributions all loom larger than objectively they should.

As for literature, the first thing trotted out is always Shakespeare and yes, he is undoubtedly great. But can his contribution really be said not to belong in a basket of great literary achievement along with Dostoevsky, Homer, Tolstoy, Miguel de Cervantes, Dante Aligheri, Chekhov, Goethe, Mann, Hugo, Moliere, Kafka, Proust, Stendhal, Voltaire- and that's without even starting on non-European literature.

A bit of objectivity and balance doesn't go amiss.

I will give you the point about English humour though.

Strange thread. But it’s made me think. I will in future avoid going on holiday to any country that has a questionable past.

Faroe Islands here I come!

Also, English being a widely spoken language is a result of colonisation.

People in those countries were not allowed to speak their own language . They were forced to speak English.