Just what has Britain got to be proud of ?

[ivanhoe]

The British Empire was built on the slave trade.

Right wing Capitalism continues to use the poor as fodder for making the rich richer.

Just what has Britain got to be proud of ?

oh come on ivanhoe - you seriously can't have a poster name like that, then feck up your spelling of pompous, accuse everyone else of being arrogant, AND expect to be taken seriously.

The BBC (especially Radio 4) and the NHS.

Also being the first republic in modern Europe - although we decided it wasn't a good thing after all we were still first.

And our history of civil rights. The cotton boycott when the Lancashire cotton workers starved rather than support slavery. Seem to recall we were one of the first countries where women won the right to vote (may be wrong about that). The industrial revolution - we basically built the modern world. (Although obviously there are a few negatives, including possibly destroying the whole planet.) Ooh, and computing - British scientists, geeks and companies were v. important at the start, although we've ended up not exactly leading the pack any more. But from Charles Babbage to Tim Berners Lee, we've not done too badly. I mean, inventing the internet (or the world wide web, can never remember which is which) is pretty darn important.

(Darn, having mentioned the Civil War, I've now got Horrible Histories Charles II rap going through my head. My name is, my name is, my name is... Charles II.)

Why do we have to be proud? Even if the entire history of our nation has been unmitigated shit from start to finish, do we just give up?

I've little time for all these proclamations of pride in nation, race, religion or gender. Doesn't mean I'm not motivated to make things better.

Are we still going?

What about Ancient buildings, hilarious comedy shows, excellent tv and radio, people who care deeply about the land (and animals and one another) village pubs, free museums, amazing archaeology, right-to-roam, friendliness, bacon and egg sandwiches...

I could go on. I visited twice in the noughties and fell in love.

thanks pan. um, what's the difference? I get that the web connects computers (at least, I think that's right) but what's the internet, then?

um..I don't know!

I think the web connects computers by a particular 'platform', or device, whereas the internet is just a whole bunch of servers talking with each other using info gleaned off the web connections.

I am now at the very limit of my webby knowledge.

I am no wiser...

My work here is done then.

Ok, according to this the internet is the network and the www is the medium (I think).

Devon. And cake. Also the Lake District. Shakespeare knocked out some decent ramblings. As did Dickens, the Bronte sisters and many other 'classic' authors. The NHS. London, despite recent rioting, is a bloody wonderful city. It's full of culture, and you could bump in to anyone from anywhere in the world. It also has a bloody good transport system (don't knock it until you've had to live anywhere north of the capital).

yes, crystal clear now......................

yes, and I can talk confidently about it at dinner parties. (This kind of thing may be why I'm never invited to dinner parties.)

Chickens, darn right, how can I have forgotten literature?! Always wondered why this country produced so many world-class authors but very top flight composers. Why is Germany better at classical music and Britain better at writing?

'very FEW top flight'

I'm very proud of fish & chips and the X factor - you can't get a Saturday night like that anywhere else in the world.

We are not responsible for what happened in the past.

Britain certainly has its faults and i have lived elsewhere too, but still consider britain the best out of the lot (smile).

ivanhoe do you have a particular country in mind that you perhaps consider as a "model" for other countries ?

There is an awful lot of improvement to be done on prejudice against mental health. In lots of other countries having symptoms are just seen as 'c'est la vie', whereas in the UK it's seen as weak, dangerous and criminal. If you are 'ill' but not criminal there isn't really much treatment. Mental health wards for those needing hospitalisation are just seen as temp. homes.

Um...Mumsnet, obviously.

Hi Pan,

I like to think about something I care about, write it down and then watch the sparks fly.

The politicians do it all the time, it's called devide and conquer.

mumsnet, the middle class version of The Sun.

//We are not responsible for what happened in the past.///

Everybody is responsible.

Europe and the Nordic countries.

see ya then Ivanhoe, mind send us a postcard