It's great to be British!
What makes it great to be British?
Shivering in the grip of the reliably miserable British winter and counting my pennies as the credit crunch continues to bite, I decided it would be a good time to give a little thought to that poser.
The world is watching us with scrutiny, expectation, and perhaps envy as we hold our great nation up for inspection.
Visitors will flock to our shores, many for the first time with a pre-formed image of the UK, probably from films like Notting Hill or Mary Poppins.
But what some won’t know is that our tea and scones, red buses, and pomp and ceremony come hand in hand with an outstanding ability to moan.
Come on, we do.
Too cold, too hot, to wet, not enough rain, the transport, other people, litter, rudeness, lack of service, restaurant food not quite right. I’d need to increase the byte capacity of this blog to complete the list.
In December North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un died and we were shown rare images of a country which clearly has its own sense of national pride instilled through a cold, harsh, military regime.
Images carefully vetted by the North Korean authorities showed ranks of uniformed generals lined up with crowds of homogenous citizens hysterically pouring out their grief.
Scenes of devoted patriotism were played out against the steely grey backdrop of a country which forbids any un-censored glimpses to slip through its curtain of secrecy.
Watching those images I happened to think that we do patriotism far better.
I remembered how we gathered in our thousands to wave the cheery Union Flag as Prince William married Kate Middleton in April.
Our future king and his bride giggled as they kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, and millions of us cheered at street parties and celebrations.
When Diana died we certainly grieved, but our tears as the air outside Kensington Palace hung thick with the scent of flowers seemed more genuine than the hysterical chest-pounding and wailing of the North Koreans.
It is possible to travel to North Korea on an organised trip I discovered. Though trying to get in without permission could see you sent to a prison labour camp.
Oh, Ok then, I’ll stay here if it’s all the same, thanks.
We live in a country with free speech, a free press (for the moment and God-willing, always), and the freedom to live how we want.
Our small island is bursting with diversity, a cultural multitude, of people, architecture and art.
We have some of the most beautiful countryside in the world and even in London, during the spring, the Hawthorn-lined streets heavy with white and pink blossom never fails to make me smile.
This Olympic year is one of national pride with 80 per cent of us proclaiming our joy to be British.
According to Britain’s Greatest Survey our favourite Brit is our Queen, and the royals we love the most are Princes William and Harry.
We voted Sir Winston Churchill the greatest Brit in history and our top honourary Brit, we welcome all, is the lovely Kylie Minogue.
Did you know we are also responsible for the world’s greatest modern invention? The worldwide web was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in the late 80s/early 90s.
Ok it is cold and supposed to snow and the trains were late this week, but we don’t get such a bad deal.
I am up there with the 80 per cent, and am exercising my democratic right to free debate by asking, what makes YOU proud to be British?
Follow @ExpressNathan
What makes it great to be British is having patriotic twats like you to make me realise my mates aren't that bad after all.
ReplyDeleteWho gives a fuck what you think, you fucking halfwit.
ReplyDeleteI second both of the above comments, I didn't even read the blog (who bloody would?). Honestly where did you get your 'journalism' qualification? You couldn't report flatulence acurately.
ReplyDelete