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"Proud of your country?"

Do you feel a certain patriotism to your country? It does seem quite common for us in the UK to avoid such signs of what some might perceive as blind faith in any country and is probably one of the factors that leads to a more fractured society.

And yet, despite this many British people tend to avoid the labels of being part of any other culture (Europe, Western etc) and revel in the grabbing of the best of other cultures while maintaining a unique British feel. This is more evident in England, especially as other parts of the UK seek to distance themselves from the country.

Perhaps it’s all part of island mentality. We’re a smallish lump of rock in a large ocean, after all, set apart from our nearest continent of Europe.

Personally I think it’s refreshing that England has managed to maintain a certain Englishness while not being afraid to take bits and pieces of other cultures, but it doesn’t want to make me stand up and sing the national anthem either. I feel proud that, as a country, we can often take the mickey out of ourselves and laugh at our misgivings, while at the same time feeling happy to be living in this country and not have to resort to flag waving to prove it.

How do you feel about your country? Does it instill a sense of pride, shame or indifference in you? Does Patriotism take things too far?

Actually now that's the most hurtful thing you've ever said to me.

aww I'm just kidding, you're American as apple pie Ben. Actually that's not true, apple pies pre-date America =/ umm you're American as George Bush. Ah perfect!

Machie wrote:
> You're far more British than you are American


Of all the hurtful horrible things you've said to me, that is by far the worst :-( *runs off crying*

=( Ben you're a self hating Brit. You're far more British than you are American and yet you'd rather be one of them =,( I guess this goes to show how bad our country has gotten.

Ah but then Ben hates tons of things about America aswell so I guess it all balances out perfectly =)

for the time being unfortunately yes :-(

Is it a bad thing to be proud to be English? I mean the Scots are proud, the Welsh are proud, hell even the Cornish are proud. We should be proud to be English before British.

There's lots of things I'm proud of England for. And many things I'm not. We have a long history, one of the most interesting in the world. =)

I've mixed feelings really. Some aspects i like, some i hate, some i dont care about. I feel very little loyalty to this country and yet i'd always claim i'm English ahead of British. Maybe i dislike other countries more.
In the end though, I'm only here because (in order of importance)

A)I cant afford to leave
B)I dont know where else i'd go
C)It's comfortable and familiar
D)My family is here

Oh dear =/ and have you lived in the UK more than you have America now?

Made in Manhattan born in New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton

Yup you'll always be welcome in New York unless you do something to get on someones nerves in which case you'll be getting a good old fashioned New York cussing out. But when it comes down to it, we're all New Yorkers and just one big family even if we do like to argue like most families :-D