Why aren't we proud anymore?

I think Merlotgran’s DH made that remark, although jokingly, because at the moment it seems very fashionable to jump on anyone who has been held in high esteem, and bring them down growstuff.

I’m pleased to be Welsh and British where we have freedom of speech and our police don’t carry guns. We must be doing something right otherwise migrants wouldn’t be risking life and limb to get here across the channel, having already chosen not to stay in countless other countries in the EU.

We’ve kept our borders open, unlike other countries in this pandemic, which is what so many people said they wanted to keep our farming and NHS going.

merlotgran!!!! ??. If you didn't laugh you'd cry!!! Or die of despair!!

Fashionable amongst whom? The ones I saw making that kind of comment were the ones trying to undermine legitimate criticism by ridiculing it.

Your choice Jabberwok!

I grew up in South Africa although I was born in Swindon. I love this country, and am proud of all the wonderful inventions, writers, and scientific achievements achieved by people who were British. Now we are being forced to take down statues to people formerly considered great because those people had slaves or were concerned in the slave trade... I dont approve of the slave trade but unfortunately in those days it was accepted. Those people gave money for improvements in their cities and to pull down their statues just destroys history. As for colonisation many countries, especially in Africa, benefitted a lot from colonisation, not just British either. I say this although I know most Grans will be scandalised.

growstuff

What made your DH think that merlotgran? He would appear to have a particular view of other people.

There are many on GN who have very particular views of other people!

Calendargirl

I think Merlotgran’s DH made that remark, although jokingly, because at the moment it seems very fashionable to jump on anyone who has been held in high esteem, and bring them down growstuff.

It's known as Tall Poppy Syndrome Calendargirl

Well said Cherry Tree!

I agree with Geekesse ; If we were attacked by"invaders from Space" the whole world would band together to protect ourselves. We are all citizens of the world and should be cooperating as well as possible with each other. I truly believe National flags should be banned as they encourage division. I'm not saying that they can't be useful in sporting terms but those are between friends .
The British have many things to be proud of but they must not push it into other countries' faces.
Re: Goverment; The parties don't seem to remember that they are all part of the government and when there is criticism there should also be a suggestion of a possible better way. They all are supposed to be working for the good of the country; not just squabbling for personal influence.

@timetogo16 Really? With the highest death rate per million of population in the world?

Callistemon I don't think it's "fashionable" at all. I have met too many people who mock others for having strong beliefs they disagree with and attempt to ridicule them. Strangely enough, they really don't like it when they become objects of derision themselves.

Strangely enough, they really don't like it when they become objects of derision themselves.

That's a little dramatic, growstuff

The parties don't seem to remember that they are all part of the government and when there is criticism there should also be a suggestion of a possible better way.

I don't think that you have noticed, BBJS that this government's method of operating is to ignore offers of help.

Starmer wrote to Johnson offering to help with getting schools re-opened. Ignored. In fact. Johnson even lied about ignoring his letter in PMQs.

When the PPE shortage crisis was at its height many firms emailed offering to help out. Ignored.

Many labs offered to help with testing. Ignored.

This government seems to regard government as a battle against a hostile nation (they're rapidly making that a self fulfilling prophecy). All the opposition have managed to do so far is shame them into a few u-turns. You can't co-operate with a government that isn't willing to co-operate.

While we're thinking about national pride, today is Waterloo Day. I'm quite proud of the British commander of the army of continental allies who inspired them to hold on like grim death and gave their other ally, the Prussian army, time to join them to defeat Napoleon.

(And I am well aware of his shortcomings in some instances)

Mollygo

Im proud of my country, but I’m ashamed of how we emphasise the bad things that happen here. It’s harder to be proud when you’re depressed.
If you listen to the media or read the newspapers it’s almost always negative-any positives, like Captain Tom are immediately shouted down by folk who have usually achieved less themselves.
Sometimes it’s misleading. According to one report, children not being at school is damaging their mental health. So children being at home with their parent(s) is damaging their mental health? How many parents will admit that?
Stop publicising the vandalism. It just encourages others to do the same.
Celebrate the successes of the COVID crisis as well as mourning the deaths. It’s hard to be a nurse or a doctor or a care home owner dealing with deaths without seeing any praise for their successes.
Celebrate that at least we have the freedom to agree/disagree about sending children back to school-having looked at lists, there are as many who could send their children back but won’t, and many who would send their children back but can’t.
Does anyone know exactly how to do it right?
Be proud of your country -stand up and say it, lobby the media to stop publishing negativity and have at least a day of broadcasting only positive things to be proud of.
You’ll face a hard battle.

Wonderful! Well said Molly ???

I woul not want to live anywhere else on this earth. I love this country, its decency, tolerance, fairness and sense of humour, and although I acknowledge that it is not perfect - where is? - it is where I was born, have lived and been happy, and hope to die. (But not just yet)
We are a race of inventors, explorers, scientists, the cradle of the industrial revolution, and for those who criticise everything, why do half the world seem to want to make their home here?

growstuff

Callistemon I don't think it's "fashionable" at all. I have met too many people who mock others for having strong beliefs they disagree with and attempt to ridicule them. Strangely enough, they really don't like it when they become objects of derision themselves.

I was quoting Calendargirl and was merely explaining to her the term used for it .

Perhaps some posters are not understanding the new Quote facility.

dragonfly46, Well said on both posts and I agree with Jabberwok on your 2 posts. I think you are exactly right.
I think it does not do any of us any good mentally, to be looking for the most awful scenarios.

Thanks for the explanation Callistemon.

I didn't realise there's a new quote facility either.

Does it do quotes of quotes?

The British aren't a race. They're part of the human race.

Callistemon

You beat me to it, I was going to own up to the ‘fashionable’ remark.

Just a query. I didn’t realise there was a new Quote facility. I wondered what it was.How do you get it to appear?
Apologies if I sound a bit dense!

Cross post with growstuff!

We could have a "bread and circuses" TV channel.

We could ask North Korea for advice.

dragonfly I absolutely and totally agree. And Molly you put it perfectly. Personally I blame the mass media, with BBC the worst offenders. Their behaviour and reporting during this worldwide crisis has been utterly shameful and disgraceful. Take Marcus Rashford. When Boris decided to continue with the free school lunch scheme after what was said the BBC could have praised him for listening, considering and changing his opinion. Instead it was "isn't it a humiliating u turn by the government ". Thousands of people have been tested for corona. The vast majority will have got the results in the expected time. Do we hear about those? Of course not. The media search the length of the country to find a person who had to wait longer. No one apart from NHS (and the entire organisation has been beatified, waycot of proportion to what most of them have done) has been given any praise for the incredible hard work they are doing. It is said that the Government has been put to the test and found wanting. But I say it is the media that has been found wanting! Thank goodness the BBC was different during the war!