Proud to be British? Share your moments!

I'm struggling with the reality of my being British just now. For me it isn't about flags or history, maybe tolerance and being welcoming are our main assets. Sometimes I struggle to see them just now.
Of course, our NHS is our great point of focus just now but I'm not sure how long it will survive under this chronic underfunding.

I agree about the opening ceremony for the Olympics. I started to watch it thinking, “OMG, this will be hopeless” but was delighted to be proved wrong.

DD and Australian SIL phoned to say how great it had been, he admitted it was better than Sydney!

High praise from a proud Australian.

It seems to be a peculiarly British thing to disparage our own country, other nationalities don't seem to do it so much.

My British moment is from the air flying over the South Coast coming into land. I always get a lump in the throat looking at the green fields. So green!

Don’t believe it most people moan about things they don’t like. It’s only when other people criticise they get defensive.

I think the British willingness to be critical and to have informed opinions about politics is one of our GREAT points. Having lived overseas in several different places, I can say honestly, that we are one of the most politically informed people I have come across.

Of course, that does mean we criticise and hold our governments to account (even if we are powerless, mostly, we don't blindly accept). I HATED being in the US where most people I came into contact with daily were uninformed and held only the most general opinions. The whole, Obama is a Muslim thing for example. I've heard US citizens spout that, based on no evidence at all.

I enjoyed Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the Olympics. He was a local boy, with Irish heritage. I did like the Queen and Mr Bond, plus corgi. All those things to me showed ritish creativity, humour, dogs and irony.
I’m with keeping quiet in struggling with a government that pretends to love our country but doesn’t act as though it does

Danny Boyle got pretty much everything right for the Olmpics, I think it must be an easy thing to get spectacularly wrong.

sodapop

It seems to be a peculiarly British thing to disparage our own country, other nationalities don't seem to do it so much.

I'm afraid that's true, sad isn't it? We have a great deal to be thankful for, it doesn't mean we should be complacent or politically disengaged but let's talk about the good things too. I'm fortunate to live in a rural area with beautiful countryside. Having been born in a city and lived there for most of my adult life, I now look out of the window every morning and feel lucky. Unlike so many countries, we have a footpath system which makes the countryside accessible for anyone who wants to get out and walk!

The opening 2012 ceremony was wonderful.

I am glad I live in Britain and I believe there are lots of good things about this country. However, there are also lots of things I disagree with. I do not believe voicing those criticisms makes me disloyal or not appreciative of the many good things. I think it is far better to have an opinion and want things to be better than to be apathetic or, because I am doing OK, uninterested in the plight of those people in our society who are suffering badly.

Ellianne Your post is exactly what I was about to say. I love our 'green and pleasant land'. It was always a moving experience to see the lush green fields of home.

I love Britain and it's people. I have no British blood as my parents were from Southern Ireland. I love both countries.

Seeing elderly men struggling to their feet and standing to attention for the national anthem. My father and both grandfathers would do so at home in the anthem was played on radio or television.

The scenery whether it be downs, moors, dales, low coasts, high coasts, flatlands, hills and mountains. Thatched roofs, stone built cottages and dry stone walling. Rights of way which mean anyone can walk in the countryside as long as they stick to the paths.

Imagine living in a country where criticism of that country was forbidden?.

What sort of society would that be I wonder?

Being able to criticise ones country are one of the things that makes me proud to be British.

The olympics 2012 opening ceremony made me realise what a wealth of creative energy we have in this country and that makes me proud.

The NHS with it philosophy of free at the point of delivery and available to all from cradle to grave makes me proud.

We were just discussing this the other night, foxie48! Comic relief was on and I remembered the clip with the Queen entertaining James Bond.

We actually got it up on YouTube and enjoyed watching it.

The Olympics were a great success. I remember all the Back in 2012 with the run up to the Olympics the media was full of stories of doom and gloom

They certainly were a success and I'd been thinking they were going to be utter pants due to all the doom and gloom. Every paper seemed to carry dire news about how useless we'd be .

How wrong they were!

Second time today I have read a post by Whitewaveand agreed wholeheartedly.

Not just the ceremony, not just the games themselves, but the massive regeneration of East London.

LauraNorder

Second time today I have read a post by Whitewaveand agreed wholeheartedly.

It must be catching because it’s the second post of Whitewavemark2’s that I agree with today.??

Two of us GG! Maybe it’s Whitewave?who should worry.

????I’m lying down.

Totally agree too, Whitewavemark.

sodapop

It seems to be a peculiarly British thing to disparage our own country, other nationalities don't seem to do it so much.

I think they probably do !

Eloethan

The opening 2012 ceremony was wonderful.

I am glad I live in Britain and I believe there are lots of good things about this country. However, there are also lots of things I disagree with. I do not believe voicing those criticisms makes me disloyal or not appreciative of the many good things. I think it is far better to have an opinion and want things to be better than to be apathetic or, because I am doing OK, uninterested in the plight of those people in our society who are suffering badly.

Good post,