Pride. Its not just about being gay.

[Dan D'air]

incentivizes

As Churchill said, we are indeed two peoples separated by a common language.

[Wingswinger]

Ars est celare artem.

[davejb]

Why, what's wrong with celery then?

[knowitall]

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life."

Cecil John Rhodes


those who know don't need to show

[Kitbag]

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life."

Cecil John Rhodes

A splendid quote which rather goes to prove the point I was trying to make earlier- valid in the 18th and19th centuries, rather less so now. We can say to ourselves (in a rather smug manner) 'we are the best because we are British'.
I'm afraid the world has moved on somewhat when that was a valid and verifiable point of view.

We are not so insecure

Yes we are, our planning assumption rely upon the Americans, whom so many here seem to despise, digging us out of the pooh in terms of intel, airlift, heavy armour, weapons supply, the list, whilst not endless is far too long. Seems to me we are very insecure as a nation, witness the dissolution and devolution that is happening, and at the same time centralisation of power in Europe. This is being carried out for the most part in a very stealthy manner but its ok because we know

One of the keys to being good at what you do, is to know that you are good at what you do

Another (and rather more important) key is to let everyone else know you are damn good at it. Which is why sending a gun boat used to be a good thing, now it just invites humiliation when the crew is captured and lose their iPods.

False modesty is a very British thing

False modesty is only any good when everyone else knows it is false modesty. The problem is our people- the British nation- and, I suspect a large part of the rest of the world no longer see the subtle distinction because they have been told we are no longer very good and over the last 60 years have seen that with a very few exceptions we can't go it alone- ergo we are very good at what we do (actually quite debateable now I think), we just can't do a lot.

Having just read the above I feel very depressed. The world now is a very different place to when Britain could project power. Our only use now is to pick the crumbs from the table of the only superpower in existence,and I do mean the crumbs- remember the 'assurances' regarding technology on Dave- we are no longer trusted even within the 'Special Relationship' a term invented by us after WWII to lessen the blow of end of Empire. I think perhaps some contributors need to remove their rose-tinted spectacles.

[Duncoffin]

agreed

Britain has not been a global force since the end of the Second World War. Of all the allied powers Britain lost the most in that conflict. (yet they still donated bread to a starving Germany, some pride there isn't there?) There is an element of embarrassment over the Empire (see political correctness as an over compensation) but we need to mature and pick up that flag again. It's fine to feel good about who you are. A lot of people do not understand the phrase "my country right or wrong" and read it is bullheaded arrogance when really it's like saying "my mother drunk or sober". Show some pride! Buy some paint or those little transfers you get in those airfix models.

[beardy]

I am proud of my country's history. I am proud of its (much mangled) language. I find little to be proud of in today's iteration of my nation.

[Monty77]

There's absolutey nothing wrong with celery. It's the arse/art bit I'm worried about.

Celery has it's place in a balanced diet if you happen to be a rabbit or a person with anorexia nervosa. When you start planting Vegetium Celerosia where it shouldn't be planted, then you are in danger of:

a. Physical injury, or
b. Large trees growing out of your arse. This obviously competes with the rain forest, kills small cuddly mammals with big eyes and cute ears, and therefore melts the all the ice in your fridge. Which puts Battersea Animal Shelter under water, you murdering selfish bastard.

I never made Sqn Ldr, but I reckon I could get compensation for that, isn't it?

[davejb]

That's okay then,
'cos celery growing where it shouldn't would be abuse, an' you should get compensation for that....

Random

[OCCWMF]

Gosh AIDU, thanks for that welcome and incisive insight.

[TheWizard]

This sort of thing??

[Dan D'air]

Now that IS abuse. Harsh.

[Beatriz Fontana]

Oh, TheWizard, now I feel ill again. That's not a pretty sight!!

[M609]

Talking about not a pretty sight and pride of the British 'empire':

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle2285603.ece

http://www.nordlys.no/nyheter/article3381769.ece

...yeah I'll crawl under my rock again!

[chinook240]

2007

We've been 'proud' for years

1984

[Dunhovrin]

Ahh Yes, the Starry Plough. Symbol of Sien Fein if I'm not mistaken...

Interesting aside about the Serb chap in the first posting. Reminds us who's side they were on 60 years ago.

Was at Seaworld last week and before the show they have a round of applause for all their hero troops and those of our close allies from the UK. I like to thing it was 'cos we're the No2 player in the intervention game and not 'cos Seaworld was full of fat Brits beating their kids. But if respecting your troops means painting the odd jet RW&B then I'm for it.

And I think we all know why the Jags were 1st in line for the pink paint job in '91

That is all - carry on.

[jayteeto]

You went to Seaworld???? I thought you lot stayed in the hotel and counted your allowances??

[[email protected]]

Dunhovrin - I know exactly what you mean - I spent xmas in Florida with what seemed like all of Essex and I started to wonder eactly what it was we Brits had to be proud of. If our national dress is adidas I don't want to be involved!!

[GPMG]

Ref MD609's post.

Hmm, methinks I might hazard a guess as what type of troops did that.

I think it's about time the corps stamped this kind of lark out, what with Camera phones being everywhere, it won't do us any favours.

Not that I have never done it but not in a public bar for christs sake.

[Al R]

Getting back to the initial point of this, and having read it all (well, most of it), we’re confusing a few different things here. Patriotism has become a dirty word to many – it’s an embarrassment or a joke, because as some have pointed out, we’re British and we don’t do that sort of thing. We leave it to others to shout from the rooftops, as we quietly go about our business with refrain and discretion. Patriotism after all, is something that chavs buy into when they prop Union Flags from the roof of the Cavalier, and we’re just sooo unlike them, its not true. It’s almost a fear, an assumption that patriotism leads to jingoism and then to nationalism – and we all know where that leads. Already, we’ve seen the blurring of the issue, George Galloway on QT the other night completely did away with any differentiating factors between the two theatres we’re fighting in – he oozed self loathing and contempt and the assumption was almost; if you take the fight to anyone, for any reason – then you’re a nutter.

The week after 9/11, I was at the mighty Stadium of Light, and there was a minute’s silence (just before we got our arses kicked by Spurs) and the US and the UK flags were placed in the centre circle. There were no intelligentsia there to pontificate to us about our confused feelings of sadness and pride, or whatever.. there was just the feeling that there were 2 countries, side by side in one’s hour of need, and if you remember, after 7/7 and after Corporate and when Diana died, we felt the same to.. there was an almost emotional closing of the ranks. Thos efeelings never leave us, they just get compressed a little.. like the love of one’s family, for one’s country.. it’s a thing that we don't like to talka bout, we are happt to take it all for granted, but its always there. I don’t wish to be inflammatory, but I wonder.. at the SoL that night, there were no pseudo-intellectuals trying to dissect my emotions, or the crowd’s emotions.. so where does it all come from?

And if ‘we’ don’t get ‘it’, then who will? if the defenders of the Defender of the Faith haven't bought into the idea of loving our country, then who will? I know we don't die for Q & C, we fight for our mates, but we also feel pride in our sqns, our children, our achievements, our history (how often do we like dropping that in with the spams?), but again.. why not country? Is patriotic sentiment perceived as being just a political wpn nowadays, have we shunned it because its an exploitable commodity? Possibly. But in our ‘multicultural’ Britain. Why 'us'?? Why in particular, the English? Why are we so afraid to celebrate our nationality.. why is it so difficult to stick a flag on an airplane without having to at least try and feel some shuddering revulsion, instead of a sense of pride?? Or is pride only something felt by those who are slightly looked down upon?

And I can think of lots of things we should be ashamed for before our nationality too. The NHS, OAPs with no money to heat their houses, people not being able to protest within a mile of Parliament or how that nurse in Leeds today was able to murder 4 patients and get away with it for so long. There are a good many things which one should feel shame for, and a good many things for which one should feel embarrassment. But being bloody English/Scottish/British/whatever is not one of them, and while I recognise that that Merlin is hideous painted as it is, I'm equally certain that there is room to be able to fly our flag on a jet without getting tied up in knots about it in case someone laughs at us. Because, lets be honest about this, and as was pointed out earlier.. we're living in the past if we think we're untouchable. To say that we can be justifiably and quietly proud of ourselves as things (generally) continue to go downhill all around us is a bit like being King Canute.

So if pride in achievement, one's country and oneself was good enough for these guys, and they wore a flag, then it would be good enough for me too. Please, its not too much to ask is it.. putting a fuking flag on one of our aeroplanes? Or are we going to get bogged down with shiny arsed paper clip counting tossers with their committees, focus groups and surveys, munching over the problem about who it might possibly offend?

Probably.