How do the English see themselves

steeljack · 17-02-2009, 07:12

ok maybe it sounds a bit odd as a thread starter .....but just check this link out , its an Irish group of singers called Celtic Thunder

who are fairly popular on American television , (check other YouTube links to them) seems to me , being born an Englishman that we have no National identity, Scotland had Andy Stewart and Kenneth McCellan , or the Proclaimers , (not sure what the Welsh have apart from the fat girl in Gavin and Stacy and a poetry competion) but who do the English have to project national pride world wide ...certainly not the drug addled Amy Whitehouse , or football hooligans.
So who or what should England be projecting as its image to the world as the best of the county....some bagherra/rasta combination ? or a morris dancing troupe.
just curious , thanks

Mancie · 17-02-2009, 07:25

You will find very different views on what is English... met quite a few blokes from Zimbabwe and they... when in a drinking atmosphere.. would say the English are noted for taking over the world.. and yet cannot understand why the English seem "soft" at home... being English is the ultimate pride.. it's as if you are ..well English... i know how lucky I am to be Born in Englang.. the land I love ..and I hold my head high !

mattylad · 17-02-2009, 17:30

We are English, we do not need to shout about it & tell everyone else.

We know, thats all that matters

Eric · 17-02-2009, 17:57

Way to go guys ... hold your heads up in pride ... you have a lot to be proud of .... not only the accomplishments of England, but those of the whole English Speaking World came from that great little island where you live.

Retlaw · 17-02-2009, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

You will find very different views on what is English... met quite a few blokes from Zimbabwe and they... when in a drinking atmosphere.. would say the English are noted for taking over the world.. and yet cannot understand why the English seem "soft" at home... being English is the ultimate pride.. it's as if you are ..well English... i know how lucky I am to be Born in Englang.. the land I love ..and I hold my head high !

I think there are too many variations on what exactly is our nationality.
I am British, born in the British Isles
The Scots are also born in the British Isles, the Scottish part
The Welsh are the same , but born in Wales

The Irish have their own country.

We have always had a British Army, British Navy & British Air Force
The British Expeditionary Force 1914-1919
British Mediteranian Force 1914-1919
British Army of occupation 1945.
British Army in Iraq etc.
We don't compete in games on an international level other as Gt Britain, its the laguage that we speak that is English.

Retlaw

garinda · 17-02-2009, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattylad

We are English, we do not need to shout about it & tell everyone else.

We know, thats all that matters

I think there's some truth in that.

Historically the English were the conquerors, and not the conquered. Well not since 1066.

The nations that seem to need to make a song and dance about their nationality, do so because of a feeling of inferiority...which isn't an English trait.

Eric · 17-02-2009, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattylad

We are English, we do not need to shout about it & tell everyone else.

We know, thats all that matters

Good point ... to use a business analogy: a great product sells itself; it doesn't need mega-hype.

Eric · 17-02-2009, 20:53

And I've always had a fondness for this:

This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,

This other Eden, demi-paradise,

This fortress built by Nature for herself

Against infection and the hand of war,

This happy breed of men, this little world,

This precious stone set in the silver sea,

Which serves it in the office of a wall,

Or as a moat defensive to a house,

Against the envy of less happier lands,

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

This from the greatest poetic dramatist of all time, in any language.

accyman · 17-02-2009, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

How do the Engish see themselves

what country do these Engish come from lol

Eric · 18-02-2009, 03:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by accyman

what country do these Engish come from lol

I see your point; but surely there are many immigrants who come to Britain to become British .... and are proud to be so .... I don't think race, or country of origin is all that important ... everyone here apart from the First Nations, is from somewhere else. That doesn't stop us from struggling to establish a national identity in a huge and diverse country. President Obama is, without doubt, a patriotic American; and he is a self-declared mongrel.