I have always been a bit proud to be British. I'm not saying Britain is better than anyone else, that other countries are in any way inferior. I'm just saying I'm a bit proud to be British.
I think we are a very tolerant nation, on the whole, and I like that. I think we tend to accept people for who they are, and as long as you're happy to live with our quirks and foibles, we'll live with yours.
Our islands have been invaded often - sometimes from abroad - the French, the Vikings, the Romans to name a few - and we've done a bit of invading ourselves - which is how we became the UK in the first place!
The United Kingdom of Great Britain. I do like that name!
To me, Britain (to use it's short name) is Great because it's people are made up of many cultures and creeds, many beliefs that co-operate and co-exist in relative harmony. We accept new ideas, we offer equal opportunities to all. We look after each other - and in times of crisis we work together for the common good. We have friends all around the World, and I have always felt that the rest of the World see us as an honest nation - hard working and just.
I might be wrong though. I don't know how the rest of the World sees us now. I went to see a comedian recently who joked that the World views Britain as a bit of a joke - and I'm afraid to say Brexit has done a lot to destroy our credibility - our desire to leave the EU has been plagued from the start, and our attempts to break free are laughable on occasion. I don't think the EU want us to go and are making things difficult for us - I think they hope we'll change our mind.
I'd like to think it's because they value us as a member state, but I think they just want to keep the money we contribute - and to be fair, I think that's why we need to leave. If you have a relationship with someone that only wants what you can give to them, and doesn't care about your opinions, or what you want - would you stay?
So, are we a joke?
I don't know. But despite it all - I'm still proud to be British!
