Hi fellow money friends, can anyone help me regain my sense of National Pride ?
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After reading your responses to Parchesters' 1981 question I feel most of us have gone into shock and disbelief at the current events which are affecting us all.
Some of us have hit upon the sense of pride we had during the war years for our relatives who gave their lives for our country and I wonder if we'll ever get that proud to be British feeling back.
I need to hear some good news again and some tales of camaraderie soon.
What do you think, is it achievable, can we ever feel that sense of pride again?
Responses (9)
Hi Lillie. We will only feel a sense of pride when our Country returns to how it was year's ago. When we were growing up you could leave your doors open all day long for your many "Aunties" to come in to a cup of tea and a natter. Everyone knew one another and people actually laughed. We don't seem to have that now and there seems to be a lot of scowling people around and a lack of friendliness. I know there are exceptions to the rule but wouldn't it be lovely if people stopped moaning and whining about everything wrong in the world and tried to find at least one thing that is good. We need a radical change but will we ever get it.
I'm sorry LILLIE but my response isn't going to make you feel any better.
I have no sense of pride in this country, I haven't had for many years. The events going on at the moment are so appalling it makes me ashamed to be British, in fact I am ashamed to be human. Animals would not behave that way.
It has been my intention for a long time to leave the UK as soon as I possibly can and how I wish I could do that right now. I know my grandfather fought in the war, whether he did that by choice or not I don't know. Many soldiers did indeed lose their lives during the war, did they 'give' their lives for their country? I don't know and I mean no disrespect by this, but those are two quite different things.
The UK has gone to the dogs, I don't think it will ever be the way people think back to, times have changed and as there is nothing I can do to alter things, and as I don't like the way things have become, I will leave and go somewhere that things are how I'd like them to be. I won't moan and whinge about the UK, there's no point. I'll just find the good elsewhere :)
Thanks Wendi. I wish you well wherever it is that you do decide to settle down and just hope the grass is greener for you.
I know every country has it's own set of problems political, economic and/or immigration whatever they are they can't be any worse than here.
What is there to have a sense of pride in? The education system which used to be excellent now produces yobs and thugs that can barely string a sentence together let alone write or do maths; we have high unemployment particularly amongst the young; our road and rail systems are lousy; town streets are potholed, covered in litter and full of drunks in the evenings.
We used to be proud of our scientists and engineers but young people no longer want to study these subjects preferring the soft options such as media studies. Our much copied parliamentry system was shown to be riddled with corruption and our press may still be free but for how long after the latest debacle?
We have been gradually stripped of our sense of identity and pride in it. Our essential Britishness has been diluted and challenged by being made to accept other languages and cultures as equal to our own. We can't even be proud of our food as so much of what we now eat is imported and are dishes from other cultures.
Things will never be as they were in the 60s when it was cool to be British and other countries wanted to copy us. What would they think is cool now? Nothing I fear.
Thanks Sidesalad yes you paint a bleak picture for sure, but you nailed it when you say we have been stripped of our identity and pride and the grim reality is I can't see it getting any better not in my or even my Grandchildrens lifetime.
LILLIE, I for one would love to be able to regale you with stories that would bring a smile to your face but increasingly this is difficult.
My heart is, however, lifted and encouraged by the generousity of spirit of the people who offer money and other services to the people of Tottenham, who have been displaced by the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
The young Malay guy who was mugged three times in quick succession in Barking, east London. Whose image was shown on TV. First he had his bike taken off him, and then he was punched in the face and had his jaw broken, swallowed a tooth all for his mobile phone, and then when a crowd went over to him to, at first, offer him assistance they stole his PSP out of his rucksack.
He is on a two year study visa and has endured multiple hurt in a short period of time. His story and situation has mobilised many who have offered to replace his stolen goods and are offering to pay towards his mother's travel costs, so as she can be reunited with her son, who is still in hospital.
That spirit is still there but it just doesn't get reported too much as the media are intent on promoting the 'broken Britain' ideal that David Cameron alluded to when in opposition and has helped to further since coming to power.
Thanks for trying Parchester, yes I must try and think of the more positive things here.
Yes I did see the small army of people brandishing brushes and buckets in an endeavour to show they were not beaten and ready to clean up, jolly good for them.
As for the young lad being ransacked, I as I expect others felt physically sick watching that and yes it's so good to know some folk are showing compassion and wanting to help out.
Yes we need more stories like that to at least be able to feel a modicum of pride in human nature if nothing else, thanks for that.
Hi Lillie
Having lived in Northern Ireland all my life I can only assure you that no matter how you may think some issues have grown too big and too ugly to change for the better, life CAN be transformed. Ok I have to admit that it may a long and bumpy road but the inherent goodness of individuals that you meet everyday can illustrate that society is not rotten to the core. I am reminded of the person on Yahoo who, midst all the angry mobs crying for vengence in your recent riots, called for people to take care of their elderly neighbours who are more than likely terrified by unfolding events. When you know that people like that exist it gives you hope. So, when next you interact with someone on the bus, in the street,at the shops try to be aware of spreading some cheer. It works! Now I'll go back and sit on my white, fluffy cloud!
Aah thank you toosie that's just what I needed to hear, would you mind moving along your little cloud and making some room for me.
Hubby and I visited Belfast three years ago and rode on the open top bus tour and were fascinated at the turn around and speed at which things were being built and transformed.
As ex forces visiting a current member and friend still serving out there we never thought to see such ambition let alone a tourist bus.
Truly inspirational, as you say a positive attitude and a smile goes a long way.
Thanks for that.
I know my response only sufficed to gloss over the cracks of Northern Ireland's fragile peace but you are right, there's been a mammoth change here. Perfection can never be achieved anywhere in the world but if evil can be halted in its tracks in small measures by decent people we have cause for optimism. And yes, there's plenty of room on my cloud!!
It's nice up here on your cloud toosie, I shall enjoy it if only for a short while.
I like to think that good will always win over evil, after all it always does in fairy stories.Yes it's nice sitting here on cloud foo foo don't you think?
A brilliant response, toosie, and an excellent reminder that the minority who use violence, weapons and intimidation to try and get what they want don't always 'win' against the peace-loving majority!
I was an RAF wife for many years (now ex wife) and knew many lovely people from NI and some equally lovely people from the Republic. During that time, I often wondered if the Troubles and loss of life would just go on for ever, your response here has not only put these riots into perspective, but has also reminded me that light at the end of the tunnel is always there, despite what we think at times! Thanks! :-)
simple bring back the stocks for these thugs then let them do national service and let us stop being a namby pamby state.
It would be so easy to just give up on the current situation, Lillie, but while I have friends and family I will not do so.
Just logging into this forum once a day and talking to like-minded friends is worth its weight in gold.
Isn't it heartwarming seeing the coverage of the police entering the homes of the perpetrators, hauling them out and making a public spectacle of them, I feel better already watching footage like that.
BTW is anyone surprised that the Manchester police seemed to be more 'hands on' to put it politely, than the Met?
I must say I was.
I noticed that the Mcr police were very on the ball and infiltrated the looters by sending Plain Clothed Officers in amongst them. It was great to see them pounce on the unsuspecting offenders.
Actually, how long will it be before a civil rights lawyer will challenge the police's behaviour as being that of an agent provocateur? In other words, their behaviour incited and potentially encouraged the looters to commit a crime, rather than preventing a crime taking place, which is the duty of the police, to prevent the breaking of the law.
I have already noticed how many lawyers are appearing on TV speaking on behalf of their clients. Challenging the measures introduced in the wake of the riots, which are deemed to border on that of a totalitarian state!
Thus the only winners in this whole sad and sorrowful situation are the lawyers and the insurance companies, who will pass on their increased claims to us.
The losers will always be those whom never took part, whose taxes will be diverted to making good the damage done.
Those responsible will get community orders, some will get custodial sentences but they will never pay financially for their criminal behaviour and will no doubt continue to receive lifelong benefits because of their inability to find work.
And people say crime doesn't pay!!
Having said that, Parchester - there have been some very stiff sentences handed out in the last couple of weeks. Yes, we will all end up paying -that's how it always works, there seems to be no way around that. But as long as the courts don't go easy on those who are found guilty. They need to be shown that crime does not pay!
Does anyone else, like me, actually feel sorry for the police? They always seem to be damned if they do, and damned if they don't!
Watching some of the footage of them in London, when they had been ordered to just stand back, monitor and retreat, I felt really sorry for them. You could see in their eyes a genuine combination of fear, anger and frustration!
Obviously, the Manchester police are made of bolshier stuff! :-)
I always thought the Met were the force to reckon with and yes I was surprised at the initial footage where they were standing around.
I'll bet they were itching to get stuck in but as you say Fruity they would have been damned if they did and they were certainly scorned when they didn't.
As for the Mancunians they must have watched that early response and decided they were having none of it and invariably reacted the way we all thought was right at the time.
I wonder what lessons were learned from the policing side of things over those few nights.
Me too, Lillie, I couldn't believe it when I saw them just standing there and then retreating backwards as the rioters moved ever onwards towards them, until I heard the reporter explain that that was what they had been ordered to do!
I don't know why things were different in Manchester...perhaps they were given different instructions.
Hopefully lessons will have been learned by those who make the decisions.
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Yes that's exactly what I mean Sabre, where are all the happy smiley people and that stiff upper lip attitude that we once had?
Lillie - the smiling ones are those running off with stolen flat-screen TVs and the ones that were happy are using their stiff upper lips and are busy trying to put their businesses back together.
Forced into submission by endless governments bleeding their hardworking ethic dry and giving their hard earned cash to a system that supports those who have never contributed into that system, which they readily exploit and abuse for thier own gain. Each successive government has sanctioned this by being too scared of addressing the fundamental issues of keeping people in a comfortable life through an over generous benefits scheme.
This engenders in people a sense of believing that everything in life is given to them for free and that everything is available for taking without too much effort or indeed consequences.
Yes you're right again Sidesalad, I just hope their smiles are short lived and they get electrocuted when trying to plug the darned things in.
Right again Parchester,we really are paying the price now for our generosity from Queen Victoria's Empirical laws through to modern day times
Where do you plan to go Wendiew? When you decide - let me know, please. I am finding this all so very depressing. We are lucky to live out in a lovely little village in Northants far away from any trouble but I so feel for poor innocent people losing their homes and businesses. It's such a shame.
SJKenny, I know exactly where I'm going. It's already planned down to the last detail. Off to Lanzarote as soon as possible. OK life may not be perfection even there but it's sure better than the UK.
I live in the most beautiful area of North Wales, it's stunning and I love my cottage dearly, but it's the UK as a whole that is ruined, even though I don't see it all everyday and to be honest I am far removed from any criminal activities etc. I disagree with how the uk is run, the policies, the hand-outs, the cuts ... it all just doesn't sit well with me.
If I could just find a buyer for my property I would be gone in a flash ... but the stupid banks and governments have ballsed the economy up so much that no one can afford to buy a house anymore, so I'm stuck here for now. Roll on winter when I will be in sunny Lanzarote for the duration :)
Ah yes I remember now from one of our previous posts that you were off to Lanzarote Wendi
Any room for a little un, namely me?