What does it mean to be British.

[fairyprincess]

What Does it mean to be British?

Many people bemoan the lost of 'national identity' in the uk.

But what is our national identity, did i come from Christians, pagans ,celts, Romans, Saxons?

Is it in the novels of charles dickens, the plays of shakespeare, the pomes of milton, Shelly, Keats?

Is it mearly confined to these shore or has it extended right across the empire of old, or commonwealth of today. After all, the first west Indians who came on the windrush had come from the commonwealth and had fought alongside us during WW2

Or is 'british' just a euphanisum for white?

[truthseeker1980]

No British is a euphanism for,

'anyone no matter what colour or race, who is born in the UK and been through the UK indoctrination system'

Sorry I mean school.

Why do u need to ask such a dumb question?

[fairyprincess]

I asked it because just because you and I agree I get the feeling that there are some on these boards who'd disagree.....

I wanted to broaden the discussion to cover all the bases

[bendoon]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

Or is 'british' just a euphanisum for white?

Yes, in the same way as African is a euphemism for black and Arab or Indian is a euphemism for brown, it's just nature and shouldn't be made into a taboo subject as the Government would prefer.

[fairyprincess]

"nature" is sometimes used as a euphanisum for 'lazy'

As in: Africa is a lazy sterotype for black.

[believenothing]

What about the Britons? Or do they fall under Celts?

I've read several theories regarding national identities. In ancient times it was not common for foreign conquering empires to displace, expel, or genocide conquered peoples. They would have people assimilate among them and rule them. Empires spreading their power would do this. Conquering hoards like the Mongols are said to have had a 'population control' quota which may or may not be true (kill a certain number of people).

Then there are wanderers looking for a new homeland because they've been displaced. Maybe by disease, famine, drought, climate change, meteor striking in Central Asia ending most civilizations on the planet and causing tropical fauna and Mammoths to freeze, etc. An example is the 13th century BC. Something global happened that was bad and caused a mixup. Civilizations were replaced.

But because of limited travel, stories like the Jewish persecution myths of Romans expelling them into slavery are not possible. The Romans were not in the business of doing that.

The Copts in Egypt are 90% genetically the same as Egyptians from thousands of years ago. Conquerors who assimilated are genetically 'bred out' which is why there is a large Celtic genetic admixture among the British Isles.

It's true that new nations and ethnicity have developed over time in certain nations of the world, but it's also true that indigenous populations have retained a lot of their ancient ancestor's genes. Nationalism in the modern sense has been used two ways. One of those is divide and conquer among differences like France did a couple centuries back. It's probably up to the individual how to define British.

As an American, I define British linguistically. Those who speak proper English. Americans... good god, not so much

[pound]

What does it mean to be human?

[observed]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

What Does it mean to be British?

Every time I see this question about a white, western country the general response from the sheeple is ~being multicultural, accepting, tolerant and love having all different cultures around to worship. That's what it means to be British/every other Anglo-saxon nation.~ This answer is applauded. If you said ~being white, European, exclusive and hate having foreign/alien/uncivilised cultures around you~ that would probably get you locked up in Britain today.

Many people bemoan the lost of 'national identity' in the uk.

I do too. When you walk around the streets and the country has changed so rapidly that it becomes alien, it feels like you've lost your nation and identity. It's certainly something to bemoan.

But what is our national identity, did i come from Christians, pagans ,celts, Romans, Saxons?

All of those have contributed to British-ness in some form or another.

Is it in the novels of charles dickens, the plays of shakespeare, the pomes of milton, Shelly, Keats?

Is it mearly confined to these shore or has it extended right across the empire of old, or commonwealth of today. After all, the first west Indians who came on the windrush had come from the commonwealth and had fought alongside us during WW2

Certainly extended right across the empire and it's why we have the anglosphere, but Indians aren't of British descent. We're looking at the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand here. Britons emigrating to these countries after world war 2 - often with people 200+ years removed from Britain - were still very similar to the new worlders because the same values had been treasured in those 200 years. These values are now dead basically.

Or is 'british' just a euphanisum for white?

It definitely is, not just from a British perspective either. People have been known to ask "where are all the British" when wandering around London. I don't know why people would consider non-whites British, they are so far removed from Europe.

[fairyprincess]

Originally Posted by observed

Every time I see this question about a white, western country the general response from the sheeple is ~being multicultural, accepting, tolerant and love having all different cultures around to worship. That's what it means to be British/every other Anglo-saxon nation.~ This answer is applauded. If you said ~being white, European, exclusive and hate having foreign/alien/uncivilised cultures around you~ that would probably get you locked up in birtian today.

First of all, I'm always lightly irked by that "probably get you locked up in britian today, political correctness gone made rhetoric."

Has anyone actually been locked up for the second answer?

Secondly, surely it's better to embrace all the people of this planet the subjegate them?

[observed]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

First of all, I'm always lightly irked by that "probably get you locked up in britian today, political correctness gone made rhetoric."

Has anyone actually been locked up for the second answer?

Secondly, surely it's better to embrace all the people of this planet the subjegate them?

Wasn't one of those ~racist public transport~ ladies locked up? I think another one was awaiting her fate? Political correctness has gone mad. Embrace them, sure, but don't pretend they're British.

[knightofthegrail]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

Many people bemoan the lost of 'national identity' in the uk.

But what is our national identity...?

There has never been a British national identity, as such, but rather a variety of local British identities, with local dialects, diets, music and cultural myths/folklore. This has been largely destroyed by a homogenised, globalised, mass-produced pop-culture that changes its product periodically in order to sell to the next generation a different thing from their parents (because they have been told that what is "old" is bad).

[fairyprincess]

I thought it might be cool to post a few fact about Britain.

The United kingdom of great britian came into being on May the first, 1707. Although the kingdom of england and wales and the kingdom of Scotland have shared a monarch since king James the first, in 1603.

[fairyprincess]

The union flag. (also known as the union Jack.) is the official flag of the united kingdom.

The current design dates from 1801.

The flag consist of:

The red cross of saint George.

The cross of saint patrick

The saltire of saint Andrew.

The flag is known as the union flag on land, but is called the union Jack at sea. Although, it has become generally known as just the union Jack.

[emerald]

When ure in Rome, do as Romans do. Period...

[maxine]

My family dates back, to Sir Richard Grenville!! However, apart from my dad joining the Navy - i personally don't have any connection to the sea!

[phildee3]

Originally Posted by truthseeker1980

'anyone no matter what colour or race, who is born in the UK and been through the UK indoctrination system'

What about naturalised immigrants?

Personally, I would say it's anyone who meets the above criteria and pledges an allegiance to the nation (formally or informally).

[presidentgas]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

I thought it might be cool to post a few fact about Britain.

The United kingdom of great britian came into being on May the first, 1707. Although the kingdom of england and wales and the kingdom of Scotland have shared a monarch since king James the first, in 1603.

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

The union flag. (also known as the union Jack.) is the official flag of the united kingdom.

The current design dates from 1801.

The flag consist of:

The red cross of saint George.

The cross of saint patrick

The saltire of saint Andrew.

The flag is known as the union flag on land, but is called the union Jack at sea. Although, it has become generally known as just the union Jack.

Yeah, we know.

[presidentgas]

Originally Posted by emerald

When ure in Rome, do as Romans do. Period...

If you're in the UK, then you'd better start using "full stop" instead of "period".

Just sayin' likes...

[macdon]

Originally Posted by fairyprincess

What Does it mean to be British?

Many people bemoan the lost of 'national identity' in the uk.

But what is our national identity, did i come from Christians, pagans ,celts, Romans, Saxons?

I think to be British is to have the genetics of the people that gave Britain a national consciousness and identity.

I could be wrong here but the tribes that have done this have come from Iberia (Basques featuring strongly), Rome (probably also Greek professionals that always accompanied them), Angles from north Germany/Denmark, Saxons from somewhere in Germany (Saxony?), Jutes from Jutland in Denmark, Scandinavians particularly Norwegians and Danes as further conquerors, Vikings and Viking descendants like the Normans.

That’s it. Did I miss anyone? Did I get anything wrong?

[spoons]

To be British means working long hours for a laughably low wage that means you can never pay your bills on time much less eat properly while believing the statistical crap that everything's hunkydory.