What this interesting piece highlights, once again, is that a state like Britain has far more nuanced views of itself than the shouters and screamers on Twitter would have you believe. And that's a good thing. Offline, we tend more to reflection than bricks thrown through library windows.
Social attitudes survey finds high levels of pride over sports and the arts but less pride in country’s political influence
Well maybe if England wasn't so obsessed with a great day out in the past and actually had a future or a vision for it people would be more prideful about it. I live here and I hate it
critical thinking, isn't that what's wanted in everyone?
There is no state called Britain, it is a fiction. You mean England - one of four very different countries on this islands group.
Yet the headline immediately enrages the right wing online. “We lost our pride. It’s oikophobia!”, to quote the leader of Dutch FVD, though not in reacting to this specific article.
Does anyone have any idea what happened around 2013 when the pride in history started a noticeable decline? Was there an education campaign or major event?
How long ago was Izzard's "Do you have a flag?" bit? Ordinary people have been mildly embarrassed to actually apologetic for decades.
We were taught victories: Trafalgar, Waterloo,The Armada & Agincourt. Pride comes easily when all you get is triumphalism. The East India Company, Slavery, Plantations, the Enclosures & Opium wars weren’t mentioned. We are better informed now. Pride in imperial history is childish. Borrowed plumes.
Sweet moderation, heart of this nation.
It might also give a further indication of just how far the right in the UK has strayed from public opinion with its insistence on perpetual culture war. The recent election being one whopping great indicator.