Maybe our indigenous culture would of come to the fore if these islands weren't invaded by the culturally superiour and artistically minded Italians, Germans and Franks????

Im proud to call myself English....and even British if pushed....but that doesnt mean i agree with all our colonial past.
The fact is though, i wasnt around to influence those times.

Of course you weren't:hugesmile:, it's the more extreme and dis respectful posters that annoy me, I'm actually quite interested in learning more about the histories of different countries and enjoy your posts alot, you seem very knowledgeable on the subject.

Britain's achievements in engineering, technology, science and medicine are redundant for this argument as I already mentioned, Britain being traditionally empiricist, has excelled in the natural sciences (including business and economics), had you read my post properly instead of leaping for the nearest available platitude.

I am not downplaying Britain's cultural output when we speak about authors and playwrights such as Shakespeare, Marlowe, Chaucher, Milton, Blake, et al. It's just that Britain has been relatively bereft of contributions to painting, sculpture, architecture and music compared to its continental neighbours and it's not as if lack of wealth was ever an excuse. Britain has historically preferred to focus its resources on the military, empire and enterprise than on patronising the arts.

It really says something that the reputedly 'patriotic' political right, the very people who appoint themselves as Britain's cultural guardians regard British writers and intellectuals as an elitist literati and have historically been philistines and champions of censorship.

But then it is only part of a bigger picture. Our fragmented identity is deep rooted. The British Isles' medieval history consists of one occupation after another.

Way to simplify/misrepresent my argument. Once again, I am not saying Britain was in short supply of scientists, engineers and military personell. Only that many of our more quaint traditions such as morris dancing, Last Night of the Proms and British food invite sneering and ridicule from other countries.

Thanks Niam. I think i've mentioned before, that it was the realisation of my own ignorance over the Falklands, that made me start to find out as much of the truth as possible before spouting off.

In your own country for example, its so easy for people from all sides to condemn each other, but i just think its a damn shame that the mistakes of partition and bigotted views have allowed the situation to go on for decades. And we call ourselves civilised. It's taken so long to just talk and even now there are still some that are trying to undermine peace..its so crazy.
I just hope your future family and beyond have better times without conflict.

I may agree with our present wars overseas to a certain degree, but i would just love to make all of our armed forces redundant due to no wars.
There are never any winners in War.

Maybe not everyone is ridiculing us as you say:
quote: In the context of classical music festivals, Jiří Bělohlávek has described The Proms as "the world's largest and most democratic musical festival"

The playing of predominantly British music on the Last Night is a celebration of Britain and ***** any Jonny Foreigner who wants to ridicule it.
Quote: This sequence traditionally begins with Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory), and continues with Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs, which culminates in Thomas Arne’s Rule, Britannia!. The concert concludes with Hubert Parry's Jerusalem (a setting of a poem by William Blake), and the British national anthem.

I repeat..if people want to take the piss out of that then *****'em.

Quote: Morris Dancing is commonly thought of as a uniquely English activity, although there are around 150 morris sides (or teams) in the United States. British expatriates form a larger part of the morris tradition in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. There are isolated groups in other countries, for example those in Utrecht, Netherlands, the Arctic Morris Group of Helsinki[1] and Stockholm[2], as well as in Cyprus and Alsace, France.
To be honest....i think MD sucks.

And lets take a close look at British food....the most popular food in Britain by all accounts is an Indian. :rolleyes:
But i would rather that or Bangers & Mash, to Sauerkraut(?) or Frogs Legs. :yuk:

Sorry to tell you, but this list describes most of the western world countries

dont let the door hit you on the way out , byeeeeeeeeee

It's a great festival, but the Last Night seems like such a meaningless ritual.

To each their own

That's interesting, but it also leads me to think it's a shame we get recognised as a British peculiarity if it's an international phenomenon. It makes us seem less unique. It definitely debunks a few myths though.

Well the Tikka Masala originated in Britain at least. Shame I can't stand the stuff... give me a Madras any day. Sneering aside, you can't go wrong with toad in the hole. :thumbs:

True....Last Night doesnt float my boat much, but i'd rather sit through that than watch some poor terrified Bulls being slowly stabbed to death.

Britain is one of the more open minded parts in the world.

yes, we cluster bombed it, you do know what cluster bombing is dont you. Or are you under the disinformation brigade that cluster bombs can differentiate between military and civillians.

try getting your sources from independent orgs, instead of the government mouthpiece the BBC if you want to rescue your last shred of credability.

OMG ignorance at its most heinious, what has afghanistan or iraq got to do with 9/11? the bombers we are led to believe were saudis werent they? it was amazing though that 12 of the 19 named hijackers turned up alive and well according to mainstream media, LOL, wonder how they managed that?

Oh dear....ive just realised..you really are an arsehole.

wow you really are an uneducated twat.

BTW, i dont need to watch tv to get my info....my job involves security of utility infrastructure, and i have been educated in these matters by people who know more about international terrorism than you or i or the BBC....i'll take their views before i listen to a fool like you.
Thats my last word on this as you have absolutely no idea what your talking about.

IDK about Britian but I think certain states here in America are the most prejudice places in the world.

States like West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc are just full of ignorant hicks.