Instalment Three – Are we too scared to be British?

For all its talk of ‘diversity’ and ‘multicultural understanding, has 21^st Century Britain, gone too far? Are we now too scared and too liberal to be British? 

Politicians would have us believe that Britain is a shining example of multicultural-ism. Modern day Britons are a diverse group of races, religions and political viewpoints. But, in a bid to embrace all, have we lost the idea of who we are?  

Let me take you back to 1970’s Britain – a dark and desolate place. 

The innocence of 60’s is vanishing from the ‘Free Love Generation’ and personal freedom and well-being is being swamped by high unemployment and economic despair.  Oil prices are sky-rocketing, overly powerful, under-productive Unions hold the country to ransom and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) wades in to save us from economic obliteration. 

On the television, racist ‘comedy’ is deemed appropriate fodder for the masses. The once great British Empire shrinks year on year and economic migration continues from the colonies. For the Brits, this is a dark time, where scapegoats are needed. Britons, unified by racism, have someone to blame: ‘Jonnie Foreigner’ is an easy target.

 Having gone to school in that era and having experienced the insidious nature of racism, I can tell you, I have no wish to return to society as it was in the 70’s and early 80’s. However, what I do wish to return to; is a country that takes pride in itself and believes in the validity of its own values, and does not feel that it has to apologize for its very existence.

 Fast forward to the Noughties, and Britons, especially the English have become so ashamed of their past misdemeanours, that they have forgotten, or are incapable of taking pride in their own identity. 

We are now embracing the cultural and religious ceremonies of other societies. Children are learning about Diwali and Ramadan and rightly so. But why does this have to be at the expense of Christmas? 

Primary schools up and down the land are no longer performing Nativities as ‘right-on liberals’ deem the story of Jesus to be culturally insensitive and offensive to other religions. 

But is the story of Jesus’ birth, really that offensive?  And whom do we offend?  

Yes, Nativities are usually, badly sung, badly produced and badly executed affairs that rely on the efforts of over-excited children, over-worked teachers and over-anxious parents; but are Nativities really offensive to people who are from other races and religions? 

Well, I’m from another race and religion and I can tell you that I am not in the least bit offended by the Nativity.  

If there are people offended by this celebration of life, shouldn’t they have the option to withdraw their children from the production, rather than stopping the production altogether?

What message are we sending to our children? Every culture is important, except our own? What are we telling our children about self worth and valuing our heritage? And for those parents who are offended, ask yourself, why are you? Do you really want to teach your children how to disriminate and disrespect?

Whilst I’m certainly not offended by Christmas or the Nativity, what offends deeply – to a point where my blood boils – is the bleeding hearts liberalism that thinks it can speak for me, without bothering to consult me and getting ‘my opinion’, so very, very wrong. 

What gives liberals the right to take away the traditions of this country? In one fell swoop, centuries of culture are simply wiped away. Multicultural-ism should be about enriching our lives, not swapping one culture for another. 

Are we to blindly follow the Americans who insist on using the meaningless phrase, “Happy Holidays”? As a man who is not Christian, Jewish or Muslim, I would much rather hear people say’ “Happy Christmas”, or, “Happy Hannukah”, or Happy Eid” rather than the celebrate nothing other than time off.

Now, back to Britain and the English. 

I say English, as the Welsh, Scottish and Irish seem to have a stronger sense of self and pride in their heritage. The English, once a proud and pragmatic nation, have managed to get their political knickers in a twist. 

Yes, there has been oppression and yes, the English have got things wrong in the past. But, does this mean that present day England has to atone for her past sins by being devoid of pride and self worth? 

A really close friend of mine, and her mother, (both eloquent, intelligent women of the world) confessed to having absolutely no pride in being English or British. They equated British-ness or English-ness with ugly nationalism. Any notion of pride or self worth was consigned to the dustbin of history. 

Why must it be like this?  By not having pride in our nation and abandoning the very human need to ‘belong’, we let go our national pride. Suddenly, heritage, self worth and  patriotism no longer belongs to all of us, but becomes the sole preserve of extremist pressure groups – people who have absolutely no right to represent us or, possess our self worth. 

It doesn’t have to be like this. 

Our great nation; and it is great, has always absorbed new cultures and has learnt from them.  

Over the centuries, Britain has been invaded by many civilisations – some invasions have been political or military based, some religious and some economic; but all have left their mark on our culture, our language and dare I say it, our cuisine.  

So to all you 21^st Century Britons out there, I implore you, believe in our country and celebrate all it has to offer.  

By believing in ourselves, we can make our nation great again.