What Makes The British Proud?

So, they may have conquered the world! Built the largest empire the world had ever known where the sun never set! Where at one point it controlled a population of about 458 million people, approximately one-quarter of the world's population! and covered about 36.6 million km²-about a quarter of Earth's total land area!!! But that was history,what is it then that still make the British proud??

I've been meaning to combine a list of the things that I think still make the british proud of themselves and of their country. After various analyzations and observations it looked something like this:


1) English Language and Literature
English is the world’s official language (Some Scottish people might be offended by this, as they refer to their language as Scottish not English). It is the dominant international language in business, communications, science, aviation, entertainment, radio, politics and diplomacy. English is a versatile, easily structured language. Compared with Arabic, for example, it is the best to use in order to express specific meanings, as in Arabic the same words will interpret different meanings depending on the phrase structure and the use of associations that can build up one argument and simultaneously create a parallel implied argument that says something else, simply because Arabic is more rhetorical- which makes it unique as well.

It is a different story for English though, as words usually convey specific meanings. As an example of this, here is how you can play on meaning using different words of English:
When trying to (let a liquid material out) of a container with a small opening, different words are used to interpret different meanings, depending on the quantity of the liquid material, the frequency or the speed of falling onto a surface, and the shape of marks or spots that result from that.
e.g
Spatter: to spurt forth in scattered drops
Drip: to let fall in drops
Dribble: to fall or flow in drops or in a thin intermittent stream
Squiggle: a short wavy twist or line
Squirt: to come forth in a sudden rapid stream from a narrow opening
Dollop: an indefinite often-large quantity especially of something liquid

The English language is extraordinary rich, subtle, flexible and most importantly, perhaps, is its capacity to absorb foreign vocabulary and make it its own. I had just come from a region that encourages the use of the Arabic language, and consider the people who opt for English as snobs that abandon the language of the ancestors, and thus all the heritage and culture that comes with it. And here I was in Britain, a country whose language seemed fearless of other cultures' intrusions. I was impressed!
As for the English literature, it is well renowned throughout history. William Shakespeare was a playwright and poet whose body of works is considered the greatest in English literature. He wrote dozens of plays which continue to dominate world theater 400 years later. Even in modern day literature, J.K. Rowling is the famous author behind the Harry Potter fantasy books, which have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold nearly 400 million copies worldwide. Robert Burns is still celebrated in Scotland on Burns Night on January 25th, as the number one Scottish poet. Haggis and Scotch whiskey may be served on special poetry suppers as part of the celebration.

I wish that we could do as good, and celebrate one of our famous icons like Shawqi for example, on a special day like the Scots do on Burns Night. It doesn’t take much effort to teach people how to take pride in their own culture and heritage. I guess that’s one big reason why they’re really proud to be British!


2) British Manners



The Brits are world-famous for their politness and self discipline. They may be considered reserved when it comes to manners and social situations. Some would question that the current generations of Britons may lack some of the well-renowned reputation of their ancestors. All in all the following manners are still considered basic forms of behaviour in the UK, which I find quite remarkable

-Queueing: The Brits are ranked as the best queuers in the world; they queue better than penguins or lemmings! People are expected to form orderly queues, whenever required, and wait for their turn patiently, as queue jumping will be frowned upon and considered rude and irresponsible.

-Holding the door open: Men and women both hold the door open for each other. It depends on who goes through the door first, and it's a great manner of showing respect for others.

-Driving in the UK is a stress free experience, although driving on the left side of the road, is largely argued, simply because the rest of the world doesn’t! But, one respects the ultimate pride of the Brits who continue to drive on the left side of the road, use the Pound Sterling instead of the Euro and never consider a better place to be than their beloved Britannia!
Whilst driving in the UK, I especially like how people wait patiently for others, flash their headlights for them to pass and how they raise their hand to say thank you. Simple things like that, makes the UK a great place to enjoy driving in, compared to Jordan, for example! In Jordan, unfortunately, driving is based on the “survival of the fittest” paradigm! If you can define fitness in words like; impatient, intolerable of others, and sadly, irresponsible

-Apologizing: "This is Britain, where people apologize to lamp-posts after bumping into them"...true! "I am so awfully sorry that", "I am afraid this", are some of the classic phrases used by the British. More is the use of the double negatives in speech, ie, " I don't disagree with you", " I would never want not to see you"...so considerate!

3) The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)



Probably the greatest institution in Britain, make that the world! These three letters; so powerful, so precise, they represent Britain with yet a new notion of greatness. Since I was little, the BBC has always been a favourite in our household. My dad hardly missed the daily news round-up broadcast by its world service radio.
The BBC, being the British institution that belonged to the world, is the definition of responsible and informative media. The most interesting thing about the British television is the role it plays in people’s daily lives, no wonder people used to refer to the BBC using the nickname “The Auntie” Well, after all “Auntie knows best!”

The British documentaries are the best. The Brits have a non-surpassable talent in documenting everything! They can do a program about socks, and it will still keep you at the edge of your seat! They somehow perfect storytelling in a way that amuses and informs.

The new service provided by the BBC; the iplayer is yet another great milestone in its prosperous history, you can use this service online to access your favourite program throughout the week, in case you missed any. These people at the BBC always make sure that the British public will only eat, breathe and watch BBC!


4) The National Health Service (NHS)



Yet another British Institution, one that makes the British really proud of their nationality. Despite the big muddle surrounding it, as being inefficient; corrupt; bankrupt; struggling to cope; swamped with foreign doctors and nurses; lagging behind other health systems and that the boost in funds provided under Labour has made no difference-no good news for the British tax-payer-but, after all, it’s a free national service, and it’s there for all the British 24/7.

According to the World Health Organization, the UK enjoys a total expenditure of $ 2,560 on health per capita, the US spends $ 6,090 per capita, while France spends $ 3,040. In the Middle East it's a different story: Jordan spends $ 502 per capita, while the wealthy UAE spends a mere $ 503 per capita on health. In the UK, life expectancy at birth for m/f is estimated at 77/81, for France it is 77/84, for the US 75/80, for Jordan (shocking!) 69/73 and for UAE 76/79. In Jordan, there are (26) per 1000 births dying under 5. For the UK, the number is (6), for France it is (5), for US it is (8), and for UAE it is estimated at (9) per 1000 births.It seems that the NHS is doing well after all! Not up to the expectations of many British perfectionists, but they can still lay rest the worries of having adequate health care available to them when they're old, vulnerable, skint, "white", "coloured", non-employed, stabbed, successful, losers,... it does not really matter. What matters is, that they happen to be in Britain, and they happen to be in need!

5)The Respect of Hierarchy

What’s fascinating about the British is their great respect for hierarchy: every one seems to know where he/she stands in society; ultimately identifying with their roles, their boundaries and responsibilities.
Hierarchy is very important to the stability of the British society. In fact, it’s important to the stability of any society. Everyone seems to be at ease with own bosses, leaders and authoritical figures. The state governs day-to-day lives of people, with or without direct interaction, and every British citizen is in fact responding consequently to the organizational control of the state with full consent.

6)The Monarchy

All Brits take pride in their monarchy, and especially in their Queen (Elizabeth II). If you have seen The Royal Family at Work, you would have learned a great deal about how every thing in Britain revolves around one person only; and that is the Queen. The queen is holy; majestic; not in a clichéd manner, but in every true sense of the word. The program shows every one waiting hand and foot on their dear queen; even the PM was shivering and trembling whilst delivering his speech in front of her majesty. Had it not been Queen Elizabeth; the regnant ruler of Britain, and 16 other commonwealth countries, things might have been easier for Mr. Brown.


7) The Union Jack



I think the Union Jack is a source of pride for the British, it symbolizes the unity of two nations: England and Scotland- overcoming years of blood and war that shaped the history of the two neighbours.

8) The "Multicultural" Society
Although a highly controversial issue; especially when it comes to internal politics in Britain. A carefully touched upon term mainly when political correctness is concerned. Nevertheless, I think Multicultural Britain should be celebrated; where people from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds coexist in harmony, without any apparent tensions; things that might have triggered civil war somewhere else in the world.

9) The Army and War Machine
My memory can't serve me to suggest a single time, when actually Britain wasn't at war at some point in its history. Winston Churchill; arguably a British war hero, once said: " Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter."

10) British Boy Bands
Britain: Home to the greatest Boy Bands of all times: The Beatles, Queen, Rolling Stones, ColdPlay, Westlife, BoyZone, Take That,... to name but a few!