It's about time we reclaimed the Union flag from those who seek to use it as a symbol of division. Here's 50 good reasons why I'm proud that I was born and bred in Great Britain (in no particular order).1. The role of former Mill Hill resident William Wilberforce in the abolition of the slave trade.
2. The role of Great Britain in the defeat of the German Nazi ideology.
3. The role of Great Britain in the defeat of the Italian Facist Ideology.
4. The invention of football.
5. The invention of cricket.
6. Real Ale.
7. Brick Lane.
8. The success of the GB Olympic team, especially Rebecca Adlington.
9. The NHS.
10. The Clash.
11. Bob Marley's 1973 Live at Hammersmith album.
12. Rock Against Racism
13. Thunderbirds
14. The E Type Jag
15. Ealing Comedy
16. Sir Isaac Newton
16. The engineering feats of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
17. The worlds most beautiful train station - St Pancras.
18. Free education.
19. The writings of George Orwell.
20. John Barnes goal against Brazil.
21. Brian Clough
22. The fact that the Championship is the 4th most watched football league in the world.
23. Band Aid & it's children (live aid etc).
24. The Pogues.
25. Misty in Roots
26. The Mill Hill Tandoori Restaurant.
27. The campaign for fair treatment of the Gurkha's.
28. The FA Cup.
29. The Battle of Cable Street.
30. Abbey Road Studios.
31. The Marquee club.
32. Fullers pubs.
33. The Planes in the RAF museum in Hendon.
34. St Pauls Cathedral.
35. The Notting Hill Carnival.
36. Fish and Chips at the seaside.
37. The affection for Bert Truatman OBE.
38. Dr Who.
39. Alexander Fleming
40. Linton Kwesi Johnson.
41. Sir Frank Whittle.
42. Match of the Day.
43. The Robert Elms show.
44. Florence Nightingale.
45. Walter Tull.
46. The National Gallery.
47. The NFT.
48. Great Ormond Street Hospital.
49. The Teenage Cancer Trust & MacMillan Cancer relief.
50. The North London Hospice.
I could have done 5000, let alone 50 (apologies to William Shakespeare et all). I believe that every single one of the items/ people I've mentioned has in some way, shape or form made the world a better place. In my book, that is reason to be proud. If the only things that something/someone achieve are hurt/ heartache/ pain/ violence and negativity, then I'm sorry to say that in my world they are a waste of space. All of the things above are British, they've made the world better, they make this country great. Any ideology that would remove any of them from the list is, in my opinion, Anti British and dangerous. To my mind you can only be a patriotic Brit if you appreciate the value of them (OK - under pressure from Mrs T (The wife not the Tory Blogger), I may let you off my Music tastes, Real Ale & the Football related entries but you are missing out big time !).
Luv it Rog T - but PLS add "the Italian Job"'s "Self Preservation Society" track, + the whole film, come to that?!!
ReplyDeleteWell that would be 51, but consider it added !
ReplyDelete