Britishness.

[123everton]

In response to the posts below I'd like to know what Britishness is?
Years ago the phrase "be British" meant being steadfast and stoical, years ago the British were renowned for their good manners, stiff upper lip and sense of fair play,do you feel that is still true?
So if you were an immigrant what do you think you would do to be British?
Please don't go on about what they should'nt do, what are the norms that an immigrant should aspire to?

[anotheoldgit]

Just stop this 'pussy footing' about as regards being British, we were once called English (that is of course if one lived in England)

Once you have managed to class yourself as being either English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish, it makes it a little easier to define what makes you one of these.

[123everton]

Thanks Clarion Street, a very good try, but...
We went to war in 1939 to protect ethnic Poles and their land against German aggression, we did a similar thing again for the Malayans, the Kenyans, the Kosovans, the Turks (Crimean war), the slave trade (Ashanti war and the 2nd Anglo Sudanese war), we've waged war upon ourselves to create the very religious freedoms (or not to be) that we all enjoy, we've ffered sanctuary to many foreign people who in return have helped us preseve our freedoms, Poland fought courageously on our side and where would the British army be without the Gurkhas?
What I'm suggesting that a Muslim who expresses his right to be a Muslim is doing something that is SINGUARLY British.
The right to be who you want to be.

[123everton]

I don't quite get your point there Clarion, it's Christmas in a few weeks and that has a big effect on everything British as does Easter.
The Salvationists, the Quakers and all non-aligned pacifist groups would view the band of the Royal Mrines as jingoistic (although I quite liked it) you can't say that immigrants have nothing to do with Britishness when historically they've contributed so much to the fabric of Britain. The Gurkhas have spilt their blood on many a foreign field fighting for British causes.
To me being British is about being free, free to be who I want to be and to live my life the way I see fit, but, we used to be a very reserved bunch, and it suited us, whereas now....
I've never been spat at by a Muslim, I've never heard Indian women talking about their sexual habits, every foreigner I've met with a decent grasp of English says please and thankyou.
The other day 3 English lads who'd just finished college got off the bus, standing at the bus stop was a young Indian woman in her mid 20s, she was clean well dressed with her hair done all nice she was waiting for a bus to go to work. The 3 lads saw her and said with great glee "look! A P@ki!" so they got off and proceeded to go "bud bud bud" I cringed, is that an example of Britishness? I just thought that poor woman. What possible harm can she be doing to this country?
A few days later another Indian woman asked me to show her where to get off, her manners were as impeccable as her English which it was obvious to me was her second language.
I put it to you that this nation is going backwards, that it has nothing to do with immigration and those that say it does are scratching where it does'nt itch.

[rov1200]

Britishness is to invade an undeveloped land, rid its country of the dictator, impose our western values where they are not needed, and finally leave it to warring factions to sort out the mess. They were quite happy before with their meagre rations and strange customs but we knew best.

[123everton]

I disagree to some extent, certain in the modern age.
But it is a very astute observation.

[123everton]

Well 2 wrongs don't make a right, I am though genuinely appalled, saddened and surprised to hear that.
Understand 1 thing I would not support or excuse that kind of behaviour in anybody.
I tend to feel that the communities in Oldham and Bradford are quite polarised and view each other with equal suspicion, I remember going up to Maple Mill a few years ago and getting a lot of funny looks as I drove around trying to find it, I could'nt and had to ask for directions at the Post Office the Asians who ran it were politeness personified.
I'm unaware of the problems you speak of, you should post a thread of your experiences I'd find it interesting, you may get called some names for your trouble but it won't be by me I can promose you.

[123everton]

Thanks Clarion, your first story is horrific, the second one less so, I agree that it is important for immigrants to speak English but another answer to that problem could be found.