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It’s astonishing how often english people foster the illusion that their culture escapes the scrutiny of outsiders. They seem to forget that its vehicle - the e
by xk_id 3y ago
It’s astonishing how often english people foster the illusion that their culture escapes the scrutiny of outsiders. They seem to forget that its vehicle - the english language - is spoken universally around the world; so whenever english people speak, their potential audience is anybody else. Foreigners typically stay silent and don’t bother to engage, because british influence is negligible compared to america’s cultural imperialism; nevertheless, it’s not difficult to acquire an insight. Social media and the protracted brexit campaign made this easier than ever, because it encouraged the public to assert publicly and loudly their deepest convictions. It irreversibly undermined the artificial image of exceptionalism cultivated by the uk government in foreign relations. The reality of the English culture is neither private, nor a mistery to outsiders.
- stu432 3y agoAnd yet somehow the reality is a "mistery" to you. Language isn't culture. If it was you wouldn't have the sort of Chinese-gate tik-tok nonsense happening right now. Also English people do not make up the United Kingdom. Nor do they constitute the entirety of British influence. But that's a trivial matter to a world expert such as yourself, who can't even remain consistent in a baseless rant.
- xk_id 3y ago> Also English people do not make up the United Kingdom. The distinction between English and British in my comment was intentional. The unique style of self-infatuation expressed in the parent comment is quintessentially English (white English, to be even more precise); not Scottish, Irish, or Welsh.
- b800h 3y agoBritish people in "love their country" shocker! It might be less apparent online, but with my hand on my heart I can promise you that people from all the nations of the union share my conviction. It might not be universal, but we'll take our odd, sentimental, sometimes eccentric culture over a bland globalised republicanism any day, thanks.
- xk_id 3y agoEnjoy! This is why I think English people had no business being in the EU in the first place and de Gaulle was right in blocking UK’s membership.
- trackflak 3y agoI don't like the anti-English animosity that seems universal in some circles. There is some room for ribbing but a lot of the time I wonder how much of it is merely and sincerely 'in jest'. And that is another fear I share for the loss of a monarchy. Something familiar and deeply associated with our long history will be gone, and home will look even more like everywhere else.
- b800h 3y agoWe're uniquely unsuited to defending ourselves - British reserve flies in the face of speaking up and raising our voices - but it's so important to do so, and not just give the wreckers carte blanche.