72 Point Blog National News, PR and Market Research Specialists…

22nd   Apr

English Pride

Earlier this week the team at 72 Point produced some good coverage for client This England Magazine - a publication which celebrates "the beauty of England".

I must confess to judging the magazine by its title but, in fact the publication has no hidden political agenda. It focuses on the beautiful characteristics of England, the majority of its pages filled with idyllic images of the countryside and grand monuments. It is, in its own words - "an armchair journey through England's green and pleasant land"

Our European-wide survey for This England Magazine revealed that England is the least patriotic nation in Europe. The usual rationale for our lack of patriotism emerged from some of our respondents - "over the top political correctness"..."loss of national identity"...blah blah.

I have personally never witnessed this alleged "political correctness gone mad" nor do I feel we have "lost our national identity" - however the survey said what the survey said.

What did sadden me about the poll was that respondents worried how others would judge those who express national pride.

I personally won't be flying the St George flag tomorrow - not because I am not patriotic, but because I am not entirely sure who St George was or what he signifies. A dragon slaying patron saint, in my opinion, bears little reflection on the country today.

In addition, I cannot overlook our historical misdemeanours.  Living in Bristol, a city made rich through colonialism and exploitation, I am fully aware that there are aspects of English history that we should be deeply ashamed of.

But the England I am proud of (and I am not afraid to say it) is not the England in myths or the England of history. It is the England of today - in all its multi-cultural, ethnically diverse glory.

I love the Cornish seaside, London, fish and chips, curry, pints of Kingfisher, our national health service, mosques, cathedrals, our police force (sorry but I think on the whole they do a great job), our tolerance of other cultures and religions (Daily Mail readers not included), our stiff upper lip, our reserve, our dry sense of humour, Coronation Street...I could go on but you get the gist.

Written by Harriet