Dear Christina fascinating article giving me lots to reflect on. I was a child born in Australia with parents emigrating as part of the £10 Pom assisted passage. Returning to London when I was 18 months old, so my sensibilities are rooted in ‘Englishness’, watching rotten old war films and making Airfix kits. My schoolboy memories are also shaped by having a broad palette of cultures at my school Afro Caribbean/Asian and every other corner of the world. Making me happily a ‘global citizen’ an attribute I increasingly appreciate since leaving London. With its outward looking open armed approach not dissimilar to New York. This distance from my home town has also allowed me to explore the theme of what ‘Englishness’ means to me for my artwork. I’m hoping I’ve got something useful to say. Much thought and reflection. Regards Nick.
What a fascinating response, Nick! So interesting that your childhood sensibilities were so rooted in Englishness in spite of your parents' sojourn to Australia. We never really had that wartime thing going on in our family, possibly because Sweden was (ostensibly) neutral and my father never really talked about the war. (And missed his military service because he had pneumonia.) I absolutely see you as a global citizen, even though you haven't travelled all that much in recent years. How are your current travels going? I'm so looking forward to hearing all about them! xx
I think I love my country - but I love a lot of other countries as well. It is about where my family is, where my friends are, where I've worked, where I've lived, where 'my people' are. Not an abstract 'patriotism' or 'jingoism'. So not sure really, what it is I truly love.
Interesting response, Jennifer, thank you. I think it's probably a mix of that sort for most of us - and the forced patriotism or jingoism feels uncomfortable, though it's clearly having quite a moment in the US and in the political messages of the far right throughout the world (and in the UK). It seems rather un-English to be patriotic, too strongly associated with the National Front and the BNP. But I also think we need to feel that we belong to something. Who knows? It's a complicated business. Anyway, hope you're having a lovely bank holiday weekend.
Yes, I think we all need to belong to something or somewhere - the sad thing is how many people seem to think that we have to shut out other people in order to maintain our 'belonging' - if you see what I mean. I hate that I feel tense and angry if I see a St. George's flag flying. If there isn't a football game going on it feels flauntingly aggressive.
Oh, Christina - that video!!! What in incredible and heartbreaking lesson in privilege. Thank you for sharing it.
Similar to your experience, I have often felt like an outlier in my own country. All four of my grandparents came to the US from other countries. I grew up believing in the melting pot, but it's been painfully clear for decades that the melting never existed.
Much like you being from London, I am from NYC. Part of my love of living here is the mix of cultures. It is the only place I've lived that feels like home to me. 💕
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Cathy. Yes, the video is amazing, isn't it? It's very interesting what you say about the melting pot and the melting. I think it's something humans are not very good at. People are almost viscerally suspicious of people from different ethnic groups and tribes. And it's not as if skin colour is the only issue. Just look at Africa! After living in London for so long I now feel quite uncomfortable in very homogeneous environments. Do you?
I'm not sure it was unreasonable. Humans have "melted" in different ways since early history. We are all mongrels of one sort or another. I think when it works it makes societies much richer. But it does require effort, which people are not always willing to make. And some, unfortunately, seem hellbent on ensuring that we don't even begin to make it...
I love my country, Scotland. Most people I know are Scottish first then British or European. I do however have very good friends who are English purely because their parents lived down south due to their navy bases, equally I have other friends born in more exotic places for similar reasons. I was horrified by the abuse those young lads got when they missed the penalties at the Euros. Football can bring the worst out in people. I love football and my English friends suppprt the opposite teams to me but we are too good friends to let it get in the way. I think Gareth Southgate is very inspiring for all young players what ever colour they are, it’s just a shame some of the fans are so moronic.Hopefully Reform doesn’t make inroads into footballing communities. That would be too much.
Back to Scotland. It’s Independence for me. It’s the best option now we are out of the EU. I was disappointed when we voted no, but distraught when we left the EU.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, Lou. I agree with you about Gareth Southgate and about the moronic fans. It sounds as if Reform is, unfortunately, making inroads into most communities, though I imagine their job in London might be slightly harder. Or at least I hope so.
As a half-Scot, I would be very sad if Scotland went independent, though I understand why you want it. I don't think it's particularly likely, to be honest. The economics are incredibly complicated and I'm not sure the will is there any more. Like you, I was and am devastated about Brexit. Even if we were to rejoin (and I don't think we will), we would never get the terms we had before. We'd have to be part of the euro, for example, and I don't think Brits would agree to that. (I'd be delighted!) But one never knows about anything, so let's hope...
Enjoying our odyssey currently in Malta having travelled by train from London to Paris - Zurich -Milan -Rome-Pozzallo - Sicily ferry to Valletta. Reminded that people are people wherever you go, mostly good some bad, and that the liberal use of a smile is a universal language that transcends boundaries. Meanwhile a month of travels lies ahead! Looking forward to catching up once we’re back in Blighty.
Dear Christina fascinating article giving me lots to reflect on. I was a child born in Australia with parents emigrating as part of the £10 Pom assisted passage. Returning to London when I was 18 months old, so my sensibilities are rooted in ‘Englishness’, watching rotten old war films and making Airfix kits. My schoolboy memories are also shaped by having a broad palette of cultures at my school Afro Caribbean/Asian and every other corner of the world. Making me happily a ‘global citizen’ an attribute I increasingly appreciate since leaving London. With its outward looking open armed approach not dissimilar to New York. This distance from my home town has also allowed me to explore the theme of what ‘Englishness’ means to me for my artwork. I’m hoping I’ve got something useful to say. Much thought and reflection. Regards Nick.
What a fascinating response, Nick! So interesting that your childhood sensibilities were so rooted in Englishness in spite of your parents' sojourn to Australia. We never really had that wartime thing going on in our family, possibly because Sweden was (ostensibly) neutral and my father never really talked about the war. (And missed his military service because he had pneumonia.) I absolutely see you as a global citizen, even though you haven't travelled all that much in recent years. How are your current travels going? I'm so looking forward to hearing all about them! xx
I think I love my country - but I love a lot of other countries as well. It is about where my family is, where my friends are, where I've worked, where I've lived, where 'my people' are. Not an abstract 'patriotism' or 'jingoism'. So not sure really, what it is I truly love.
Interesting response, Jennifer, thank you. I think it's probably a mix of that sort for most of us - and the forced patriotism or jingoism feels uncomfortable, though it's clearly having quite a moment in the US and in the political messages of the far right throughout the world (and in the UK). It seems rather un-English to be patriotic, too strongly associated with the National Front and the BNP. But I also think we need to feel that we belong to something. Who knows? It's a complicated business. Anyway, hope you're having a lovely bank holiday weekend.
Yes, I think we all need to belong to something or somewhere - the sad thing is how many people seem to think that we have to shut out other people in order to maintain our 'belonging' - if you see what I mean. I hate that I feel tense and angry if I see a St. George's flag flying. If there isn't a football game going on it feels flauntingly aggressive.
I agree. I don’t think it’s quite fair that a St George’s flag feels aggressive (other countries wave their flags with pride) but I feel the same.
Oh, Christina - that video!!! What in incredible and heartbreaking lesson in privilege. Thank you for sharing it.
Similar to your experience, I have often felt like an outlier in my own country. All four of my grandparents came to the US from other countries. I grew up believing in the melting pot, but it's been painfully clear for decades that the melting never existed.
Much like you being from London, I am from NYC. Part of my love of living here is the mix of cultures. It is the only place I've lived that feels like home to me. 💕
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Cathy. Yes, the video is amazing, isn't it? It's very interesting what you say about the melting pot and the melting. I think it's something humans are not very good at. People are almost viscerally suspicious of people from different ethnic groups and tribes. And it's not as if skin colour is the only issue. Just look at Africa! After living in London for so long I now feel quite uncomfortable in very homogeneous environments. Do you?
I agree with you that humans are not good at melting. Looking back, I think it was unreasonable to assume we might - or that we would even want to.
Considering your question about homogenous environments, I have experienced that in some parts of the US. As with you, it makes me very uncomfortable.
I'm not sure it was unreasonable. Humans have "melted" in different ways since early history. We are all mongrels of one sort or another. I think when it works it makes societies much richer. But it does require effort, which people are not always willing to make. And some, unfortunately, seem hellbent on ensuring that we don't even begin to make it...
I so agree…!! 💝
I love my country, Scotland. Most people I know are Scottish first then British or European. I do however have very good friends who are English purely because their parents lived down south due to their navy bases, equally I have other friends born in more exotic places for similar reasons. I was horrified by the abuse those young lads got when they missed the penalties at the Euros. Football can bring the worst out in people. I love football and my English friends suppprt the opposite teams to me but we are too good friends to let it get in the way. I think Gareth Southgate is very inspiring for all young players what ever colour they are, it’s just a shame some of the fans are so moronic.Hopefully Reform doesn’t make inroads into footballing communities. That would be too much.
Back to Scotland. It’s Independence for me. It’s the best option now we are out of the EU. I was disappointed when we voted no, but distraught when we left the EU.
Things have to get better.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, Lou. I agree with you about Gareth Southgate and about the moronic fans. It sounds as if Reform is, unfortunately, making inroads into most communities, though I imagine their job in London might be slightly harder. Or at least I hope so.
As a half-Scot, I would be very sad if Scotland went independent, though I understand why you want it. I don't think it's particularly likely, to be honest. The economics are incredibly complicated and I'm not sure the will is there any more. Like you, I was and am devastated about Brexit. Even if we were to rejoin (and I don't think we will), we would never get the terms we had before. We'd have to be part of the euro, for example, and I don't think Brits would agree to that. (I'd be delighted!) But one never knows about anything, so let's hope...
Dear Christina thank you.
Enjoying our odyssey currently in Malta having travelled by train from London to Paris - Zurich -Milan -Rome-Pozzallo - Sicily ferry to Valletta. Reminded that people are people wherever you go, mostly good some bad, and that the liberal use of a smile is a universal language that transcends boundaries. Meanwhile a month of travels lies ahead! Looking forward to catching up once we’re back in Blighty.
X Nick Ros