My Country. Right or Wrong?
Bernard Porter argues that history and patriotism should be kept firmly apart.
It seems to be generally agreed (a) that we lack a sense of ‘national identity’ for Britain and for England (less so for Scotland, Wales and even Northern Ireland); (b) that this is a Bad Thing, especially when we want to make it plain to immigrants what being ‘British’ means; and (c) that the best way to find that out for ourselves is to rummage in our national past. It is our history that can show us what our ‘core’ values have been through the ages; what has made Britain distinctive and (by implication) good; and consequently what we can all be proud of – so binding us all together (including immigrants). It works with other countries, in particular the United States, whose patriotism is very firmly rooted in its history – or, rather, in a mythic version of it. That’s what gives the US much of its strength and confidence. Britain has nothing like this.
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