It's April the 23rd and that can only mean one thing...
HAPPY ST GEORGES DAY!!!
That's reet, you might be at hyem but yi can still celebrate! Crack open a beer, a wine, whatever tipple that tickles your taste buds and raise a glass to St George!
Even get the bairns a sugary glass of Orange. Gan on I dare yi.
Reet, now you're settled (even if the bairns aren't)...there are many reasons to be proud to be English and furthermore, British. Throughout this blog you'll probably see them intertwine a lot but hey ho - I'm desperately proud of being both. In today's edition of The RoaM, I'll bring you a slightly rushed version of just some of the reasons to be proud of being English / British. Just divvint caal is a racist - Or is that just what the papers say to stir shite up? 😅
Anyways...so...in no particular order...here wu gan...
- Tommy Robinson
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| image courtesy of the Daily Mail |
Ha! Got yi! The look on your face man. 😆😆😆
Why howay man, you've gotta have a laugh haven't yi? Nee need to hit that magic "X". Am only half joking though, because item 1 is about freedom of speech. Tommy Robinson is an example of freedom of speech, albeit an unpopular one. (A very, very unpopular one with me, might I add.) However, how many of us can say we truly have the answer to all of mankind's questions?
By providing each individual with the freedom to express themselves, you're opening up cans of worms but also windows of opportunity. The key is to look at it as the latter, and not suppress others, like this knobber.
Polarised opinion is dangerous, and can pull communities and countries apart. Just look at the world - we're in 2020 and we're still fighting wars. Yet, if you take extracts from these polarised views with an open mind, you can probably mould it into a more central and universal place. So again to use this example, Mr Robinson wants England to defend and hold its identity and its traditions. Is that so bad? Not at all, so do I. The difference is, I want to embrace my Italian girlfriend and understand why she thinks her 'home' is the best place in the world, or talk to Abu aboot why his curry is better than Jose's paella, or understand why a best mates God maybe has answers my atheist life cannot answer.
The world would be boring if we were all like each other man. Never underestimate the power of being able to speak freely. It's alreet to say "sticks and stones might break your bones and words will never hurt yi", but ideologies and actions do. Just divvin't be a dickheed when yi dee it.
You cannot do it in all countries, especially if you're an ethnic minority, female, homosexual,etc. etc. But by and large you can do it here. So as long you're responsible and in my homeland just enjoy being able to make like NWA and "Express Yourself".
- Democracy
Don't worry, not as waffle-y as the last, I just had to provide reasoning to my actions...
A similar notion to the last - in how much of the world can you truly mould your own country?
I mean, aye, there's stuff out of Joe Blogg's control, or understanding - but at least we have the chance to say "No", or "I preferred what she said".
We can all sit and whinge about the racist right, the fence sitters and the over-liberal, lefty "snowflakes" and to be fair we all get on each others nerves with it, but at least we have a choice. You get it more here than you do in parts of the far and middle-East. I mean, nowt too much changes in one sitting, so even if you balls up your ballot paper you can rectify it in four years time, or at least for the most part.
Enjoy the chance to choose!
- Language
Wasn't convinced aboot this one like but a thought ad hoy it in.
"I beg your pardon?"
Ah sorry. I thought it might be worth a mention.
Am gonna start by paying particular attention to the variation in dialects and accents across the country. We aal have our likes and dislikes. From North to South and East to West - it's canny nice to think we hold onto our heritage somewhat by how we aal taak. I mean on the West in particular - how different do Mancs, Scousers and Brummies all sound?! Maybe they've been infiltrated by the Welsh...God knas. But of aal the best accents and dialects, Geordie is the best. I'm not biased like, it's supposedly the closest to auld English, and going off this edition - English is best, so yi kna. 😉
Anyways, after discussions with the lads on WhatsApp they've convinced me that it's just great how universal our language is. We probably have colonialism and the Yanks to thank for that. Canny mental that people outside of our country can probably understand is better than people within it like.
Nonetheless, I'm advised by a fair few that, whilst exposing some of the flaws in our education system and the waning degrees of politeness and good manners that we now have, it's just canny mint being able to go almost anywhere in the world, be a reet ignorant bastard, and have them speak to you, isn't it?
- Sense of Humour
We aal love a good laugh don't we? Am not sure anywhere does it quite like here though. It's not that stupid and almost immature humour that you see state-side. Sometimes American stuff is just bizarre beyond belief and almost trying too hard. English (or British) humour is largely sarcastic and dry. It takes just about any situation and turns it into a positive.
Afterlife (pictured above), was a fine example of just that. A desperately saddening series that really poked fun at the stupid things in life that we think matter, and don't. Am not sure anywhere in the world can take a suicidal, middle-aged man and make us laugh like you can at that.
The ability to laugh at ones self is very much vital in our culture. See your flaws, acknowledge them, laugh at them, and you'll grow stronger. It's something that the world should probably learn from. I think even we need to re-teach ourselves that at times, as just about every man and their dog get offended at owt nowadays.
- Culture
Alreet, so am ganna be honest and say I came back to do this one, merging several other topics under one banner. I just ran oot of time, what can I say...
Wor lass, (I mean Tanita...sorry ma 😔, I know she has a name) would tell me that we have none and normally ad say she was reet, but we do, it's just not the same as hers.
So where to start? (This could be a lengthy one...)
Our history is blood stained and at times a degree shameful, as we played our part in the slave trade (lifting!) and colonisation, Yet, on the contrary, it is filled with honour and glory as in (fairly) recent times we beat back Nazi Germany and helped save the world from this incredible fascist force. Even then, could we have done so without our allies from our commonwealth, amongst others?
The fact we were bastards has served us well, it's not a popular thing to say but it's the stark reality. Where would we be without entering this period? Probably beheading people with opposing values and under oppressive regimes - Toon fans, this may sound familiar... 👀
We've entered our periods of darkness and have come out the other side. Now, we are defenders of diplomacy and freedom, and represent one of the world's freest (?) nations. No wonder we have an alleged immigration problem, eh. So this is part of the melting pot that is our culture. Look around that table pictured above. How many empire's and imposters represent our war torn history? Yet have all moulded who we are now? So who are we to turn away people who want to contribute at the ports? Wouldn't you want to be free??? It's this embracing of other cultures that has allowed us to grow and remain prosperous.
We've had Kings and Queens of various traits, embedded in our culture with the highs and lows that leadership brings. The assertion that royalty brings to our land, brought us the Queen's English, acts of politeness, good manners and good will. We are the nation that religiously ays "please" and "thank you". Or at least we used to...
Where our nation further becomes a more secular state we look to the values that our Queen so often portrays. We don't need the chaos that anarchy would bring.
So here's special mid-topic toast to Wor Liz;
Long may she reign!
Now to bring it up to date, and to the culture we now embrace. We are the work-hard-play-hard nation. Beer guzzling grafters that sup the finest ales. Let's face it, no one does beer in a great 'proper' pub like the Brits.
Whilst our food and drink isn't the finest, we have the cheese that will best please. A nation that brought a genital rash and turned it into a dessert (spotted dick) and said we'll eat a "toad in the hole" that consists of no such amphibious being.
Musically, we brought the best of the best. Who doesn't like at least one song by The Beatles, The Who, The Clash, Queen or Oasis. If you're that person you're an imposter! (Just messin' like Spice Girls are canny too).
In sport, we brought the ball, and will return it home eventually when football comes home. Yet in the meantime, our triumphs in cricket and rugby will do as we take the world by storm. The banter that our sport brings is infectious as our culture clashes with good humour and we all laugh at one another for being, by and large, equally as shite.
It may not be the healthiest, the flashiest, or at times the most sophisticated ("Tea anyone?") but it's bloody good fun. Welcome to England, get pissed and have a laugh!
- Countryside
Now to the countryside and not the most extreme of landscapes, with massive mountains, crazy canyons and wild waterfalls few and far between. It's exactly what this weeks' title suggests, Green and pleasant.
I don't think people realise at times, just how lucky we are like. You gan to some countries and they're sun-scorched, baron wastelands. In others, the pollution of the city extends its filthy arm out and contaminates the surrounding areas. Some places, are just lush but uninhabitable. Because of our climate, we can go out into the countryside virtually whenever we feel like it, so long as we plan ahead.
Just a short drive from the bustling cities, especially the Toon, we've got golden coastlines that any country would crave, we have woodland walks with wonderful wildlife and we've got the cheery Cheviots. Mind, that's aal well and good when you get the bliddy weather!
- The Forces
Without our forces we wouldn't exist, it's as simple as that really. England represents just one of the countries that formulate the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Protected at its shores by the Royal Navy, possibly the most famous in the world, given our history of beating back endless amounts of invasions that have arrived by sea.
Should you attempt a different approach, you'll be met in the skies by the Royal Air Force, for England (and Britain) has some of the best engineering in the world with daring and dedicated pilots willing to take you out should you threaten our skylines.
That brings me to our Army. Courtesy of its battle honours, England plays host to one of the British armies finest regiments, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Recognised by the King in 1936 for its service to the crown.
As a Geordie, yi might be familiar with the term "fortiter defendit triumphans" or "triumphing by brave defence". This can be applied throughout English history, but in particular by the thousands upon thousands from our region who joined the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish who sadly lost their lives at the Somme, keeping the Germans at bay.
They may not have the gear, the funding, or the numbers (owing to the population), but they are the best trained, most disciplined forces you'll ever find. With trained medics - to this day - regularly assigned to provide humanitarian aid in civil and other wars, that are not of our own making, make no qualms about it -
THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
- The NHS
Flawed? Maybe, in some areas. Some pockets are hit more than others and some people take out more than they put in. Under-funded and not given enough priority over other matters, for sure, but that's something for another day - probably when I eventually come to do my piece on Brexit.
A somewhat socialist idea that everyone puts in and if you need it, it's puts out. The brave men and women of the NHS are currently putting their own lives at risk to protect ours from the global COVID-19 pandemic. So get oot tonight- clatter those pots and pans, clap those hands and give a cheer for them at 8pm.
Honestly, find me a better institution in the world man -
THE NHS IS THE PINNACLE OF BEING ENGLISH / BRITISH!
For what greater value has anything in life, than life itself?
Finally...
If the above doesn't stir up any patriotism in you hopefully this poem will...
St George of old the dragon slew,
So runs the ancient story -
And left to all men good and true,
The Guardon of his glory;
He slew him with his spear alone
By God's good grace prevailing;
For they who heavenly succour own
Shall find it aye availing.
And now this good St George the bold,
As patron Saint we honour;
Beneath his tutelage enrolled
England unfurls her banner;
Her battle cry by land and sea
In vain repeated never -
'for England and St George are we
Saint George and England ever'.
And when her sons go forth to fight,
Their country's flag upholding
And all men gather to the sight,
With joy and pride beholding;
The foremost mid the bravest there,
Whose hearts shall never fail them,
And they Saint George's badge who wear,
the Fighting Fifth we hail them
And when Northumbria's sons come,
From distant fields returning,
Within these hallowed walls they come
with sacred memories yearning;
there near St George's porch, they store
Rent colours, in safe keeping,
And with bowed heads they think once more
Of comrades who are sleeping.
Then when your fighting days are done,
And Bugles sound 'Cease Firing';
The last grand march for you begun
With strains of joy inspiring;
God's 'conquering heroes' by his grace
their tattered banners bringing
Within his house shall see his face,
His praise forever singing.
Enjoy your day.
Ciao for now... 😉
