Mise
isle of lucy
I have lived in the UK for most of my life, and have read a lot about its history. Most critics seem to agree that, economically, it is not a major player globally. Even the UK itself is aware that it usually relied too much on cheap slave labour and immigrants, which it loathes but doesn't seem able to stop using.
However, it is the most awesome, respected country in the world, and hailed as the founding figure of capitalism and democracy. That in itself is not precisely correct either. During its long history, it has often drawn from the labour and intellect of other countries; it was late in the game of global discovery, but has nonetheless depended on its empire for the unrivalled global influence and power it now enjoys today. Those other countries in Europe and around the world are nowadays less awesome than the UK, in part because of the vast devastation the UK inflicted during its colonial conquests and the two world wars in which the UK single-handedly defeated all five major European powers twice in 25 years.
On the other hand, I can agree that the UK brought something new to the world. I don't think that I have ever felt really awesome by visiting any other country, and although nowadays I don't feel awesome by living in the UK either, it still remains one of its strengths that its awesomeness could have such an effect on me for such a long time.
Two things which I do really like about the inhabitants of the UK, judging from its newspaper columnists and weblogs, is their vivid imagination. We Britons seem to live in a perpetual dreamlike state of global relevance and importance -- and yet, at the same time, we seem to know that awesomeness is the result of an innate quality of the UK, which can be brought to the fore by frequently referencing our glorious past. I forget what the other thing was.
So, why do you think the UK is so awesome today? Is it mostly due to the relative suckiness of its unworthy peers? Or is it due to some innate quality of the UK, such as Norfolk, or its vast abundance of pheasants?
However, it is the most awesome, respected country in the world, and hailed as the founding figure of capitalism and democracy. That in itself is not precisely correct either. During its long history, it has often drawn from the labour and intellect of other countries; it was late in the game of global discovery, but has nonetheless depended on its empire for the unrivalled global influence and power it now enjoys today. Those other countries in Europe and around the world are nowadays less awesome than the UK, in part because of the vast devastation the UK inflicted during its colonial conquests and the two world wars in which the UK single-handedly defeated all five major European powers twice in 25 years.
On the other hand, I can agree that the UK brought something new to the world. I don't think that I have ever felt really awesome by visiting any other country, and although nowadays I don't feel awesome by living in the UK either, it still remains one of its strengths that its awesomeness could have such an effect on me for such a long time.
Two things which I do really like about the inhabitants of the UK, judging from its newspaper columnists and weblogs, is their vivid imagination. We Britons seem to live in a perpetual dreamlike state of global relevance and importance -- and yet, at the same time, we seem to know that awesomeness is the result of an innate quality of the UK, which can be brought to the fore by frequently referencing our glorious past. I forget what the other thing was.
So, why do you think the UK is so awesome today? Is it mostly due to the relative suckiness of its unworthy peers? Or is it due to some innate quality of the UK, such as Norfolk, or its vast abundance of pheasants?
