Let's make Britain great again

[Cryssys]

Let’s make Britain great again is cry we often hear from the centre right and Brexit supporters. So, let’s look back 100 years and see when Britain was last great.

Was it during the 20’s when we recovering from WW1 and suffering in the great depression?

Was it during the 30’s when mass unemployment stalked the land and we were preparing for WW2?

Was it during the 40’s when we were at war with Germany with the austerity and rationing that followed?

Was it during the 50’s, which started badly but ended better?

Was it during the 60’s which started well but ended with the devaluation of the pound, inflation and an IMF bailout?

Was it during the 70’s which gave rise to industrial unrest, rubbish in the streets and the IRA terror campaign?

Was it during the 80’s when British manufacturing industry was decimated, and unemployment ran wild?

Was it during the 90’s housing market crashes with sky high interest rates and riots in the streets?

Was it during the 00’s – started well but ended in economic meltdown

Was it during the 10’s – stupid question!

So Ringo, Rowls, Claret Andy et al tell me about these great days that you want to take Britain back to. When were they? I’m struggling to remember. Economically, politically and militarily we have been in decline for the last 60 years. The world has changed beyond recognition and no amount of hand wringing, wishful thinking or nostalgia will reverse that. Stop with the selective memories, get your heads out of the sand, get real and face up to the world we now live in now rather than the one you imagined we lived in.

Do the next generation a favour and stop trying to drag our country backwards.

[Vino blanco]

Yawn, yawn, yawn.

[tim_noone]

We are still great!!!!

[CnBtruntru]

So what you saying?

[Erasmus]

It's something old people like me do, looking back to an idealised imaginary past when we were young. I suppose you could say Britain was great in Victorian times if you are into imperialism and mass poverty.

[Imploding Turtle]

Can we please not adopt the political slogans of totalitarians and would-be dictators?

[TheFamilyCat]

The answer from many would likely be "a time before immigration"

Which presumably means before the Saxons, Normans, Vikings, Romans etc.

[bumba]

Aren't you a bag of positivity

[Imploding Turtle]

We are still great!!!!

I wouldn't say so.

[tim_noone]

I wouldn't say so.

Ok we have a lot going for us...I could look on the negatives of the uk all day long,I just prefer the positives. It's much healthier.imo

[Quickenthetempo]

When was the last time we built a national tourist attraction? Something that 100 years on people still flock to see?

Not talking football stadiums but architecture brilliance like Cathedrals or Aquaducts etc..

[tim_noone]

When was the last time we built a national tourist attraction? Something that 100 years on people still flock to see?

Not talking football stadiums but architecture brilliance like Cathedrals or Aquaducts etc..

London ?

[Imploding Turtle]

Ok we have a lot going for us...I could look on the negatives of the uk all day long,I just prefer the positives. It's much healthier.imo

We used to be stronger that we are now when it comes to upholding our principles. We even fought a world war an sacrificed hundreds of thousands of lives defending them. But now we have a large minority of people who want to throw them all away just because a few dozen of us got killed by criminals thinking they're important.

We were great.

[CombatClaret]

Have always said this board is the living embodiment of Declinism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declinism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Declinism is the belief that a society or institution is tending towards decline. Particularly, it is the predisposition, due to cognitive bias, particularly rosy retrospection, to view the past favourably and future negatively.

Declinism is a rather widespread phenomenon. In a 2015 survey, 70% of Britons agreed with the statement that “things are worse than they used to be,” even though at the time Britons were in fact “richer, healthier and longer-living than ever before.”

[Cryssys]

Ok we have a lot going for us...I could look on the negatives of the uk all day long,I just prefer the positives. It's much healthier.imo

I agree, what we need to do is look at the positives. Trouble is there's a host of old gits out, most of whom are Brexit supporting Tories, there who can only see negatives in the world we now live in. They want to go back to an imaginary past full of long hot summer days, ginger beer, cute dogs and picnics.

[Sidney1st]

The term Great Britain is hundreds of years old.

I think it's probably older than the actual union of the countries is itself.

Nowadays its used as a catchy phrase though to try and get people to rally around behind it.

[Guich]

Life's never a bed of roses but if you can't find any pride, fun, or joy on your own and your country's achievement's over the past few decades that's a little sad.

You can only progress if you learn from all the past, good and bad.

[MACCA]

Is Andy Murray British or Scottish though?

[tim_noone]

Our forefathers fought the wars. They were great.

[Lancasterclaret]

We will always be Great, but what that means has changed over time.

I look at us now as "Great" because of our tolerance, and our freedoms, and our democracy.

I'm also proud of what we have achieved (and sad/horrified in equal measure) but we have to look forward, not back.

And i would never want to live anywhere else. Its an ace country, but sometimes we are a bit too hard on ourselves.

[Diesel]

It's time, surely, to drop the Britain bit and just call ourselves 'Great' that would be great.

[Lancasterclaret]

What would we be then?

Greatish?

That doesn't sound very good. How about a citizen of Great? sounds much better

[KateR]

Docks in nearly all major cities have been completely refurbished, I was in Canary Wharf, Saturday night, thousands of people, some fantastic architecture. Much of the capital and the buildings are fantastic pieces of architecture, we were going to get the "Garden Bridge" but the Labour Mayor of London stopped that and it was private funding!! Does the Angel of the North fall in to your thoughts?

Without looking at actual buildings look at the national parks we have.

Britain being great does not mean we have to be fighting all over the world, taking over continents and countries while robbing and plundering. Try going to live in a few other countries and look what they have, for the most part I would bet you would saying, I miss Britain because it's great unlike this place.

Negativity is the easiest thing in the world, I truly believe Britain is great, perfect no, can it be improved yes but still one of the best places to live in the world and if you think there are others, you are free to leave, because regardless of what you think Britain is still the leader of the world when it comes to democracy and the right to live without prejudice.

[Vino blanco]

The term Great was first used to describe the size of the island containing England, Scotland and Wales being larger in size than The island of Ireland. Nothing to do with 'great' in the sense of grand or magnificent.

[tim_noone]

I agree, what we need to do is look at the positives. Trouble is there's a host of old gits out, most of whom are Brexit supporting Tories, there who can only see negatives in the world we now live in. They want to go back to an imaginary past full of long hot summer days, ginger beer, cute dogs and picnics.

I am one of those old gits and ginger beer picnics and hot summer days were great and still are!! Politics aside. Were a great country though that's my view.

[Guich]

Imagine if we'd had global warming during those long hot summers. That would have put a dampener on it

[TheFamilyCat]

What would we be then?

Greatish?

That doesn't sound very good. How about a citizen of Great? sounds much better

Grate would be more appropriate for some.

[tim_noone]

The garden bridge would have been a ''great'' addition to the river Thames. And the wheel is a huge attraction ..day or night spectacular.

[Vintage Claret]

Is Andy Murray British or Scottish though?

Scottish if he gets knocked out of a tournament, British if he wins it

[dsr]

Economically, politically and militarily we have been in decline for the last 60 years.

So why don't we go back 60 years?

You're saying that in 1957 we were richer than now? I must go back and tell my newly-wed parents that they shouldn't have gone to Scarborough for a honeymoon in someone else's van, they should have gone abroad and should have owned their own car. They were rich enough.

A chartered accountant and a teacher, and they couldn't afford a car at that time. Economically, times weren't as good as your romantic memories would think.

[claretdom]

What would we be then?

Greatish?

That doesn't sound very good. How about a citizen of Great? sounds much better

Greatest sounds better

Imagine that on your passport or even if someone asks where you from reply - "The greatest"

[Lancasterclaret]

Technically we'd all be fine, as we are already supporting the greatest football team in the world!

[Imploding Turtle]

Technically we'd all be fine, as we are already supporting the greatest football team in the world!

Scotland?

[Pstotto]

Down the grate again, if Corbyn is allowed anywhere near office.

[bfcjg]

Britain the Venkys and the vast majority of our people are great, people who ruin it are politicians, terrorists and criminals.

[ClaretAndJew]

Political correctness gone mad

[RocketLawnChair]

Let’s make Britain great again is cry we often hear from the centre right and Brexit supporters. So, let’s look back 100 years and see when Britain was last great.

Was it during the 20’s when we recovering from WW1 and suffering in the great depression?

Was it during the 30’s when mass unemployment stalked the land and we were preparing for WW2?

Was it during the 40’s when we were at war with Germany with the austerity and rationing that followed?

Was it during the 50’s, which started badly but ended better?

Was it during the 60’s which started well but ended with the devaluation of the pound, inflation and an IMF bailout?

Was it during the 70’s which gave rise to industrial unrest, rubbish in the streets and the IRA terror campaign?

Was it during the 80’s when British manufacturing industry was decimated, and unemployment ran wild?

Was it during the 90’s housing market crashes with sky high interest rates and riots in the streets?

Was it during the 00’s – started well but ended in economic meltdown

Was it during the 10’s – stupid question!

So Ringo, Rowls, Claret Andy et al tell me about these great days that you want to take Britain back to. When were they? I’m struggling to remember. Economically, politically and militarily we have been in decline for the last 60 years. The world has changed beyond recognition and no amount of hand wringing, wishful thinking or nostalgia will reverse that. Stop with the selective memories, get your heads out of the sand, get real and face up to the world we now live in now rather than the one you imagined we lived in.

Do the next generation a favour and stop trying to drag our country backwards.

Wonderfully put together Cryssys. The 20s through to the 70s were pretty dismal so we took the positive step in 1975 of working alongside the other major countries of Europe and just look how things improved!

FFS we cant even win at football now !

[Erasmus]

This region was known as Great Britain to draw a contrast with Little Britain, which was Brittany to which there was a mass migration during the Saxon conquests.

[KateR]

This region was known as Great Britain to draw a contrast with Little Britain, which was Brittany to which there was a mass migration during the Saxon conquests.

Nice story, can you explain why the Romans of Julius Caesar's time call it Britain? I ask this due to confusion because I believe it was before Brittany was called Brittany.

As to when the name was first used for the island... It was used by Claudius Ptolemy in 148AD to distinguish from Little Britain, or Ireland. It was then later used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1136, to distinguish from Brittany - which had been colonized by displaced Celtic Britons around the 5th and 6th centuries - the distinction being less pronounced in the Latin he wrote his history in.

So yeah, we've been Great for nearly 1900 years.

[No Ney Never]

Great again, you havin' a laugh? The British continue to invent things that change the world from Steam engines, the railway, Football, Cricket, Telephone, Radar, Television to The computer, The Internet, etc too numerous to mention because quite simply, we are a nation of great people.

[LoveCurryPies]

I'm nearly 60 and quite like now.

Hated Sundays in the 60's and 70's when everywhere was shut so nothing to do. Only 3 tv channels. Very limited choice of British food until Vesta was launched (and that was cr@p). Holidays around the UK and that meant Butlins and Pontins for many. Popular radio still included Opera and Jim Reeves.

Today we've so much choice. There is a world of cuisine to choose from on the high street or in the supermarket.

[Cryssys]

Great again, you havin' a laugh? The British continue to invent things that change the world from Steam engines, the railway, Football, Cricket, Telephone, Radar, Television to The computer, The Internet, etc too numerous to mention because quite simply, we are a nation of great people.

Steam engines?
The railway?
Football?
Cricket?
Telephone?
Television?

You havin a laugh? Which century are you living in? The 19th or early 20th?

[South West Claret.]

Great? don't make me ... if we were even half decent I'd be happy.

[Cryssys]

So why don't we go back 60 years?

You're saying that in 1957 we were richer than now? I must go back and tell my newly-wed parents that they shouldn't have gone to Scarborough for a honeymoon in someone else's van, they should have gone abroad and should have owned their own car. They were rich enough.

A chartered accountant and a teacher, and they couldn't afford a car at that time. Economically, times weren't as good as your romantic memories would think.

That's not what I'm saying at all. The point I am trying to make is that the idea that things were great before is just nostalgia and rose coloured spectacles. That, however, does not stop some people harking back to "the good old days." Rather than deal with reality they want to pull up the drawbridge and try to recreate an British idyll that only exists in their imagination.

[starting_11]

Getting rid of self deprecating, self loathing, apologist idiots would be a start.

[Espia]

I would say to live in a Great country is one where people had respect for people and for property - whether public or private.
A country where there was a good standard of education that leads to enlightenment and a social conscience.
A country where there was an efficient, well funded Health Care system;

But more than anything for me it's about respect. There seems to be so much disrespect in GB for both people and property that I just haven't experienced during my time living in other countries .... mainly France, Germany, Finland and the US. I don't know why this is.

[Cryssys]

Aren't you a bag of positivity

I consider myself a realist, which is a lot more than can be said of those who persist with the misguided belief that things were better in the past and that the answer to all our problems is to look to the past and go backwards rather than think of the future and move forwards.

Whilst the present has its problems, things were a whole lot worse in the past.

[spadesclaret]

I would say to live in a Great country is one where people had respect for people and for property - whether public or private.
A country where there was a good standard of education that leads to enlightenment and a social conscience.
A country where there was an efficient, well funded Health Care system;

But more than anything for me it's about respect. There seems to be so much disrespect in GB for both people and property that I just haven't experienced during my time living in other countries .... mainly France, Germany, Finland and the US. I don't know why this is.

I couldn't agree more, Espia, and this is why I, for one, look to the past and think things were better. There used to be much more respect and consideration towards our fellow beings. Selfishness seems to have taken its place. Perhaps this started with Mrs. Thatcher and her "look out for number one" policy. Whatever the cause, it is certainly time we went back to looking out for each other.

[Greenmile]

When was the last time we built a national tourist attraction? Something that 100 years on people still flock to see?

Not talking football stadiums but architecture brilliance like Cathedrals or Aquaducts etc..

At least 100 years ago

In answer to the OP, I would say around Euro 96 was a high point for the country in my lifetime - Cool Britannia and all that.

[Cryssys]

because regardless of what you think Britain is still the leader of the world when it comes to democracy and the right to live without prejudice.

The leaders? Really? On what evidence do you base that statement? Tell that the black and Asian communities who have been subjected to many years of prejudice. Tell that to the gays and lesbians who are still the subjects of prejudice. Tell that to the rich who hold the ordinary people of the UK in contempt. Prejudice is alive and well and growing.

Whilst I agree that we should be proud of our democracy and our civil liberties we are not the only country in Europe or the world that holds these values dear to our hearts. What about the Scandinavian countries? America? Canada? France, Italy, Germany? Australia?

We have much to be proud of and we should celebrate that but keep it real.