Travel normally focusses on absorbing another nation's culture but with the mass immigration that's been happening for millennia and the rise of nationalism, do people really know about their country's identity?
When you think of certain countries, a stereotype springs to mind. Jamaica; drugs, Iran; hates women, South Africa; crime, Australia; everything can kill you, Brazil; sexy ladies.
I don't think the people in these countries identify with these stereotypes any more than I identify with the football hooligan, little Englander that I see when I'm abroad (I assume this is the British stereotype).
Funnily enough, what provoked this blog was a jingoistic Facebook post by a family member (who, ironically, is an immigrant to Britain). The post was this:
Now, I have many issues with this.
Firstly, no one has any rights of any human being, ever. About anything. Secondly, they are obeying this country's rules, as I pointed out by adding a link to the Human Rights Act 1988 to my comment, which clearly states freedom of religion. Thirdly, they might not be allowed or want to live in their own country, if that happens to be Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen or Saudi Arabia, for example. Just because they choose to wear a burqa, doesn't mean they want to comply with Sharia Law. Or maybe, we assume they're immigrants, they might be British born or white. Thirdly, why would be tie up Parliament in lengthy and costly legislation that only affects 0.2% of the population? Fourthly, if we were to ban the burqa, we couldn't do it on religious grounds, as that sets a precedent so it would have to be all face coverings, including masks, helmets and gorilla suits.
Aside from the flaws in this argument. I struck me that this person and the people who liked and commented in response to me didn't know a single thing about British history and the values that developed from that.
The UK has a very rich and sketchy history, both domestically and globally.
We defeated the Spanish Armada in defiance to Catholic rule, along with Napoleon, the Boers, the Saracens and the Germans x2. The British Empire spanned 700 years and ruled over 20% of the world's population.
It sounds impressive, but the UK was responsible for many, many atrocities. It massacred, starved, exploited and enslaved people all over the world for profit.
Despite this, the UK invented common law (which defends these burqa wearing ladies) with the Magna Carta 800 years ago. And it co-founded institutions like the UN and the EU to ensure human rights, peace and justice globally.
It's worth remembering that the UK was the first superpower to abolish slavery and give women the vote. It also pioneered universal healthcare, the judiciary and modern government. The empire (for all its failings) helped spread this morality and social responsibility around the world.
The UK was innovative, creative and pioneering in defence, economics, industry, science and the arts. The greatest inventions like the Industrial Revolution, the vaccines, engines - steam and motor, magnetic fields, modern psychics, railways, computer programming, algorithms and the internet are all British.
These are facts I think a lot of people from Tommy Robinson, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and other players from the far right or populist movements forget.
Britain was built not on blue passports, birthright, bendy bananas or St George's Cross, but on a system of democracy, justice and liberty.
Railing against these values is deeply unpatriotic and shows a complete misunderstanding of what it means to be British.
As a reminder, here is the face of Britain. Ladies and gentlemen, William Wilberforce - a warrior and innovator for change, so everyone benefits from democracy, justice and liberty.
If only the aforementioned spent as much time fighting for a living wage for nurses, improved social care and funding for housing as they do spreading mindless hate, perhaps they too could stand on the shoulder of giants.
