What does Britain do which is the Envy of The World?

LydiaJ

A few ideas:

Definitely independent boarding schools, from the number of foreigners who still want to send their kids here to be educated at them - mostly from China (both HK and the rest), Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria and a sprinkling of others.

Strict gun control.

Foreign surfers admire British surfers' willingness to go into the water when it's freezing cold.

maryotuam

I moved to the UK 30 years ago. Although I was born here, my parents returned to Ireland. What impressed me most about the UK and still does, is the NHS. Even though it's been actively neglected and run down it is still something to feel really proud of. You don't know how wonderful it is not to worry about the huge financial burdens of being struck by illness.
Another aspect of British life that impresses me is tolerance of people's rights to live differently. In Southern Ireland everyone was a catholic and I found catholic thinking permeated everything and there was a background of homophobia and racist thinking. I felt the lightness of the freedom to be as eccentric and quirky as I wished when I first arrived .

I hope the UK doesn't lose these virtues because of campaigns in the media by wealthy power hungry barons who want to turn the ordinary folk at the bottom against each other and distract them from their greedy selves.

carolt

TOLERANCE.

That's the one thing repeated to me over and over. Foreigners can't get over how diverse the UK is and yet how, largely, we all get on, far right never been a major force, unlike most of our European neighbours. I'm tremendously proud of that aspect of the UK - love the fact that any little local corner shop will sell goods from a variety of areas, depending on local clientele. eg Polish, Indian, Afro-Caribbean, etc.

Plus - history, countryside, wonderful language, amazing literature, theatre, pop music, fashion... we lead the world in so many areas.

I'm very proud to be English/British and love it. No wish to move abroad.


Lousy climate and over-priced houses, though.

vivatifosi

Well said Carol. I have gay friends in the States who have been shot at purely for being "out".

treliac

carolt wrote: »

TOLERANCE.

I'm very proud to be English/British and love it. No wish to move abroad.

Hear hear. I have a sneaky wish to be able to spend more time abroad, but don't think I'd ever want to move.

One of our best attributes, imo, is our ability to form an orderly queue and to take our turn!

jackieblack

treliac wrote: »

One of our best attributes, imo, is our ability to form an orderly queue and to take our turn!

This was my first thought too - but not sure whether it is something that is the envy of the rest of the world - queueing doesn't seem to even be on the radar of much of the rest of the world!

lostinrates

jackieblack wrote: »

This was my first thought too - but not sure whether it is something that is the envy of the rest of the world - queueing doesn't seem to even be on the radar of much of the rest of the world!

I dunno, we are definitely the best, but I've stood in lines all over the place. e.g. I queued for my coda fiscale in Italy, DH and I stood in the LONG line, and later when officials walked a long the line they asked what we were doigin the line with ''the immigrants'' we explained I needed a coda fiscale and they took me straight through and told me I was in the wrong line....turned out not to be a line for me. What it turned out they meant by immigrants was NOT what we meant. Shocking but true. But everyone else just....stood in line...

carolt

Oh, and loved your cucumber point, LIR!

That said, other countries manage to have veg eg tomatoes that still taste of something...

Davesnave

I'm going to put in a word for British gardens, gardeners and plantsmen/women. From the landscapes of Capability Brown to the more modern creations seen at Chelsea, I think we are still well-served in this area, though the French and Italians have much to celebrate too. Theres plenty to appreciate with an RHS or National Trust membership, or if that's not MSE enough, through the Yellow Book scheme.

I also disagree with those who say we have poor weather, even though I've just come inside to discover if I still have functional extremities(!) Without the seasonal variations, our landscape and wildlife would not be so interesting. Besides, as someone else said, our climate now is typically more benign than it was 40 years ago,and the survival of many 'alien' species is testament to this.

DiggerUK

Tolerance +1.
I'm glad we outnumber the intolerant.

Monty Python's "Life of Brian", nobody does historical accuracy like us.