Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Scotland/ England, Identity, Englishness
Date: 24 February 2012 11:18:11
What does it mean to be English? Since moving north of the border this is a question I have had to think about more often. The more I think about it, the less I am sure what it means to be English, I can make comments about being from Sussex, and what that means, but England and English as a concept is more difficult. Here in Scotland I would think nothing of seeing a Scottish flag, but in England, outside of sporting events and church flag poles, the English flag and Englishness often has unfortunate associations with far-right thinking.
Recently I have been watching some of the 6 Nations rugby and this has underlined the lack of thinking of England as a country. When it comes to the national anthems at the beginning Ireland (playing as a cross border team) have an anthem, which reflects being proud to be Irish. Wales have an anthem which to be honest could say anything as it is in Welsh, but reflects if nothing else a distinct language and culture. Scotland sing flower of Scotland, while England use the British National anthem as they don’t really have one of their own. Which just service to underline the lack of an English identity in my brain. Music is such a powerful thing, that not having songs which are associated with our national identity cannot help the English to develop a positive identity of what it means to be English. It’s time that we English rediscovered our Englishness in a positive light. I would like to finish by pointing you towards a song which reminds me to be proud to be English in a positive way, but also what we lose if we don’t celebrate our English.