For Everyone: What Do You Most Love/Hate About Your Country?

[Terrywoodenpic]

England has always been a mix of peoples.
many are so well mixed after a couple of generations we can't distinguish them.
others are so standoffish you wonder why they chose to live here.
Some are totally mixed in a social sense but are able to maintain their rich native idoneities in their homes and religious or cultural lives.

I hate the way we have failed in terms of most Muslims, they seem to relish a separate existence with in England, only very lightly touching our common heritage and way of life, as fellow countrymen.
England has always welcomed the newcomer, but has expectations as to, learning English, accepting our political ethos, not forming separate communities but distributing them selves equally through the country and integrating them selves in the communities in which they find them selves.
It is this multi national and racial mix which is what we know as English culture.
It has been going on since before the UK became an island.
I would hate it to fail now.

 

[Sunstone]

**ADMIN POST**

I am merging the two existing threads on what people love or hate about their countries. RF is an international forum and it is not our policy to have threads that are for only one nationality to post in.
​

 

[James the Persian]

England has always welcomed the newcomer, but has expectations as to, learning English, accepting our political ethos, not forming separate communities but distributing them selves equally through the country and integrating them selves in the communities in which they find them selves.
It is this multi national and racial mix which is what we know as English culture.
It has been going on since before the UK became an island.
I would hate it to fail now.

This may be your experience as an Englishman but it is not mine (and I'm a 2nd/3rd generation immigrant, not a newcomer). I have never been made to feel less welcome anywhere than I have in England. I was made to feel welcome in every other country I've ever visited whether I had ethnic ties there or not and I was made to feel welcome in Wales when I was at university there, but England is completely different.

I never made a big deal of being different. We didn't live in a German or Czech ghetto. We didn't go to peculiarly ethnic schools or churches. I, and the odd Pole, Hindu, Sikh, whatever who wasn't English was always made to feel like an outsider nonetheless. I see the same thing happening now to my wife and children. Even in healthcare the xenophobia is apparent. The English like to pat themselves on the back for welcoming immigrants, but there's more to welcoming someone than simply letting them stay and England fails badly at this.

I feel sympathy with the Muslims here who feel like foreigners in their own country because I know that at least in part it is down to their neighbours, the indigenous English. Like them I now prefer my adoptive 'ghetto' community to that of the wider English community in which I live. If only England was 1% as welcoming to foreigners as our small community is to non-Romanians like myself then it would be a much more pleasant place for us foreigners to live in.

James

 

[Tigress]

And if I were to move to Canada, it would be Toronto, ... I have never seen a more lovely city in which to live in terms of its beauty and diversity and friendliness and its wonderful neighborhoods.

Obviously you've never seen all of Toronto. lol

tho the idea of winter there scares me to death.

It's really not that bad. Winter in Southern Ontario is no different than winter in Michigan, New York, Chicago, etc.

What I love best about Canada is the overall diversity, and freedom. Not to mention that our land is absolutely gorgeous.--If I were to move to another country, it would probably be somewhere in Western Europe...not sure exactly where, at this point.

 

[c0da]

I suppose up until the disaster of a football match last night, I would have said I like England's supply of skillful football players.

But seriously, I do enjoy the freedom I have over here, despite the endless stream of 1984 analogies the media spout. I also know that here in England, provided I work hard, and have the right attitude, I can reach the top and get a good job etc. etc.

One of the things I don't particularly like is the way the govt. has lost it's grip on crime control. Thats certainly something that needs seeing to.

If I could move to another country, it would probably be Germany or Japan.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

This may be your experience as an Englishman but it is not mine (and I'm a 2nd/3rd generation immigrant, not a newcomer). I have never been made to feel less welcome anywhere than I have in England. I was made to feel welcome in every other country I've ever visited whether I had ethnic ties there or not and I was made to feel welcome in Wales when I was at university there, but England is completely different.

I never made a big deal of being different. We didn't live in a German or Czech ghetto. We didn't go to peculiarly ethnic schools or churches. I, and the odd Pole, Hindu, Sikh, whatever who wasn't English was always made to feel like an outsider nonetheless. I see the same thing happening now to my wife and children. Even in healthcare the xenophobia is apparent. The English like to pat themselves on the back for welcoming immigrants, but there's more to welcoming someone than simply letting them stay and England fails badly at this.

I feel sympathy with the Muslims here who feel like foreigners in their own country because I know that at least in part it is down to their neighbours, the indigenous English. Like them I now prefer my adoptive 'ghetto' community to that of the wider English community in which I live. If only England was 1% as welcoming to foreigners as our small community is to non-Romanians like myself then it would be a much more pleasant place for us foreigners to live in.

James

There are NO Indigenous english.

I my self am part Irish part scottish part Jewish part German part catholic part protestant and this is going back only four generations, If I go back further who knows what others ire in the mix.

The English are mongrels...Perhaps you don't feel comfortable amongst mongrels.

 

[lilithu]

The English are mongrels...Perhaps you don't feel comfortable amongst mongrels.

Cool it guys. Just because you two have different experiences of the same country doesn't mean that each other's experiences are invalid. We are going to have different experiences as a result of our backgrounds (immigrant or not) and ethnicity. People will relate to us differently.

 

[James the Persian]

The English are mongrels...Perhaps you don't feel comfortable amongst mongrels.

Given how mongrel my family are, that's a ridiculous comment to make. If we all get together we have to speak 5 different languages between us to be understood. I just don't feel comfortable amongst people who make you feel like an unwelcome outsider because they are English (which basically means that they don't know of any ancestors who didn't live here) and you are not. I have never been made to feel like that anywhere else save Austria, though even their attitude changed once I spoke German. England is an extremely unwelcoming place for foreigners. From my reading of history it clearly wasn't always this way, but that doesn't alter the fact that in my lifetime it has been. More's the pity.

James

 

[PureX]

That's easy.

What I most love about the Unites States is the openness and creativity of the people. We are spectacular when it comes to all forms of art. I don't want to take anything away from the other people's of the world, but I am biased when it comes to artists in the United States.

And that leads right into what I dislike most about the United States. That is that we have completely fallen under the spell of our own greed, and commercialism is ruining our once truly great nation. We have become so enamored by the idea of acquiring wealth that we are destroying each other's quality of life in our endless effort at getting each other's money. We are feeding on each other, economically, like incestuous vampires. And as a result much of the great art that we make these days goes unnoticed, and unappreciated, because art is about love and truth, rather than about power and money.

If I were to move to another country, I think it would be Australia. I find Aussies to be a lot like Americans with their wry sense of humor, their disrespect for "authority", their boundless creativity. But so far, they don't seem to have been quite so smitten by greed as we in the United States. Aussies still seem to pay more attention to the quality of their lives than to the money they have.

 

[Djamila]

What I love most about Bosnia is the atmosphere. When I am in Norway or Canada, I always feel a little like a fish out of water. Everything is so Western, so sanitary, so organized, so fast-paced. Everything is so peaceful and so quiet and, perhaps it reminds me of the war, I don't know, but it makes me very uncomfortable.

But in Bosnia, there is a completely different atmosphere. The streets are always crowded, there is always music blasting from every shop and cafe. People are warm, loud, and expressive. Work is less important and more relaxed. There is a great connection between people. When you talk to someone, some part of your body is touching theirs. Either you hold hands, or put your arm around their shoulders, hold their face in your hands - something. A lot more hugs and kisses.

There is so much more chaos. If you walk a block of a city in Norway, you might make eye contact with two people and the walk takes a few moments. If you walk a block of a city in Bosnia, you've been greeted at least four times, yelled at affectionately at least twice, you've hugged and kissed at least three people, you've made eye-contact with just about everyone.

In the West, you often don't even know your neighbors. In Bosnia, when you come home, there's probably already two or three inside your house borrowing something or making coffee and waiting to chat with you when you get home. Residential streets are more alive. In the West, being outside seems to be for children. But in Bosnia, the whole family is out on the lawn, and crossing over to nearby houses for coffee and conversation.

People are less politically correct, more vulgar, more down-to-earth. There's more passion. I hope I have described this difference well enough, because it really is quite strong and very fundamental to my sense of comfort and happiness.

What I dislike most about Bosnia also comes from this chaos. This cartoon is actually about Italy, but it reflects Bosnia perfectly as well (we are, after all, near neighbors).

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/italy.php

 

[lilithu]

Obviously you've never seen all of Toronto. lol

No, I haven't. But all cities have their problems. I have seen some of the worst parts of D.C., NYC, and L.A. and I still love those cities. I can't imagine that Toronto could be worse.

It's really not that bad. Winter in Southern Ontario is no different than winter in Michigan, New York, Chicago, etc.

Yeah but winter in Chicago scares me to death too! (Remember that I grew up in Cali; when it comes to seasons I'm an aboslute wimp.) I visited Quebec City (the old part) in late Feburary once and was soooooo cooooold that I spent most of my time sitting in cafes instead of sight-seeing. Still thought it was gorgeous tho, especially with the snow covering the stone walls and streets.

What I love best about Canada is the overall diversity, and freedom. Not to mention that our land is absolutely gorgeous.

That it is.

 

[jewscout]

love the Constitution and Bill of Rights and the principles it is founded upon

hate Paris Hilton, in my mind she symbolizes everything wrong w/ this country today

In addition to the title, if you had the choice to live in another country, would you? If so, where?

Israel

 

[Flappycat]

Hate: Our politicians! Unfortunately, fundies and country clubbers are still allowed to vote. Some of us are trying to change this and have Middle America converted into a penal colony.

Love: Practically everything else! Really, guys, if you'd actually venture over here, you'd find one of the most liberal and culturally diverse countries in the world. All the conservatives live out in the boonies where nobody goes.

In addition to the title, if you had the choice to live in another country, would you? If so, where?

Probably not. I would consider some parts of France, but I'm still angry at them for messing up our language and wouldn't care to learn theirs. The UK? Too much pollen, I've heard, and I've got a nasal drip as it is. Finland is too cold and wet. New Zealand is just too wet. Australia? Tempting, but then I'd never get a tan because I'd be afraid to go out under that hole in the ozone layer. Japan is out because I'd have trouble with the cultural adjustment. South Africa is still too poor, and I'd stick out like a sore thumb because I'm pasty; being able to get married would be nice, though. Germany, surprisingly enough, I've actually considered, but I've heard the weather is unpredictable and dangerous and would spend too much time laughing at their politicians to get anything done. The most tempting places I can think of are Uruguay if she were wealthier, Madrid if you didn't pay your arm for wireless service and skin moisturizer weren't standard survival gear, and Bournville if I find out their homeowner's association isn't as commie as rumored. There are problems with every place you might go to, unfortunately.

 

[Hacker]

Hey thanks for the replies! MODS? I'm sorry that I didn't categorize this correctly(title). I thought since some of the title's of some posts say "For Christians Only" that it was okay.

 

[Zephyr]

Netherlands, I love the fact that we are a free country. We can say things on tv america haven't even heard of yet. I hate the fact that we are still speaking dutch, get on with the english allready..

I would move to germany to drive a lot faster

Hey, Dutch is a pretty language. A bit silly sounding to me, but it's pretty cool. I'm all for people conveniently learning English, but don't ditch the Dutch.

 

[groovyable]

Well what can i say about England?!?! Well... the weather is rubbish, yet the hills are fabby, the pubs are great, we have fab beer!

Yet people are obsese with work, we need to chill out a bit, the food is great yum yum, people accept you for who you are, we have a lot of history, such as the royal family, we have never fogot about the 2nd world war and we all show respect, towns and citys and some villages have a statue in the middle of the city with the names of the people who fought in the war. etc..

People in general are nice i guess. Yet trust me never watch the news its so depressing, we pay footballers(soccer.. for you americans) players way to much money... have you seen the england team play ? haha they cant even beat Masadonia! Plus we are slowly turning into america which (no disrespect) i dislike...

so england has some pros and cons yet if i could live else where it would be Greece.

 

[Booko]

What I love most: The Appalachian Mountains -- the whole range, but especially the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you like the Appalachian Mountains, then you would love Wales.

And you stole my thunder, bubba. I was gonna say the Appalachians!

Well, ok, maybe a few other things I like (in no order):

Freedom of speech and religion (or lack thereof)

• Inland seas a.k.a. the Great Lakes
• The promise that we humans might all, just possibly, be able to get along.
• The principles this country was founded on
• The general openness of Americans to differences and new ideas
• Our isolationist streak (that keeps us from sticking our nose in everyone's business)

Things I don't especially care for:

• The corruption that's crept into an otherwise sound political system
• The lowering of civility and discourse in this society, in pretty much all quarters
• Spin doctors and bimbo talk show hosts (see above)
• Our isolationist streak (that keeps us from realize that what we do affects others, and vice versa)

Where I would move if I went to live elsewhere? Unfortunately, this is limited by where I think I can get food I can eat.

In no particular order

Wales
Ireland
Netherlands, if it weren't for the CHEESE...
NZ or Australia
Scandinavia (I like snow)
Canada (heck it ain't even far from Michigan)
Poland
Czech Republic
SE Europe (hey Djamila, I can actually eat all the food y'all have there!)
Botswana
Iceland
Spain

 

[Booko]

Last, what would you do to improve your country the most besides have your local Acme Latex Love Doll factory produce love dolls dressed in colorful traditional costumes?

I would have the Acme Latex Love Doll factory open up another facility that produces fully functional male robots that clean house and answer "Yes, dear" whenever they disagree with you and mow the lawn without needing reminders.

Oh, and if there were an optional foot rub feature, I'd pay extra for that.

 

[Booko]

Netherlands, I love the fact that we are a free country. We can say things on tv america haven't even heard of yet. I hate the fact that we are still speaking dutch, get on with the english allready..

Are people still speaking so many dialects, or has it shifted more to standard Dutch these days?

(I grew up among many Dutch immigrants, some of whom could not communicate to each other in "Dutch" because those dialects were so different. Oh, the conflicts between the Groenigers and the Zeelanders were sometimes rather...exciting. :biglaugh

I would move to germany to drive a lot faster

You could always more here, to Montana. No one would notice how fast you drove.