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Britain Should Adopt The Same Attitude To Citizenship As The US
British citizens should be more aware of their country and duties as citizens. We should be proud of our country again.
 Researcher  25 Jan 2008 18:44
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Yes and border control. America doesn't let anyone come in if they have a criminal record either.
 
 keepmindok  12 Aug 2008 02:11
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Yes it is a perfect time for the British people to re-think their attitudes towards their country. The incomers should be much more involved in their way of thinking to the matter of their citizenship and must adopt the same attitude what the people from US possess. In America the incomers are being usually tended to encourage to be getting adopted by the ways of their host country. Thus their consequent generations also become “American” thoroughly being regardless to their cultural origin. Eventually this matter is proved to be good in many ways for the common betterment for the country. Without not forgetting or disrespecting their ethnic culture, the incomers of Britain must create the society full of common good factors by adopting the proper attitude for the host country. This will surely accelerate the country in order to make a stable society.
 
 sudipa  07 Feb 2008 23:20
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Britain needs to re-think attitudes towards what it needs to do to revive a pride in this country.
We need to bring ideas of citizenship into our society.
In America it seems incomers tend to be encouraged to adopt the ways of the host country and subsequent generations appear to become 'American' regardless of their ethnic origins. This is good for an number of reasons which work for the common good of the country.
No-one would expect incomers to totally ignore their ethnic roots or customs, that's unreasonable and doesn't work in many cases.
However Britain needs to have a society based on the common good and encouraging ideas of good citizenship from youth would bind us together in the desire to have a stable society based on wanting the best for the country and her citizens whilst respecting the differences within that society.
 
 Researcher  25 Jan 2008 18:59
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No, countries should be able to be how they want. I know British people that are very proud of their country and they should be. Britain has done great things.
 
 celva_olva  08 Jul 2008 16:18
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Circumstances are different
 
 gcm65  31 Jan 2008 14:42
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Britain already has a well defined attitude towards citizenship.
In America it seems to be much more controlling and creates a false view of what it is to be a citizen.
It's probably a good idea to have more information and even courses for incomers to Britain to help them understand our culture and language but flags in the classroom and false sentimentality wouldn't work here.
We also have the question of Northern Ireland which is why I presume the header says Britain not UK.
The indigenous Irish for example have their own issues regarding their culture and place in the UK and this couldn't work for them Viv a vis the rest of the UK, nor should we expect it too.
Agreed that America is an example to avoided as in reality it doesn't work there either in the positive way the image is portrayed to the outside world.
 
 Sophie1  27 Jan 2008 16:45
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As a Canadian, I find Britain's relatively liberal, open and multicultural approach to citizenship and national identity refreshing, when compared with continental European countries, such as France. This spirit of toleration of linguistic, religious and ethnic diversity, and the embrace of liberal democracy is surely part of the British heritage, and something that Britons can be proud of.

I am not certain that the US approach to inculcating national pride in the host country is necessarily the best way of integrating newcomers. This form of patriotism is, after all, often artificial and formulaic. On the other hand, not only allowing ethnic minorities to preserve their culture, but actively encouraging and helping them to do so, may convince immigrants to embrace the liberal democratic values that should be at the heart of a multicultural society. This approach has also been shown to help new citizens climb the socio-economic ladder, which ultimately leads to integration.
 
 mackenzie  26 Jan 2008 17:47
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 These are very interesting comments and yes we do pride ourselves on our liberalism. I introduced the topic because many us us here are expressing concerns out the general apathy towards our country and the 'state' it's in. I wanted to see how others see us. Thank you.
by  Researcher
 27 Jan 2008 16:09
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I think this is a bad idea. It's possible to take pride in your country without being aggressively loud about it. I don't want every day to be like Last Night of the Proms. In America, extreme nationalism is pervasive and inculcated into children from their earliest years, with brain-washing rituals such as the Pledge of Allegiance. I find these things creepy and embarrassing.

There may be positive sides to nationalist sentiment prevailing in America, such as the easy integration of immigrants who get swept up in it. There are strong negative sides too, such as the disaster we're now seeing unfold in Iraq. Zombie nationalism, blind faith in the person of a country's unworthy leader, has led to death and misery on a mass scale.

America is an example to be avoided, not emulated.
 
 Hidell  26 Jan 2008 13:24
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