Wednesday, 10 October 2012

National identity


What is a national identity?

Is it the history of a nation, how it was formed/constructed... its stages of development?
Its inhabitants? customs and practices?
Is it a single culture or a multiplicity of cultures?
The food, religious practices, tolerances or intolerances.
And perhaps most of all does it matter... and why?

A national identity can provide its inhabitants with a sense of belonging, and its people with a sense of unity, a shared commonality.
When William Hague spoke at the conservative party conference he spoke with pride of Britain’s achievements at home and abroad, being a nation that is not prepared to sit by whilst people in other parts of the world experience hardship and injustice. It was a rousing speech
My question is, is a national identity greater than the individual identity of its inhabitants?.
Are there aspects of our individual identity that should be shed for the greater good of the nation?

Do we create a national identity or does it create us?
Are we made in Britain.. or by Britain?
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2 comments:

  1. Reggie13 October 2012 at 21:17

    I am an American.

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  2. Dawna14 October 2012 at 09:43

    Americans seem to have a very strong sense of national identity.. very proud. It may be because 'America' incorporates it's history, how it was formed and the diversity of its people. (correct me if I'm wrong Reggie).
    Here in the UK there doesn't appear to be one strong common voice so to speak ( although W Hague recently presented a strong sense of identity.. to be honest he should as he's the foreign secretary) in the main.. here.. people say all sorts..
    I'm Black British Caribbean esp on forms
    When people meet me.. I'm black first no doubt.. suspect very few have 'British' as their 1st thought
    Still.. I am a Brit.. a Londoner.
    National Identity can differ from cultural (although there's a link) identity, or even ethnic identity.

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