What made Britain great?

i don't want to be a party spoiler, and specially do not mean to offend anyone. but i have different views. Britain became 'great' by using its military might and deception to create an empire where 'the sun never sets'. contrary to your views Britain owns its 'quality of life' to its colonies which it exploited for its own benefit. the 'quality of life' given to its colonies was only to facilitate its exploitation. local entrepreneurship were destroyed to facilitate export of 'Made in England'. and if you talk about today, the manner in which 'Great Britain' is eager to follow anything United States dictates, doesn't leave much to talk about. no offense but that is my view.

I LOOOVE ENGLAND! I just didn't like living there. Too cold, too damp, too gray, too expensive. But I go back every other year. It calls to me. Every time I go back, I gripe. Every time I leave, I miss it... perverse, I know. At the risk of causing offense, I think it's time we got rid of the Royal Family and Royal privileges. Not like they did in France, mind. Headless bodies, or bodiless heads are just sooo not me! But yeah, I believe England would be better off if it didn't have to support a bunch of people who think they're better than everyone else, simply because they were born better off than everyone else. Many years ago, when a part of Buckingham burned, and there was talk of letting the public pay for the damages, I was sooo upset, I nearly (but didn't) skip dinner. I was that upset! With all the problems that beset the country then (admittedly, still), they actually wanted to use the people's funds to pay for something the those who live there (the palace) could more than afford!? True, they didn't, but the fact that they even considered it... horrible. It doesn't bother me that England used force and trickery to dominate much of the world. This is the way of power. What upsets other nations, I think, is that England beat them to it. So "what made Britain great?" I think it was a combination of history, opportunity and circumstance. With the Spanish and French dominating the seas and threatening to invade, all of Britain had no choice but to unite and get its act together... ... which it did so marvelously, under a woman! And history was written. That said, how can one not have a deep love and respect for all of Britain? Indeed, without its contributions, the world would be a very, very different place... ... for one thing, we'd all be speaking either French or Spanish.

There are many reasons why Britain was the best country in the world, unfortunately since 1997, it has gone fast downhill, and is a country that no-one in their right mind would consider now. Everything has become politically correct, rights of the silent moral majority have been eroded and given to the the workshy, immigrants & crooks who seem to be allowed to do anything. Meanwhile the government lie about everything, whether it is about the economy, global warming or weapons of mass destruction. One of the latest is that criminals getting let out of jail much earlier than they should be are now getting paid compensation for the meals they no longer get. Yet houseowners are getting fined if they put their rubbish out on the wrong day, or put the wrong kind of rubbish in their bins. The U.K. now is the most watched country in the world, with cameras on nearly every street corner, and every car monitored when been driven. If I was younger I would probably move to Australia or New Zealand. (ps I though I had you listed as a friend here as well as over on Yuwie).

Actually what made it great was the unending supply of yobs. What happens today is all the yobs riot at the football games, whereas at one time they would be stuck in the Army or Navy and shipped overseas. Also what made the British great was their sense of superiority and entitlement. This air of invincibility allowed them to go in places where no sane person would go for example into deserts, frozen wastelands, junglesand many other inhospitable places where they subjugated the native populations, and made them part of the British Commonwealth, something again to what the Romans did when they conquered the known world in their time. yes it's true mad dogs and Englishmen stay out in the midday sun. In case you are wondering I am an ex-patriate living in Canada.

Hi Cloudwatcher...You know that I am an anglophile big time. If I were to win the lottery I'd move to the UK and spend all my time getting to know the people. And that is exactly what I think made England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales so great, the people. For the most part they are practical, responsible, and know how to think for themselves...they love liberty. They care about justice and they know how to fight for them.

I have to admit that Britain has made much contribution to the languade. English is the most commonly used language in the world. You can see UK, US, Austrilia, Canada, New Zealand, India, and many other countries make English as the mother tongue. The result is amazing. English has become the most popular as a foreign language in many other coutries. In China, Japan, Korea, many people can communicate with each other in English.

I think Britain is great because it has conquered many countries in the "modern world". In a sense it conquered the whole world. You have the capacity and the resources, as well as many centuries of experience then to make a great empire. Though today you don't have much of that anymore, but Britain rings a bell even today. I think the way Britain handled their subordinates is good (though not perfect). Most British conquered countries turn out to be progressive. while some of the countries that have been ruled say Spain is not that good. A good example is my country. Anyway i hope i shared some good thoughts for you British friend, or shall i say Aussie friend.