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[Rvlvr]

What is ‘English character’? I’m not looking to start a fight, I find these discussions interesting. I suppose I don’t really understand how a 4th century saint of Greek and Palestinian origin can possibly have any relevance to anyone born in 21st century England? And given this character that is spoken of is purely mythological, presumably you can project any characteristic onto him? And is English character notably distinct from the character of people born elsewhere? Can any nation’s people really claim to have a distinct character given how unique each human being is? I mean, my partner and I were born in the same hospital but our characters are like chalk and cheese. Again, I’m just asking, not attacking anyone.

[Woody Guthrie]

What is ‘English character’?

The only interesting part about how an individual defines any nation's character is that it usually says more about their character, life experiences and ideology than anything else.

It has very little to do with a nation's history which is a complicated mixture of shameful, uplifting, embarrassing and inspirational.

Patriotism taps into that instinctive need we have to belong to a group but it's not really a rational intellectual position, it's an emotional gut reaction which is why you can use myths as totems.

England like every other country in the world is just a chunk of inanimate rock on a planet in our solar system populated by a diverse bunch of people whose descendants hail from every corner of the world.

It's completely irrational to imagine that a country has a collective character unless you believe that its history defines the character of its people in which case you have to address the fact that a lot of that character must be kind of dark because a lot of that history is.

[blue1873]

first scottish supergroup part of my youth had the shirt, trousers ,and red satin bomber jacket those were the days will raise a glass and put rollin album on tonight

First Scottish super group were "Tear Gas". The Rollers were aimed at ten year old girls.

Only to be out "supered " by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB ) :

[Tman]

The guitarist Zal Cleminson was in both as I recall. SAHB were a far better band in my opinion but not really in the "super" bracket.