Brit-ish
"Britishness
ˈbrɪtɪʃnəs/
noun
the quality of being British or of having characteristics regarded as typically British."
I want the characteristics of being British to be someone who is:
- of any culture, background, race, or religion
- a fighter for freedom and justice
- an appreciator of life and what other people can bring to it.
- a tolerant person who isn’t ignorant
- NOT in agreement with Donald Trump and his mission to rid people of their human rights.
I am proud to be British. The home to a plethora of brilliant minds and personalities, both past and present, that continue to make us proud.
The word British has always reminded me of –ish, as in everyone who identifies as British, or thinks about Britain as being 'Brit-ish'. This is because it is practically impossible to identify being British with one type of person.
By now this is probably starting to sound like a commercial advertising British holidays. But we can't look at British-ness through a lens of ignorance.
We are all one and the same.
There are videos on YouTube of people taking DNA tests to establish their heritage and not once have I seen a person identify as being from just one race or culture. We are all immigrants in a sense - if not the children or children’s children etc., because everyone is in a constant state of motion in trying to fulfill life and be the best they can be, whether that lies in a country different from where they were born, or a few towns over from where they live.
We cannot punish people based on actions they haven't committed or because they have chosen to follow a faith, or they are of a certain race, or because they love in a different way to you.
We need at look at people as people and not their differences. Treat them as part of the human race and not just a number. I am not a number and neither are you – don’t subject someone to being treated as a statistic and not an actual human life with dreams, aspirations, family, friends, and values.
I identify as human and anyone else who does, or at least stands for the values of what a human is, then they are a friend of mine. Anyone who threatens that humanity is not. Donald Trump is not a friend and many can see that, but for some he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and if Trump and his followers can't see through the veil of hatred and ignorance that cloaks them, then I can only hope and do my best to change that. That isn’t to say all is lost because one thing that stands strong throughout history, throughout all people, whatever gender, race or religion, is resilience and fight for justice – a determination that never backs down.
We need to stand against this inhumane being. His lack of respect is disgusting and something needs to be done. Do what you can to fight for humanity and all that humanity means. Standing up for equality and the treating of people as people - with rights, freedom and the opportunity to be judged for themselves by their own actions and words and not that of select individuals that have caused stereotyping and collective assumptions. There has been a backlash and many protests against the 'Muslim' ban Donald Trump issued (banning people from entering the US if from predominantly Muslim countries) from people from all walks of life because that is what brings us together - the fight for justice and freedom and goodness.
I hope that when I look back in 10, 20, 30 years from now, that I wasn’t quiet or inactive about my opinion – politics-wise, and in any other situation in which justice is at risk. The net opportunity you have to make a difference - seize it. Raise awareness, go to a protest, follow the news. Be aware - make yourself aware of what is happening, because it is just as important to you as the people being discriminated against. You want to know why? It is because we all live on Earth - our planet - a planet we share, one we must keep, help, save.
If our planet was invaded by a hostile alien life force, seeking to destroy all life and steal the world’s rich resources, wouldn’t people of all races and religions unite to save the human race and our planet? Why would it take something so extreme to unite us?
British-ness is a multitude of races, faiths, genders, sexual orientations, and ideas.
Being British or having the opportunity to explore what it is to be British, with all the doors and opportunities to find here, shouldn’t be based on where you come from. It should be based on the idea that anyone should have this opportunity given to them.
We have all been touched or inspired by a culture or idea. As a British citizen that is what I believe Britishness should be about. The freedom and right to live without anything or anyone attacking that right, based on intolerance, ignorance or fear.
We all live under the same sun on the same Earth. Nothing should threaten that.
Freedom should be a right not a privilege.
There is no way to define what Britishness is because there is nothing that can truly define it, because Britain is a cornucopia of culture.
I am proud to be British - but not if this country agrees with Donald Trump. Agreeing with Donald Trump is accepting what he is doing and in turn doing nothing to help those he harms and letting him know that Britain doesn’t stand with those who hate.
It only takes one person's hope to start a revolution, but it takes an army to fight one - it is impossible to completely destroy hope. Hope is a powerful thing and so is a thirst for ‘goodness’
Yours optimistically - a true believer in human rights and freedom fighting.
Anya Barker
Coloma Convent Girls Sixth Form
Tuesday 28th February 2017
Part 6 in the ‘my thoughts' series.
