ON TWITTER

#ENGLISHNESS

Yesterday was St George’s Day so Twitter was all about our nearest neighbours.

@thedalaipanda said: “Englishness is about being kind and respectful, fighting for the underdog and the downtrodden. It’s about being polite with a certain sense of humour.”

@halfpingent said: “Happy St George’s Day. I am going to celebrate my Englishness by getting on the cheap lager early, taking my top off, wrapping my England shirt around my head and throwing plastic garden chairs at the neighbours.”

@Centreleftmcgee said: “There is no conflict between Englishness, Britishness or Europeanness, for these identities share fundamental values – freedom, respect, justice and honour. Nationality isn’t owned by politicians or those who take it to the extremes, but by ordinary citizens.”

@movetotheleft2 said: “I don’t really understand this ‘proud to be English’ thing. Everyone is born somewhere, it’s not an achievement.”

@dominiquetaegon said: “Happy St George’s Day. There is something very distinct about Englishness – the history, the dialect, culture. I haven’t always been comfortable viewing myself as English, but England and my hometown of Manchester are all I know.”

@jacketpotato97 claimed: “Englishness is soaked in white supremacy. If ethnic minorities criticise the state, they’re called traitors. If they say they’re English, they’re told otherwise. To my knowledge, Englishness is only ever used by imperialists and racists in order to oppress marginalised groups.”

@anders_ian replied: “I don’t think there is any harm in celebrating your country.”

@Dpjhodges tweeted: “I sympathise with the argument we should make a big thing of St George’s Day, and construct a new progressive Englishness. But I have to be honest. I had no idea today was St. George’s Day until I saw people tweeting about it.”

@Newmodelarmy replied: “I’m Scottish and I knew. Don’t apologise, just celebrate your saint’s day. Get yourself up to speed.”

@1nationtory added: “Does make me a little sad that we don’t celebrate it in same way as our Celtic friends.”

@Deborahfsussex suggested: “We should have Shakespeare day instead.”