As Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seeking to set the agenda by choosing a 'Motto for Britain', chosen by a "citizens' summit" of 1,000 people, allowing it to be "truly representative" of Britishness rather than have it imposed by ministers or a team of highly-paid consultants.
Members of the public will be asked to come up with five or six-word slogans, perhaps based around ideas of fair play or national pride.
Sources described the plan as a "once in a lifetime chance" to capture Britishness in a few words.
Times Online readers have responded with a few of their own, including...
"Great people, great country, Great Britain"
"Courage, reason, humanity, democracy, monarchy"
Some are wary of any sign of nationalism, warning:
"Pride comes before a fall".
And others have grabbed the chance to have a dig at Brown:
"Taxation without Representation is Tyranny"
"Created by heroes, destroyed by Labour"
"Our government no longer listens".
Nostalgia for the empire also runs deep, with suggestions such as:
"Wallowing in a post-colonial miasma"
"Once mighty empire, slightly used".
But most contributors seem to favour engaging in the popular national sport of self deprecation.
"Drinking continues until morale improves"
"Our glass is half empty"
"Dipso fatso bingo ASBO Tesco".
"Sorry it's all our fault"
"We apologise for the inconvenience"
and the one that made me laugh out loud...
"At least we're not French"
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1 comment:
Some of those are brilliant!
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