Hi Folks! I know, I know, many of you are wondering why it took me so long to write this up. You probably expect me to take a snide swipe at the UK, saying it took me so long because it was hard. But no! It was not hard. I have known these for a long time. I just have been distracted and diverted from doing this by other things that came my way.
I have never been to the UK so I must make this list from observing the things I have come across coming out of the UK or what I have read/seen about the country from authoritative sources.
1. Some of the best writers I have read.
- George Bernard Shaw - his humanist philosophy, his writing and a love of the language
- P.G. Wodehouse - His humour, wit and humanity
- Enid Blyton - very readable stories that subtly inspire children. A bit racist in outlook (common in her times) but builds self-confidence and sparks dreams of doing good things in life in young readers.
2. James Clerk Maxwell - The one wrote up the Maxwells equations of Electromagnetism. There is a tradition of excellent engineers and scientists from the UK.
3. A widespread belief in themselves that they can be the best in the world, but balanced with the self-confidence that they don't HAVE to be the best in the world in everything.
4. Some of the best music and musicians writing meaningful lyrics.
5. A sense of unity, ability to form teams that perform well - keeping individualism and individual ego in the right perspective while achieving a broader goal.
6. Very good at organizing themselves, sticking up for each other abroad or when against other people, races or countries. Stiff upper lip, coolness under stress.
7. Much longer term perspective in politics and planning. Put the right perspectives in people's health, surroundings, welfare. Build lasting institutions to maintain infrastructure and traditions.
8. Humour - many of the more subtle, odd and quirky types of humor that are great.
9. Great culture and tradition of art, handicraft, woodworking.
10. One of the best cultures of building and maintaining railways as a fun hobby.
11. Some of the most intelligent, smart, kind and honest people I have known - who will call a spade a spade. Very liberal and open in their outlook.Many of them are British at heart even if they have made their homes elsewhere.
12. Very enterprising, risk taking, venturing far and wide to make a fortune (even in the honest, hardworking way). Daring, not easily intimidated. A small number can usually achieve or do things that larger number of other people will not dare to.
13. Ability to appreciate the finer and best things in life and willingness to learn from the best anywhere.
14 Great gardeners!!
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015
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