I am British. I did nothing to deserve to be British. It didn't cost me anything. I didn't work for it or earn it. I have done nothing to deserve it, it is simply a privilege in the literal sense of the word.
I know immigrants to Britain who have earned it. Who have paid for it. I have a friend who has lived and worked in the UK for 10 years, she is South African (it's ok, she's white
) and decided to apply for British citizenship mostly so that she could avoid having to get a visa when going to visit the continent. Yeah, I know, great timing.
It took her years, much beaurocracy, hundreds of pounds and an extreme effort.
She does deserve it. She deserves it more than me, because she worked for it.
Yet to listen to the media, our MPs, our establishment, she is to be frowned upon as a burden. This strikes me as the wrong way round. Surely if you are British on merit rather than privilege that gives you more of a right to claim patriotism?
If you aspire to be British and manage to realise that aspiration, regardless of the many ridiculous obstacles thrown up in your path, then you deserve it. You deserve it more than I do. You are here on merit.
Privilege should always be recognised as a piece of fortune. Not the basis for entitlement. Not something that is deserved.