Today Gordon Brown made a speech about the importance of embracing our shared Britishness and saluting the Union Flag. He proposed that Remembrance Sunday should be made a national day of patriotism to celebrate British history, achievements and culture. After the July 7 bombing many were left furiously scratching their heads. “What does it mean to be British?” they asked, jolted out of their stupor to find themselves in an unfamiliar nation where fellow Brits wanted us exploded. Gordon Brown aims to answer that question.

Unfortunately, Gordon Brown has taken a step backwards on the path to solve this conundrum. Britishness is the cause of our identity crisis rather than the cure for it. Britain is all about placing Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, four different countries all with their own individual sense of identity, under one uniform umbrella. My question is, is this umbrella really necessary? The answer is no.

I’ve been called narrow minded for wanting a Britain made up on independent nations. But I say that it is those who cannot tolerate cultural difference and want us all to be identical that are truly narrow-minded. Is it really a problem for the English if the Welsh speak their own language and go to the Eisteddfod? Is it really a problem for the Welsh if the English take such pride in the Royal Family and their sweet chariot? Ireland is not part of Britain; are you on less friendly terms with them because of it? Trying to show an united front when you’re different is a tricky business.

There are plenty of arguments for unity however. Difference creates conflict. If we were all the same, all had the same culture, and all spoke the same language, conflict would surely be avoided. But history tells us that conflict is created not by those who wish to preserve their way of life, but by those who seek to push their way of life on others. Countless empires and stillborn attempts at empires have all believed themselves to be culturally superior and all others to be inferior and savage. Much of the conflict in the Middle East today arises from the fact that some radical Muslims want the whole world to be Muslim like them, while some radical Westerners want the whole world to submit to their western culture. It is in seeking to unite people against their will that conflict is created. Real unity comes through a mutual respect for each other’s differences.

The question of unity has been raised often in the wake of the July 7^th bombings. It is clear that many segments of the Muslim population in Britain do not feel part of the whole. Immigration can only work if there is compromise on both sides. They must attempt to integrate into the culture they are moving into, learn the language, and so on. However, the country that welcomes the immigrants must do so with open arms – they won’t bother integrating if you shun them – and, most importantly, be open to what new influences they bring to your culture. There’s no contradiction between Welsh culture and being a Muslim, or English culture and being a Muslim. The Welsh culture has managed to absorb new influences over thousands of years without losing any of its unique perspective and colour. It’s when people move in with no intention of integrating that conflict is created. The problem is compounded further when the country they move into has no intention of tolerating their point of view.

I’m moving to Newcastle this month, to live outside Wales for the first time in my life. England has a lovely culture with a long and interesting history. The country has lost much of its identity to Britishness, as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have. Unfortunately, while nationalism is acceptable in all other parts of the UK, English nationalism is associated with racism, and skinhead hooligans. The English need to take pride in their history and culture, not be embarrased by it. I wouldn’t want England to be more like Wales at all. I love it for what it is.

As Gordon Brown said, it is time for us to think about what our nation stand for. The Welsh flag stands for Welsh history and culture, the English flag stands for English history and culture, and so on. The British flag stands for the belief that you should sweep culture aside in the name of unity. Are the cultural differences between our different countries and peoples so great that we must tear them down to be united? Or can we respect and enjoy each other’s cultures and allow them to endure?