Best of British...

This morning I caught the first debate on the BBCs The Big Question which discussed the idea of creating a united Britain through uniting identity amongst the people.
As a yearly visitor to the USA I have come to realise its people are independant and passionate.
Having lived in the United Kingdom all my life (almost 30 years) I used to believe England was proud, loyal and respectful. Over the years however I have come to learn our pride is wavering, our loyalty is only strong when we as a country are attacked as a whole. As for respect, that has pretty much died out.
Over the last 15 years or so my own experience has proven that the new generations have little respect for the country. I'm not saying this is everyone but with the state of things right now, the riots and such things seem to be slipping on the way side, far from what they used to be.
After a little thought I for one think we should celebrate one day a year what it is to be British, every other country gets to celebrate and we celebrate their holidays but what about us? Do we not deserve a holiday that could unite the country? I'm not talking a random day like St Georges Day or Valentines where you still have to go to work, hell no, the retail sector alone suffer the worst only allowed Christmas day off each year and no other. No, I'm talking a day when the whole country gets a day off to celebrate everything English no matter what their country of origin. Like the Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving on the forth Thursday of November, I think ours should be similar!
Sure we get to celebrate the Queens birthday but as stated in the programme, there are anti-monarchists and no-one gets the Queens birthday off, not even the Queen herself so come on whose with me in saying we need a Best of British Day!? or Great Britain Day?
So what would we celebrate? how about the English language, tea and scones, street parties. British bulldogs, Old English sheep dogs, canals, countryside, castles, the mini cooper, Shakespear, cadbury chocolate, jaffa cakes, literature, art, everything that says to you Great Britain.
With the riots, the recession and cuts in jobs and budgetting thanks to government proposals, we need something to raise our spirits in this darkened time and remind us why we love our country and what we love, even if we dont love our government.
A day dedicated to our country IS what we need! A day dedicated to the country in which all the cultures which make up England can share can unite the country better than simply trying to get these cultures to agree to get along or else. If we have a day dedicated to England we could see a drop in racist crime and sub-cultures but see a rise in the unity of what we all share and deep down love, being British. Not only this but every Britain throughout the world would have a day they can celebrate no matter where they live. Through all of this I believe pride, loyalty and respect would increase between the people of Great Britain.
As a country, as a people, as a multi-cultural society we need this to unite across all fields.
Proposals have been made by thinktanks and government bodies suggesting days in which to celebrate our national holiday, what all fail to do is actually take the people of Britain into account, every day proposed is already a holiday of some kind and most are either political or about the monarchy. This should be about the people afterall its for them!