I was referring rather to Ireland, India, Africa and Australia as you might well have known... Surely you can't be proud of the way that we exploited the subjects of these countries, the slave trade in particular is a stain on our country's past and not something to be celebrated in the 21st century,
Not sure I get what you mean. Ireland was subjected to occupation by a Norman army from Wales, using some English troops (amongst others). The Northern Ireland problems stem from the Protestant lowland Scots settling lands previously owned by supporters of James II (Scottish Stuart). India, Australia and parts of Africa were the results of BRITISH policies, not merely English. Check the number of Scottish names in former colonies.
Britain obviously stands alone in exploiting subjects of their empire...unlike the Romans, Persians, Chinese, Zulus, Ottomans, *****ls, Greeks, Macedonians, French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Arabs, Egyptians, Germans, Russians, Mughals. We were no worse than other great empires and a lot better than some.
Slavery was ingrained in some societies and state-run. The West African slave trade was private enterprise, which needed eager sellers in the form of African kings who raided and captured enemies for sale to European merchants. I don't recall other empires abolishing slavery and policing its abolition with the use of their navies.
Finally, I don't recall advocating celebrating "the" slave trade (
the only one?) or being proud of exploiting others. I only wonder how the other members of this "United" Kingdom escape all association with any negative aspects of our past, while the English are splendid fall guys.