I really don't get all this proud to be this and proud to be that malarkey

What is there to be proud of? I'm a Manc born and bred, I'm not proud to be a Manc nor am I ashamed of that fact either! It just so happens that this is the area that I was born, I had no say in it.
I also feel no rivalry with anybody from Yorkshire, just because I happen to be from Lancashire.
Most of my family are proud Irish folk (O'Brien) but I don't feel Irish one Iota, how can I when I'm English. How can I be proud to be of such a mixed ancestry. What is it that I'm meant to be proud of? There is no such thing as a true Englishman, Scotsman, Irishman and so on. We have been invaded that many times down centuries that we surely can't claim to be anything but northern European (read Scandinavian/Germanic)
I also don't get how Aussies are so proud to be Aussies? You originate from these shores, are you thefore proud to be British too, same with our cousins from the good ole U S of A, Canada, South Africa. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone, I just don't get the whole, being proud of something that you had no say in!
I am however, a proud Man United fan, proud of my clubs history and heritage, proud of the fact that we are supported up and down the country as well as in Manchester, proud that even in the most unreachable parts of the world, the names of Bobby Charlton, George Best and Dennis Law, are so well known. I chose to be a United fan, I had my say in it, and that's why I can be proud
Viva United, Viva the Red republik of Mancunia ;D ;D ;D
Shurrup Domi before ya start

Ray ;D