Britain is a horrible little country filled with incorrigible racists and led by incompetent bigots. That is the impression you get from the news, anyway. That it hates immigrants. That it is inward-looking, small-minded, intent on self-destruction. Some of that is true, of course. There is no denying that Britain is on the verge of a self-inflicted economic disaster and in the middle of an existential crisis. There is no denying the government has created a hostile environment for immigrants, and racism has been stoked by Brexit. But you know what? I am tired of constantly hearing about how intolerant the UK is. Because I don’t think that’s the case. Despite a small but vocal contingent who wish to take Britain backwards, the country is still one of the most progressive places in the world. While I live in New York now, I still think of the UK as “home”, and I am proud to be British. We may be facing bleak times, but, amid all the doom and gloom, it is important to remember that the UK is a diverse, liberal society that has plenty to be proud of. The likes of Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage may loudly claim to represent Britain and its values, but they don’t. So, strap yourself in tightly, because we are about to embark on a whirlwind tour of Actually, That’s Pretty Great Britain.

Our first stop is the NHS. Obviously. According to the market research firm Mintel, the NHS is the UK’s most cherished institution, topping the list of “British things” Britons are most proud of. The NHS is far more than a healthcare provider – it’s a symbol of fairness. Growing up with the NHS, I didn’t fully understand how incredible it was; then I moved to the US, where healthcare isn’t considered a human right and medicine is mercilessly privatised.

Free museums are another thing I took for granted. It is amazing to be able to pop into a world-class museum without having to shell out a fortune, as you do in much of the US. There still seems to be a belief in the importance of public institutions in the UK. Not to mention orderly queues to get inside. And while we may joke about Britons and queueing, the stereotype represents another example of a concern for fairness.

Then there’s Marmite. There is something special about a people who can get so excited about concentrated yeast extract. Marmite’s popularity, I think, speaks to a charmingly British proclivity for self-loathing that binds the country stickily together.

Another important emblem, I reckon, is In Our Time, the unapologetically intellectual Radio 4 series hosted by Melvyn Bragg. When it launched in 1998, Bragg didn’t think a series where top academics had in-depth discussions about a single subject would last more than six months. But it has run for more than 20 years. Two million listeners a week tune into hear about topics that range from free radicals to Agrippina the Younger or the emancipation of the serfs. In Our Time’s popularity is a wonderful testament, I think, to Britain’s intellectual curiosity. Proof that the country hasn’t had enough of experts, as some politicians would have us believe.

Finally, there is the British sense of humour. The country may be imploding, Brexit may have turned us into an international joke, but we can still laugh at ourselves. Despite everything, that is something to smile about.