Fair enough. But can we not celebrate 150 years as an independent country free of British rule and British colonial status?

I'm originally from Scotland. Nearly 50% of Scots voted for independence from the UK in 2014. So many Scots are in the position of not being particularly happy under the Union Jack. 

I'm also very pro EU and now my original country is being taken out of the EU against the will of the vast majority. I will lose my European (EU) citizenship. I'm not happy about that.

Then there's the Catalans in Spain. That's a similar problem (with important differences) to Scotland.

Bottom line: you can have your politics; everything will never be perfect; loyalties are often reluctantly applied (or with misgivings); and there's always division and differences of opinion and attachment.