19-03-12, 10:51 AM
How many people actually know the difference between Britain, Great Britain, The British Isles, the United Kingdom and England.
For example the internationally recognised country our passports are from is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". But the nationality printed inside is "British" (unless you have chosen your sub-tribe). It is a complex mix of history and vested interests that is interesting, but the hatred that some people foist upon their fairly arbitrary tagging seems a it extreme!
For my part I'm English and a citizen of the UK. I'm in the habit of saying I am British when asked, but don't get worried when foreigners think that English is the normal term for people from the UK. I'm against devolution - primarily because it just seems to be an excise in getting more civil servants jobs. I do think the mess of the English not having a parliament whilst every other country in the UK does need sorting out. I like the idea that Wales is keeping the language alive but don't think it should be revived above the common language (not just of our country but the world). Cornwall spending money on dual language roadsigns seems a bit pretentious to me, especially for one of the poorest counties in the country. Couldn't the money be spent on better things?
For example the internationally recognised country our passports are from is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". But the nationality printed inside is "British" (unless you have chosen your sub-tribe). It is a complex mix of history and vested interests that is interesting, but the hatred that some people foist upon their fairly arbitrary tagging seems a it extreme!
For my part I'm English and a citizen of the UK. I'm in the habit of saying I am British when asked, but don't get worried when foreigners think that English is the normal term for people from the UK. I'm against devolution - primarily because it just seems to be an excise in getting more civil servants jobs. I do think the mess of the English not having a parliament whilst every other country in the UK does need sorting out. I like the idea that Wales is keeping the language alive but don't think it should be revived above the common language (not just of our country but the world). Cornwall spending money on dual language roadsigns seems a bit pretentious to me, especially for one of the poorest counties in the country. Couldn't the money be spent on better things?