I don't post much as you can prolly already tell, but i just wanted to get something off my chest. I work on RAF Mildenhall ( which is an American airforce base over here in sunny England ) looking after the children of the military familys. A few days ago, I began a geography project with the childen, showing them maps of the states and europe and the rest of the world. I asked them if they could show me where we were on the map and most of them pointed it out without any trouble, which is really cool. We then went on to look at Scotland and Wales. We also talked about who lives where. All the kids could tell me that the Scottish live in Scotland and the Welsh live in Wales, but when I asked who lived in England, they told me the British do. Now, I know these are young kids and i shouldn't expect them to know about the workings of the United Kingdom, but it did suprise me somewhat. I went on to tell them that the English lived there, and that I was English... But they told me other wise ! They told me I wasn't English, but I was British, no matter how I tried to reason with them ! Well, they are only little so it doesnt really matter I thought, untill I overheard a few convisations the kids were having with there parents. " Mr.Tom things he is English, but he is British isn't he mummy ? " Now, I would have thought the parents might try and explain to them a little bit about it, but instead just flat out said " Yes he's British. "

I'm making one hell of a fuss over such a little thing but it left me feeling like I was losing my identity somewhat. There are big rivalrys here between the Welsh the English and the Scots and I'm pretty sure i'm safe in saying the majority dislike being called British. I remember seeing on the news, when the British troops, the Black Watch company, was deployed to Iraq, they made a big deal out of flying the Scottish flag, as the company is based there. And during euro 2004, you couldn't step out of your door without seeing the flag of St.George. And the welsh, well, they use any excuse to fly the Red Dragon! so yeah... Thats my whinge over with, like I said, a big fuss over a little thing, but I'm just feeling a little too British and not enough English at the moment.

I didn't even know there was a difference.

Yeah, what's the difference between the English and the British?

I can see where you're coming from though. It would be like someone calling me French instead of Québecois. *shudder*

I remember in GCSE geography class being asked what we considered our nationality to be, and most of us coming up with British. The point our teacher was trying to make was how detached we consider ourselves from Europe.

The whole thing with the definition of countries over here is so screwed up. I live in a country inside another country floating off the side of my continent...

Anyway, I personally find any identity with one's place of birth to be a strange thing.

It's more like someone calling you Canadian instead of Québecois. England is in Britain.

oh, and -

United Kingdom or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Commonly called Great Britain or Britain.. Abbr. UK

A country of western Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Beginning with the kingdom of England, it was created by three acts of union: with Wales (1536), Scotland (1707), and Ireland (1800). At the height of its power in the 19th century it ruled an empire that spanned the globe. London is the capital and the largest city. Population: 58,091,000.

post count +++

scottish people come from scotland.

english people come from england.

welsh people come from wales.

irish people come from ireland.

together they all make up great britain, they are all british.

(dont bother getting pedantic about my ireland comment).

I detest being mistaken for the english, or when dumbass americans ask if scotland is somehwere in england, and being st. Andrews day today i feel slightly more patriotic.

I HATE BEING CALLED BRITISH!!!!

everyone thinks i'm either scottish or australian or irish or scouse.

I DEMAND CIVIL WAR

Except you are British.

You live in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That is the country.

Wales is not a country, Wales is a principality.

Scotland is more like a country than Wales, but isn't really. It's probably a principality too.

England is on the same level as Scotland, not really a country, but rather a province or sub-nation.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland separately are not.

The only time they're ever treated as separate 'countries' is in football, which is a terrible shame as it's all rather silly to. This is one country, not four.

wouldnt that mean its an island, not a country?

And I am NOT Canadian! Mautadit d'batarnack d'esprit!

what.

no....well..yes...

an island is just a landmass not connected to anything else. Hawaii is an island. Japan is lots of islands. I suppose technically everything is an island, but I imagine there's probably a set 'size' for how big an island can be.

but that has nothing to do with this..

1. Britain is an empire, not a country
2. [caps lock] SCOTLAND IS NOT A PRINCIPALITY! WE HAVE OUR OWN CAPITAL, OUR OWN PARLIAMENT AND THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY IS DESCENDED FROM JAMES THE 6TH OF SCOTLAND! THE ROYAL FAMILY IS SCOTTISH OFFICAILLY! WE BEAT ENGLAND IN OUR LAST BATTLE! WE ARE A COUNTRY! FREEEEEEDOM!

/Braveheart

1. no.

2. Scotland is a sub-nation, a grouping buried within the British state. In 1603, England and Scotland were united under one monarchy with King James (VI of Scotland, I of England). The monarch was supposed to remain non-partial to either side, but relations were stressful in the late 1600's, as King William, having various powers of both Parliaments, increasingly favored England over Scotland. These tensions, the near bankruptcy of the Scottish nation, and other factors spawned a drastic agreement. In 1707, Scotland ceased to be an independent nation-state, and has not been one since it signed the Treaty of Union that year.

While uniting Scotland with Wales and England, the Treaty of Union made various provisos especially for Scotland, exceptions to central control which mostly remain to this day, covering Scots law, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the system of local authorities (called the Royal Burghs then).

This gave Scotland some degree of autonomy, but Scotland is not a sovereign nation.

Yeah, I do kinda agree with that. Mainly because I don't want to be associated with all the skinheads come world cup season.

Mort-hog, we offically became out own nation again when our new parlianment finally opened in ... 2001 i think, not too sure

Do you live in scotland? I dont think you do. I do.

congratulations! we'll pretend that makes any difference.



Having a parliament doesn't define a state. Canada had a parliament before indepedance. Norway had a parliament when it was united with Sweden.

Oxy's comment makes a difference as you cant define what we are just like we cant define whether or not the us sucks ***

I like how they call americans dumbasses and then argue over where they really live.

Im saying we live in our own country mort-hog over there says we're not a country

If you don't live in a country, how can you be one to start judging it? It's not like you've lived here, I doubt you've even visited it. You're probably reading some irrelavent old text from a website. Just stop making idle banter of my country. You wouldn't like it if I start insulting your homelands.

<3

Well, I was born in England to an English father and an English mother. Both born and brought up in London. Can't get more English than that. There has always been an England and there Always will be. Hittler and Nepoleon tried to change that, but failed.... ohh look, getting all over the top and emotional

? We're debating about Scotland, not your annoying place whre the change machines dont take scottish notes

If your a citizen of the UK, doesn't that make you British? Going further you break it down into Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English?

I dont like the term british

Except Scotland isn't a country, so I have 'visited your country', as I share it with you. That country is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I live there. You live there. We live there together.

Stating that Scotland isn't a country isn't derogatory in the slightest, it's rather odd that you think it is. Scotland hasn't been a 'country' since 1707.

Why should it be, anyway? Should we make Yorkshire a country too? How about Manchester, should that be a country? Let's make London a country. How about making every city or village a separate country, wouldn't that be a good idea?

1. They are all counties and towns
2. Scotland is a country

no. it. isn't.

and anyway, if we break down Britain to make Scotland a country, why not break down everything and make every city a country too?

yes. it. is.

There is strength in unity, and we are a United Kingdom (or rather a Queendom, I suppose).

when have we ever been united? maybe when the romans invaded, otherwise the english and scottish have pretty much detested each other, lots of scots still dont like the english especially with football

'especially with football'.

See, when a ball game is the peak of dispute amongst peoples, I don't exactly consider it a shattering conflict. Some skinheads tossing bottles across a football pitch isn't exactly an Israel-Palestine style conflict.

I think you're probably living a good 400 years in the past if you think the English and Scottish 'detest' eachother.

Well detest wasnt the right word but scots still feel a kinda hateful tendancy towards england, and most of the "skinheads" you mention are english,up here we get neds

And...



Wales is a country. A small one. Scotland is a country. A larger one. England is a country. The biggest one in the UK. I am English, but "Britassian" has a better ring.

Independently, we are part of our individual countries. Together, we're Brits. Plus, if I were a Scot, I'd be pissed at being called British. Hell, I am, and I'm English.

Oh, and many countries that have been with England at some point hate it, or at least have a general animosity towards it.

Wales is certainly not a country. Wales is a principality.

Northern Ireland is not a country.

There's more 'dispute' about whether Scotland is a country or not, and they do have more autonomy than the other two, but the are not an indepedant nation state.

As I've said before, the nation is called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are sub-nations or provinces or principalities within that.