General Chat

No the top of Scotland is in Europe but its geology is related to Norway and Denmark thus the oil.
I agree Britain doesn't need the €uro being as so many have commented is an island therefore the constant changing of currencies is not a problem, well except trying to change a Scottish ten pound note in a London pub.
my ten for Britain would be
eggcustards
dandielion and burdock pop
Melton Mowbery pork pies
fish suppers in Glasgow
Old Peculiar
cheeses there are such a variety
Detective series,
British comedy programmes
the country side
the villages.
and one thing I dont like British bread.
do so enjoy an argument

Isn't the top of Scotland a piece from a different continent ?

Personally speaking I don't mind being considered as a European even though I've never stepped foot out of the British Isles in my life .

Amanda

Terry, i quite agree that we are indeed European, but equally i can understand why some people may feel disconnected from the rest of Europe that is all. :)

agree it'd be pretty scary to have to define ourselves in some other way. as you say terry on european shelf so european. :) could you imagine trying to define ourselves as something else.

Umm ok am going to go for my ten:

1. our history
2.our monarchy (just so interesting!)
3. our pubs (couldn't live wihtout the good ole pub)
4. our literature
5. our beautiful countryside
6. our varied and complex people
7. the language, so complex and fabulously difficult
8. the culture- arts/theatre/music
9.our services- police,firemen,nurses,doctors etc
10. our cities, busling and imperfect as they are. :)

Everything that lies within the continental shelf of Europe is European, that does not stop you being Island people or considering yourself in someway different but we are talking about geography and the Sceptred Isles are on the European continental shelf. and therefor are European.
If it is too difficult to remove a political argument from a geographical one then one should try and find another term for the pro European Union citizens of Britain.
The freedom of speech quickly vanishes when one says something not in agreement with the majority.
Being told not talk about the Battle of Britain, I too had relatives involved in defending Britain, and lost relatives durring the war.

Europeans fine but I'd flap with the Euro ~ we are Islanders but Europe is are continent so if not European do we become seperate scary prospect

Terry i see what you mean in that Britain is part of the continent of Europe, but i think what the people who have said it mean is that they do not FEEL like europeans because Britain is an island and they feel quite seperate.

i don't think anyone meant to cause offence to anyone else. As Staffordshire Col said, this thread was for all countries. I don't think England in any better than anywhere else, but i still take pride in it because it is my homeland. :)

Uggers, our history is one of my favourite things too. :) it's so rich and varied! :)

and don't even get me started on the wealth of quality literature! amazing, i absolutely love going into a local library and finding such a variety of books on different topics to delve into.

Lee.

I'm quite happy to be European:)

Just to re-iterate,We are an "Island People" not European,Possibly before the "Ice Age" we could have been part of it ,but after it melted we became an Island and always have been since then.S o I cannot see your point of argument,end of **M**.

Uggers I like your last one I think we are leaders in embracin and excepting other cultures x

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to Terry x

I think if you are not part of the contenent of Europe that is to say Europeans then which contenent is the UK part of then? As far as I can see there is no contenent of the British isles.
Even before the European Union, even in the time of William the first and even in the time of the Romans and before that it was part of Europe and the people Europeans of that is to say people living in that continent with its included islands
You are mixing an oppossion with the European Union with a geografic fact.

1. The beauty of the countryside
2. The vitality of our cities
3. Our pubs
4. Our history
5. Our wonderful swear words
6. Our architecture
7. That we are such a democratic country
8. The weather
9. Our culture
10. Our ability to adapt and change to each successive wave of immigrants that have been coming over for hundreds of years, who add to what we are.

Terry, no one was being "Condecending, You just chose to take it that way,as for the Battle of Britain,please do not try to educate me on that,I lived through it, and My Father was one of those Pilots who flew in it.Every one is proud of their Country and should be,but do not be Condecending your self by assuming we are Europeans we are not. and We,did not have a vote on it as it stands now,it was for a so called "Trading Partnership"We have not had a referendum Even Though Promised one.**M**

1. That I live in a country where I can be proud of my mixed heritage ( oh yes I can lol ) English, Irish...maybe a touch of French or Spanish way back ?

2. The beauty of the countryside

3. the architecture and sheer vitality of London.

4 The arts, theatre , music , cinema, art (paintings,sculpture etc)

5 watching horses being ridden down a country lane still ( saw 3 this afternoon :)...)

6. Gardens :)

7.That you can travel to the sea in a day.

8. the seasons, I would hate to live anywhere it was 'summer' all the time lol.

9. freedom of speech, and the democratic process ( flawed though it sometimes is)

10. (have to put 2 in here but connected ) Literature and free libraries :)

You miss the point the French are proud of being French, they are French first, the Dutch are proud of being Dutch The Norwegians of being Norwegians etc. And they all think of their country as being the best place in the world.
There was a reforrendom on Europen membership in the then EEC and the majority of Britain voted to join.
As for saving Europe from the Nazi jackboot, think there was also an element of saving one self as well. The Battle of Britain was fought with extrem bravery and loss of life by the RAF to stop an invasion of Britain.
Do find it rather condesending that in some way you regard my family as being some how second class because they are proud of being Norwegian, Greek , Polish or Irish or whilst remembering that they have some British roots wich they are proud of that somehow they should not be proud of their own country.

I have to agree we live in England therefore am English although my Dad lives in England his blood is Irish ~ Is it more to do with where you live, where you were born or the blood withn you

I will ditto Staffordshire Col 100%, and I must add a little of my own:-

Why is it that a person from Ireland can say they are Irish?

A person from Scotland can say they are Scots?

A person from Wales can say they are Welsh?

So why can I not say I am English?????

I will never be European, I will not ask for a metre of material, I always ask for a pound of what ever, I will not use a receipe that gives its instructions in kilos, and no I do not buy petrol so don`t have to ask for a gallon.

Which brings me back to who I am....Yes I am 1) English...2) British....3) proud to be both.

Terry, I quite understand you liking your own currency and possibly the Euro,We are not as far as I (and many others) are concerned Europeans,we never had a vote on it,Yes our currency has devalued,but so have a lot of others,and no the "British Isles" have not moved.However, We are and always have been "An Island Nation" and hopefully will always remain so.Apart from a couple of forays to save Europe in "Two world Wars" To save Europe from the German Jackboot, Which we have only just stopped paying for.We don,t really have a lot in common with them.And We are Really Proud Of Our Country.Oh and as Europe is so good,Why is it that its accountants have refused to sign off its books consistantly?Could it be because of all the Fraud going on there? I wish you well,**M**.

THE ROYAL FAMILY
all the pomp and glory

Hi
prefer my Norwegian Kroner to the British pound,and i like the Euro saves me constantly changing currencies. also both kroner and euro haven't devalued that much recently
Did notice that British isles haven't moved into the middle of the Atlantic so still part of the European continent. So de facto you're Europeans which in no way takes away you being proud of your country and your nationality

Can I just add..........

The ability of the british folk to stand in a queue

and best of all

English gardens.........in all seasons .

Amanda : )