I know some of you might find this very hard to believe but I am 100% Scottish. Hate being classed as British. I do like the English (well some of them) along with the Irish and Welsh but in all honesty we are all different in our ways. British does not work as all countries are not treated the same. Anyway the break up of this disfunctional and out dated sham of a union is not far away.
What puzzles me is that the sins of the British Empire always appear to be laid at the feet of the English. When in reality it was run as much by the Scottish, but somehow they don’t attract the same criticism - like all those Scottish regiments and viceroys were press-ganged into it!!
Yes, the British Empire gets the headlines, but we gave up the Empire relatively peacefully (the French were fighting for theirs long into the 20th century) and the atrocities the French Spanish Italians Germans and Belgium’s committed in their empires were as bad and worse then anything the British did - and that’s not to let the British off or downplay it.
I totally agree Ian. By the way, have you come across Limmy (Scottish comedian)? I watch him on YouTube most days, his improvisation stories are very funny, and very Scottish (Glaswegian).
No mate. In fact never heard of him but I don’t really do you tube much. BTW I shall be making a very quick visit to Barnsley on Thursday. Meeting a friend for breakfast in Bon Appetite before heading back up north.
On balance Britain has been an overwhelming force for good in the world, driving innovation and progress and upholding liberty across the world. We have stood up to dictators from Napoleon to Hitler and now Putin, played an instrumental role in ending the global slave trade, and have been at the very forefront of technological development. We have a rich and vibrant culture and our films, books, music, and TV shows are enjoyed the world over. Our language has become the global lingua franca. Lately it seems that some people are so upset by the fact other people vote differently to them that it has become fair game to trash the country, its inhabitants, and its history. Sooner or later some nationalists from Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland will break up the union because of historic chips on their collective shoulders. I'm a proud Yorkshireman, and I think the Yorkshire identity is every bit as strong as Scottish or Welsh. I believe in devolution for Yorkshire because decisions affecting local people should be made locally, but I would never say that we should have independence from England or Britain.
He’s very funny mate, and very dry. Here’s one of his improv stories, all are based on ‘a guy named Craig.’ https://youtu.be/hDM4BaTwAk4 Enjoy your time in Barnsley, I’m going up myself next Sunday.
They know they will get made out for or they wouldn't pass all those other safe countries, they all don't have family here.
Thanks. I’m actually down for a funeral in Chesterfield on Wednesday and promised my young lad an exceptional full English breakfast. So stopping off in Barnsley and meeting up with friends again while having a huge hearty breakfast had to be done.
Over 50% choose England because of family. Then about 25% because they speak the language. They get less money here than in France or Germany. But don't let the facts get in the way...
There's really no black and white. Britain has a lot to be proud of and a lot of skeletons in the closet too. I doubt there's a single country in the world who hasn't and I'm damn sure every country in the world would have acted more or less the same as us in past centuries if they'd had an empire. The ones that did have an empire were just as culpable so I hate the counyry being bashed for historic acts. That said the country is being shamed by its current rulers and the horrible nationalism and jingoism of some of those that vote for them. It's incredibly sad. I'm a proud Yorkshireman though and when asked where I'm from I say Yorkshire rather than England. It's a sad fact though that there's probably as much "I'm alright Jack and f**k you attitude" running through my own county as the rest of the country. The bottom line is every town, every county, every country contains good and bad, past and present and nowhere is better than anywhere else no matter how much we like to tell ourselves otherwise.
My dad was a british soldier, I'm very proud of all our service men and women and military family, I like we have a royal family, I like our British flag its a thing of beauty, I love being a yorkshireman were the proudest of all county's, I've loved travelling around the Isles of Britain, its beautiful, I wouldn’t swap England for anywhere in the world to live, I feel safe here watching my children grow up and having fun. I don't ask to be anything else I like it here, if people don't like me because I'm from England then **** em thats there problem. I definitely don't feel European, they don't like us anyway.