Originally Posted by gynn (Post 887072)

Its a strange old island, isn't it, shared between Scotland, Wales and England. Each with its own sense of national pride.

Mention Scottish national pride, and it conjures up images of the kilt, the sporron, haggis, whisky, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Castle, the bagpipes......

Talk about Welsh national pride, and you think of daffodils, leeks, Snowdonia, male voice choirs and eisteddfords....

Speak of English national pride and you must be a racist, fascist thug to the right of the National Front.

Strange old island, isn't it!

:confused::confused::confused:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington (Post 887098)

We seem to be apologists for our national history and background.
It seems that national pride has been hijacked by suspect political groups...and so we are all devalued by it.

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates (Post 887159)

Whenever I have to state my nationality it is English - I don't want to be taken for one of the others.:D

Originally Posted by Gremlin (Post 887233)

Likewise Barry,
I remember back in about 1967 ish when I was presenting my passport at Dover to travel to France, I also had to fill a small form in and one question asked my Nationality, I put English and the office clown tore the form up and told me to put British. I objected but was told if I didn't conform there was no boarding of the ship. I put British just to keep him happy.

Originally Posted by jedimaster (Post 887240)

works the other way too, they look at you daft when you put Welsh and there is never an option for it on forms.

Originally Posted by jedimaster (Post 887240)

they look at you daft when you put Welsh .

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 887243)

Try fitting in Norman, with Scandinavian roots.

:D

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth (Post 887250)

I wonder why?

Originally Posted by jedimaster (Post 887252)

another one of the OTHER's then :D

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 887243)

Try fitting in Norman, with Scandinavian roots.

:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887237)

Dd he have a sign on his hat saying Jobsworth, Gremlin;)

Originally Posted by Gremlin (Post 887272)

Steeljacks father was another chap I worked with at the same tour company. I bet he would have told him what his Nationality was and stuck to being ENGLISH.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887395)

I once got rather friendly with a few Germans on holiday in Spain, they wanted to know how I managed to get our towels on the sunbeds before they did:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887395)

I once got rather friendly with a few Germans on holiday in Spain, they wanted to know how I managed to get our towels on the sunbeds before they did:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Eric (Post 887800)

that many Britions would support an anti-immigration stance. What surprised me was the strength of the support among black and muslim respondants:confused:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany (Post 887931)

Not really when you think about it Eric, many of these blacks & muslims are probably the originals & up to second generations who originally arrived in UK in the 40's & 50's who have found their niche, accepted our peculiar British ways & see themselves as British having grown up, lived, worked & got their education here.

The majority of pre immigration indigenous (white Christian) don't have an issue with these folk & accept them as being as British as we are. Most of the animosity is geared to the late comers who expect us to change our ways to suit their attitudes. We've had years & years of immigration, integration & gradual dilution of our native stock but done carefully & over time, whereas the last lot has been enforced on us at pace & under duress ! That's the difference & hence the resentment.

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 887330)

Race was a 'funny' thing with my Dad , he had no time for Aussies , but Canadians particulary from Nova Scotia and the Maritimes were great folks ..... went back to WW2 and his days in the Navy . Same with the Germans , he and my Mum were once on holiday in Spain , the hotel 50/50 Brits and Germans, they got talking to some Germans of a similar age because of his tattoos (think they were from the German equivalent of the British Legion) , found they had a lot of common memories, war in the Med etc. and reckoned it was one of the best holidays they ever had.

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 888217)

Question , anyone know what they played when/if a Scots athelete won a Gold medal at last years Commonwealth games , did they use 'God Save the Queen' or 'Flower of Scotland. Seems everytime I see the Scottish Rugby team play , even overseas in France they use 'Flower of Scotland'

Originally Posted by gynn (Post 888222)

The Isle of Man had an anthem too. It is translated as "O Land of Our Birth". Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT "Jake The Peg."

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 888230)

It's printed in the front of their telephone directories.

They have a very strong island identity and hate being lumped in with the UK.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 888233)

I think it's nice how they put a little sock and shoe on all those spare cats' tails, and dress them up like legs.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 888234)

I was always under the impression that the final issue of 'Build Your Own Cat' magazine never made it to the island, hence the genetic oddity of their pets.

Of course, several nights in The Baltic Inn with the natives of Foxdale also played hell with my imagination.