St George`s day

[dfmacliam]

I liked the read myself, very educational to say the least. The history of the British Isles is long and at times very rocky. I understand the undertones for a lot of this, and we will let that be.
In the States, each State is represented equally, as would any future territory that might become a State. Some States have unique histories, which makes the natives extremely proud of being from that State... An example, Texas... It was it's own country at one short time. Texans are extremely proud of their State and you can find the Lone Star flag pasted on everything and anything.. but Texans are Americans first.. ( well some think that's reversed). The same exists everwhere, people are proud of their heritage, and what they want is a resonable thought, practicable maybe not, but reasonable.

[Pleater]

Now I can relate to Texas, being born in Yorkshire the largest English county, though it was divided into separate halves to try to reduce it a bit - but no one says 'I'm from North ( or South) Yorkshire' you are either from Yorkshire or you're not.

It does seem that as far as countries are concerned you get an inverse ratio between the History and the Geography - that is the more of one the less of the other, for the mathematically confused, and for most people the Union Flag is not all that important - but photograph it half a world away from home being flown from a backpack on a blasted moor on the Falklands and it becomes something that says more than words can convey.

Anne the Pleater

[macwilkin]

It does seem that as far as countries are concerned you get an inverse ratio between the History and the Geography - that is the more of one the less of the other, for the mathematically confused, and for most people the Union Flag is not all that important - but photograph it half a world away from home being flown from a backpack on a blasted moor on the Falklands and it becomes something that says more than words can convey.

Anne the Pleater

Hear, Hear Anne!

As soon as I read your post, that image immediately came to mind:



Regards,

Todd

[Jock Scot]

That is exactly the picture that sprang to my mind too. Well done Anne, thank you Todd. The Scots, English, Welsh, Gurkha and no doubt Irish too, ALL united under the Union flag in the Falkland War ,as they have done many many times before, and since.

[Pleater]

Thanks Cajunscot - you were quicker to find it that I was - it is called 'Heading into Port Stanley' and was taken just after the end of hostilities was announced to the men on the ground. The Marine Corporal taped his flag to his radio aerial and became 'the' image of the conflict.

Anne the Pleater

[Peter C.]

I am happy to have been British(Scots department) for all of my life, The Union flag is is fine for me. I know others feel that the Scots,Welsh,English,Nothern Irish,Manx and any other that I should have included are far more important and that is fine. For me, that word "UNITED" is the one that matters.

Very, very well said Jock Scot.

I second that absolutely and completely.

Peter

[ccga3359]

And people with syphillis. The fellow certainly got around....

[ccga3359]

Wow what a thread. Of the 10 years I spent in England I only recall seeing the Union flag waving on all the buildings, never St George's cross. It was this flag that I was born under and would have been the one I died under had it not been joined by the maple leaf.

I believe in an eventual united Ireland but would not easily accept an altered Union flag. I hear McClef's arguement and can sympathize with him but again would resist an altered Union flag. I am proud to call Trefor a friend and a brother and I pay the utmost respect to his national flag. Both him and I are both British citizens and proud of it, in that we are the same but don't call me a 'Brit', I was born in England, there is a difference.

I don't recall ever celebrating St George's day only Guy Fawkes day. I take the original sentiment and say thank you, thank you very much and raise a glass to you in acknowledgement.

[Hamish]

I am happy to have been British(Scots department) for all of my life, The Union flag is is fine for me. I know others feel that the Scots,Welsh,English,Nothern Irish,Manx and any other that I should have included are far more important and that is fine. For me, that word "UNITED" is the one that matters.

I am of mixed 75% English/25% Scottish blood and have always proudly considered myself to be British (not English although I was born in England and have always lived in England!). In spite of my English ties being technically 'stronger' than my Scottish ones I have, for as long as I can remember, felt a much stronger link to Scotland and all things Scottish than to England and all things English - don't ask me why. That's just how it is!

However, I strongly agree with Jock when he states, "The Union flag is fine for me." and, as he also says, "...that word "UNITED" is the one that matters."

Take care,
Ham.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

In my day, and certainly in my parents day, one was English, or Scottish, or Welsh, or Irish. To be "British" implied, at least in our household, that one was born in one of those far away places that were coloured pink on the "mappa mundi" whilst Mummy and Pa were helping make the Empire a better place. A very Enid Blighton view, I suppose, but I make no apologies for history...

My absolute favourite in this regard was Madam O'Conor Don, born of Irish parents in British India, in a city that became part of Pakistan. In her lifetime she could claim to be Irish, British, Indian, and Pakistani! And had the papers to prove it!