Question for English People

[alphamale]

This is an odd group of questions - would appreciate straight answers without sarcasm.

- Is the UK a federation? What are the geographical areas called from which members of parliament are elected?

- How much longer do you think the monarchy will last - indefinitely?

- Do most British feel loyalty to the Queen? Do most English?

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents?

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years?

- If they did, would the english let them?

- Do british feel any "seperateness" from continental europe?

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history?

- Finally, the big question:

Do british people commonly use the word "fix" to mean "repair", as opposed to meaning "make immoveable"?

[Veritas]

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years?

- If they did, would the english let them?


:hysteric: :laughdie:

[Veritas]

Oh, and Scotland cannot break away from the UK. It is part of the UK. If it 'broke away' the UK as we know it would no longer exist. England does not equal Britain or UK. It is merely part of them. But I shall leave this thread to the English members.

[Veritas]

Hell, why not? I'll give it a go. Hope the fact I am a Scot doesn't exclude me from this.

This is an odd group of questions - would appreciate straight answers without sarcasm.

Okay then. Here goes.

- Is the UK a federation? What are the geographical areas called from which members of parliament are elected? No, the UK is made up of four separate countries. Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 'UK' means 'United Kingdom' - it's just a collective name. Oh, and MPs are elected from their constituencies.

- How much longer do you think the monarchy will last - indefinitely? Hopefully not another five minutes. Realistically, I reckon it'll die out with William.

- Do most British feel loyalty to the Queen? Do most English? Generally Scots feel next to none. Why should we? What is the monarchy for?

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents? I'll guess at 'residents but obviously not English because of their accent/fact they don't speak the language'.

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years? Hope so. I'd say 50/50

- If they did, would the english let them? They don't have a choice.

- Do british feel any "seperateness" from continental europe? Probably because of the water between us, yes. Because it takes a bit more effort to cross a channel than a border in Europe, most don't bother. Hence the number of fat shirtless men on holiday in Brighton who complain about 'bloody foreigners' and not having to eat 'foreign muck'.

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history? Oh boy. Who's gonna tell him?

- Finally, the big question:

Do british people commonly use the word "fix" to mean "repair", as opposed to meaning "make immoveable"? Yes.

[Legs]

Oh, and Scotland cannot break away from the UK. It is part of the UK. If it 'broke away' the UK as we know it would no longer exist. England does not equal Britain or UK. It is merely part of them. But I shall leave this thread to the English members.
SP, you have such a chip on your shoulder about Scotland - it comes through in so many of your posts. You seem really angry about something :eek:

You have to chill ... have a drink :marg:

[alphamale]

Oh, and Scotland cannot break away from the UK. It is part of the UK. If it 'broke away' the UK as we know it would no longer exist. England does not equal Britain or UK. It is merely part of them. But I shall leave this thread to the English members.

I KNOW england doesn't equal the UK and made a careful distinction throughout my post. Well OF COURSE if they broke away the UK wouldn't exist .... duuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[alphamale]

- Is the UK a federation? What are the geographical areas called from which members of parliament are elected? No, the UK is made up of four separate countries. Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 'UK' means 'United Kingdom' - it's just a collective name. Oh, and MPs are elected from their constituencies.

I have difficulty with the concept of a country composed of countries. What generic type of country? For example, the U.S. is a federal republic. What does "constituencies" mean in this context? How geographically?

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years? Hope so. I'd say 50/50

Say that happens - then all 3 will be content with being tiny countries - no longer a world power?

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history? Oh boy. Who's gonna tell him?

Who IS going to tell me? The incorporation of scotland and wales was hundreds of years ago. Do people really still hold grudges about something that happened so long ago?

Finally, here's a question that REALLY requires that you turn off your smartass button, your ideological button, and your Iraq war button. What is the general attitude of ordinary British people toward america?

[Petra]

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents? I'll guess at 'residents but obviously not English because of their accent/fact they don't speak the language'.

What about their British-born, English-speaking children? Or immigrants who arrived from Pakistan in their childhoods (so were born in Pakistan), but are English educated with no discernable 'foreign' accent?

[alphamale]

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents? I'll guess at 'residents but obviously not English because of their accent/fact they don't speak the language'.

What about their British-born, English-speaking children? Or immigrants who arrived from Pakistan in their childhoods (so were born in Pakistan), but are English educated with no discernable 'foreign' accent?

Accent isn't my question - assimilation is. Are they loyal to the UK? Would they defend it in the army? Do they identify with it more than pakistan or where ever? Do they celebrate UK holidays or ones from the home country? Do they embrace common UK cultural ideas? Do they keep to tightknit homeland community groups, or live, work, associate with UK people in general?

[Petra]

Accent isn't my question - assimilation is.

I know. I was asking a question to the answer you had already received - so my post was not directed at you.

Are they loyal to the UK? Would they defend it in the army? Do they identify with it more than pakistan or where ever? Do they celebrate UK holidays or ones from the home country? Do they embrace common UK cultural ideas? Do they keep to tightknit homeland community groups, or live, work, associate with UK people in general?


Probably all of the above.

The difference between the UK and the US, is that they celebrate multiculturalism more than you prossibly do in much of the US, where a more singular, homogenous, *patriot* culture is more highly prized.

It is possible in the UK to be both fully and culturally British, and fully and culturally Pakistani (or West Indian or whatever). You may easily maintain your ethnic cultural identity and celebrate that and still be 100% British and fully assimilated*.

At least in my experience, anyway.


*I'm assuming that when you say 'assimilated' you don't mean like the Borg or anything; that you just mean accepted and integrated into normal society without actually having to endlessly repeat pledges of allegiance, or salute flags, or change your hairdo or anything to look like a clone of the Queen or the President, or something.

[alphamale]

The difference between the UK (and many other countries) is that they celebrate multiculturalism more than you prossibly do in the US, where a more singular, homogenous, *patriot* culture is more highly prized.

Just to clarify for you on that - american culture can hardly be called homogeneous as we have had substantial immigrations from everywhere in the world. The "American Idea" is that you are american first, no ifs. But if something was of value in your previous culture, and it became widely adopted, it was absorbed into the american culture and became part of it. The national motto is "E Pluribus Unum" - from many, one. The multicultural idea, in contrast, is from many, many. Eventually with intermarriage in the U.S., there's no "home country". For example, I'm of english, irish, scots, italian, and german descent. We have adopted such imported ideas as celebrating christmas (for the first few hundred years christmas was not something one would celebrate), octoberfest is celebrated all over in the fall, and in southern california we celibrate cinco de mayo, something that nowadays is not very celebrated in its home country of mexico.

[Petra]

Actually, I'm not saying what I mean very well....

*gives up because Red Hot Chili Peppers are on the telly, and they rock...*


:wave:

[Petra]

Just to clarify for you on that - american culture can hardly be called homogeneous as we have had substantial immigrations from everywhere in the world.

Yes, I know that. You are a new country that has peoples from all four corners of the globe inhabiting the US.


The "American Idea" is that you are american first, no ifs.

Exactly. That is not such a strong issue in many other countries.

But if something was of value in your previous culture, and it became widely adopted, it was absorbed into the american culture and became part of it. The national motto is "E Pluribus Unum" - from many, one. The multicultural idea is from many, many. Eventually with intermarriage in the U.S., there's no "home country". For example, I'm of english, irish, scots, italian, and german descent. We have adopted such imported ideas as celebrating christmas (for the first few hundred years christmas was not something one would celebrate), octoberfest is celebrated all over in the fall, and in southern california we celibrate cinco de mayo, something that nowadays is not very celebrated in its home country of mexico.


I went to school in NZ and US (Ohio), and am a British subject born to a German mother in Germany. I've lived in a few different countries and cultures, and the US was the most *patriotic*, schooling kids to US-only worldviews and homogeny. In school in NZ, we learned about China, India, NZ, Australia, South Pacific, Mid East and Europe in Geography, History and Social Studies classes. In the US, I only learne about the US, and the rest of the world and it's assorted cultures was largely ignored. So, it stands to reason to me, that the US was striving for a homogenous, singular *American* culture - monoculturalism over and above multiculturalism.

Though the celebrations of such festivities as Cinco de Mayo, etc, is duely noted - though I suspect that has more to do with the VERY high percentage of immigrants from the orginating countries living in a particular region.


ETA: Much may have changed since I was at school in the US, as this was back in the 70's, but even so, it would have influenced the [/Team America] *America! Fuck, yeah!* [/TA] attitudes of those in my generation and older.

Shit, even back then, I have a Maori stepfaher and interracial marriage was very much the norm in NZ society, but when my first boyfriend in the US was a very fine black man from a very good Air Force officer family, my name was mud as I shouldn't be kissing that black boy. First time I ever encountered racism - really threw me for a loop, I didn't understand it.

[John Carter]

I went to school in NZ and US (Ohio), and am a British subject born to a German mother in Germany. I've lived in a few different countries and cultures, and the US was the most *patriotic*, schooling kids to US-only worldviews and homogeny. In school in NZ, we learned about China, India, NZ, Australia, South Pacific, Mid East and Europe in Geography, History and Social Studies classes. In the US, I only learne about the US, and the rest of the world and it's assorted cultures was largely ignored. So, it stands to reason to me, that the US was striving for a homogenous, singular *American* culture - monoculturalism over and above multiculturalism.

Though the celebrations of such festivities as Cinco de Mayo, etc, is duely noted - though I suspect that has more to do with the VERY high percentage of immigrants from the orginating countries living in a particular region.


ETA: Much may have changed since I was at school in the US, as this was back in the 70's, but even so, it would have influenced the [/Team America] *America! Fuck, yeah!* [/TA] attitudes of those in my generation and older.

Shit, even back then, I have a Maori stepfaher and interracial marriage was very much the norm in NZ society, but when my first boyfriend in the US was a very fine black man from a very good Air Force officer family, my name was mud as I shouldn't be kissing that black boy. First time I ever encountered racism - really threw me for a loop, I didn't understand it.

I probably shouldn't contribute to this derail, but I can't resist. How many years did you attend school in the US? I also went to high school in the '70's in the US. At my school, history was divided into various concentrations in different years. One year was American History, another was World History. For that matter, we were required to take one year of history that concentrated solely on the history of our state.

As for the racism you encountered, there were more than one interracial couple at my high school, and nobody cared. And I went to school in the Deep South.

[Petra]

I probably shouldn't contribute to this derail, but I can't resist. How many years did you attend school in the US? I also went to high school in the '70's in the US. At my school, history was divided into various concentrations in different years. One year was American History, another was World History. For that matter, we were required to take one year of history that concentrated solely on the history of our state.

As for the racism you encountered, there were more than one interracial couple at my high school, and nobody cared. And I went to school in the Deep South.

I was in Ohio between 1977 and 1979, at Park Hills High School in Fairborn.

It was no problem being friends with blacks - you could hang out with them no problem - but the moment I kissed him at the High School Prom, things changed.

[/end derail]

[Dragar]

- Is the UK a federation? What are the geographical areas called from which members of parliament are elected?

Already answered better than I could.

- How much longer do you think the monarchy will last - indefinitely?

Could do. Could also die out with William, as has been suggested. Most people seem to agree it's a huge waste of money, but at the same time I suspect are vaguely fond of them - enough to keep a lot of people from actually working to be rid of them.

- Do most British feel loyalty to the Queen? Do most English?

Not really.

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents?

I'd say it falls somewhere in the middle. What 'British' means is different for a lot of people.

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years?

I doubt it will happen, but maybe. With compromises being made in how much each country gets in governing themselves, I think it unlikely they'll want to break up the UK.

- If they did, would the english let them?

Of course.

- Do british feel any "seperateness" from continental europe?

Definately.

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history?

Only in a half-jokey sort of way, in my experience. Much more tension with the Germans, and possibly France.

Do british people commonly use the word "fix" to mean "repair", as opposed to meaning "make immoveable"?

Yes.

Finally, here's a question that REALLY requires that you turn off your smartass button, your ideological button, and your Iraq war button. What is the general attitude of ordinary British people toward america?

My guess is that in general, they think it's a loud, dangerous country with lots of crazy religious nuts, silly laws about guns and drinking, and doesn't really give a damn about what happens outside its borders.

Accent isn't my question - assimilation is. Are they loyal to the UK? Would they defend it in the army?

As much as most British are. Which is to say - enough to care, as it's where they live.

Do they identify with it more than pakistan or where ever? Do they celebrate UK holidays or ones from the home country?

I think a lot identify as much, if not more, with the UK than their homeland. It depends how much family they left behind. They tend to celebrate both UK and their home country's holidays.

Do they embrace common UK cultural ideas? Do they keep to tightknit homeland community groups, or live, work, associate with UK people in general?

They often live in close-knit communities. But, this tends to be seen as just another 'sort' of British, in the same way the country-manor owning Lord is another type of Brit to the Northern miner or the Welsh sheep farmer or the...

[Carnivale Ed]

Could do. Could also die out with William, as has been suggested. Most people seem to agree it's a huge waste of money, but at the same time I suspect are vaguely fond of them - enough to keep a lot of people from actually working to be rid of them.
As an Aussie, I'm obviously not as connected to the Queen as a Brit, but I always thought that the main advantage in keeping her around was in having an apolitical figure to represent the nation, especially in times of trouble. That is, I think it's advantageous to have a public figure able to speak to, and comfort a nation, without having to worry about that persons political motivation. The Queen has her job for life, regardless of who's in power, so it's more likely the sentiments she expresses really are for the good of the country, as opposed to a politician who may have an agenda to promote.

[Dragar]

As an Aussie, I'm obviously not as connected to the Queen as a Brit, but I always thought that the main advantage in keeping her around was in having an apolitical figure to represent the nation, especially in times of trouble. That is, I think it's advantageous to have a public figure able to speak to, and comfort a nation, without having to worry about that persons political motivation. The Queen has her job for life, regardless of who's in power, so it's more likely the sentiments she expresses really are for the good of the country, as opposed to a politician who may have an agenda to promote.

There is that. But unless they get their act together...

Charles is not at all a popular candidate for King. I think a great many Brits would vastly prefer him to abstain.

[livius drusus]

I actually have a soft spot for Charles ever since he told those architects they suck and are ruining London. The footage of that speech and the tightassed, clench-jawed, I-can't-believe-we-have-to-applaud-this-total-diss audience reaction is priceless.

[Carnivale Ed]

I feel sorry for Charles. In a sense, he is what 'we' made him. He probably represents the last generation of royal that will grow up thinking of himself as truly separate from the masses, but is also a member of the first generation of royal to grow up under really intense media scrutiny and the public judgment that accompanies it. In a sense, we trained him for one job, and then changed what the job entails. William, I think, though, will shore up the monarchy for decades to come.

[godfry n. glad]

Could do. Could also die out with William, as has been suggested. Most people seem to agree it's a huge waste of money, but at the same time I suspect are vaguely fond of them - enough to keep a lot of people from actually working to be rid of them.
As an Aussie, I'm obviously not as connected to the Queen as a Brit, but I always thought that the main advantage in keeping her around was in having an apolitical figure to represent the nation, especially in times of trouble. That is, I think it's advantageous to have a public figure able to speak to, and comfort a nation, without having to worry about that persons political motivation. The Queen has her job for life, regardless of who's in power, so it's more likely the sentiments she expresses really are for the good of the country, as opposed to a politician who may have an agenda to promote.

The royals don't have an agenda to promote? What about all those assets they control? Massive wealth? Maintenance of an outdated and expensive familial power structure? Don't fool yourself.

[beyelzu]

I probably shouldn't contribute to this derail, but I can't resist. How many years did you attend school in the US? I also went to high school in the '70's in the US. At my school, history was divided into various concentrations in different years. One year was American History, another was World History. For that matter, we were required to take one year of history that concentrated solely on the history of our state.

As for the racism you encountered, there were more than one interracial couple at my high school, and nobody cared. And I went to school in the Deep South.

I was in Ohio between 1977 and 1979, at Park Hills High School in Fairborn.

It was no problem being friends with blacks - you could hang out with them no problem - but the moment I kissed him at the High School Prom, things changed.

[/end derail]


well, I got into several arguments with my classmates when arguing that racism was wrong and interracial dating was fine. no more than 10-15 yrs ago. and in the mid eighties my highschool was sued becuase 3 or 4 students raped a black guy with a broom handle because he was going out with a white girl.

[erimir]

Who IS going to tell me? The incorporation of scotland and wales was hundreds of years ago. Do people really still hold grudges about something that happened so long ago?Do you suppose that many Native Americans hold grudges against the Europeans?

Whether they're in the Western US and didn't have their land taken until the mid/late 1800s, they're on the East coast and had their land taken in the 1600/1700s, or they're in Latin American and were conquered in the 1500s?

Obviously not all of them will hold grudges, but I'm sure you could find plenty of them from all of those groups who hold a grudge. But just because the conquering happened hundreds of years ago doesn't mean that that's the only reason they might hold a grudge, you know?

Basically my point is that people do hold grudges that last centuries, but usually it's not simply because they were conquered, but because of how they were treated during and after the conquest.

[Widget]

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history?




Is the Pope Catholic? Does a dog bark?

What do you mean by "ordinary" .

[Carnivale Ed]

The royals don't have an agenda to promote? What about all those assets they control? Massive wealth? Maintenance of an outdated and expensive familial power structure? Don't fool yourself.
Don't muddy up my post with things I wasn't talking about.

I was specifically referring to a political aganda as, I think, was clear. For instance, when the Queen expresses disgust and outrage at say, the London bombings, I'm not the least bit worried that she might be priming me to support a massive new allocation of troops somewhere. I can take her comments at face value and, I imagine, many Brits take comfort from such words.

And, in regard to any agenda the royal family might actually have, I have never heard it suggested they take their role in British society with anything less than complete seriousness. It is a duty for them, not some scam they're desperate to keep going forever. The advantage of having been rich and powerful for generations, and the likelihood you'll remain so, is that you don't end up behaving like a paranoid nouveau riche oil baron. They may well be invested in keeping the monarchy going, but, beyond that, I don't think you can comment on their motivations at all. Don't fool yourself that you're not just projecting your prejudices on to them.

[godfry n. glad]

Don't fool yourself that you're not just projecting your prejudices on to them.

Oh, I don't. That would be my antipathy toward hereditary rule of any kind. I think it exceeding poor judgment upon a group which insists in maintaining it when there is no need. I prejudge the situation with a distinctive republican bent.

But then, I suppose we all have our shortcomings... My nation insists on electing a moron to the highest office in the land. It's inexplicable to me, except through some nefarious machinations.

[Legs]

[ My nation insists on electing a moron to the highest office in the land.

Can you narrow it down?, you could be anywhere.

[godfry n. glad]

[ My nation insists on electing a moron to the highest office in the land.

Can you narrow it down?, you could be anywhere.

Uh...well...it's a increasingly hereditary plutocracy masquerading as a representative democratic republic.

That's really not much help, is it?

[Carnivale Ed]

Oh, I don't. That would be my antipathy toward hereditary rule of any kind. I think it exceeding poor judgment upon a group which insists in maintaining it when there is no need. I prejudge the situation with a distinctive republican bent.
If they were still rulers, I might agree with you. As symbols and figureheads, not so much.

I think maintaining a royal family, while perhaps not rising to the level of a 'need', is still a worthwhile endeavour for many reasons, the rallying point they provide in times of crisis, that I've already mentioned, being just one. Forgive me, but describing that as 'poor judgment' smacks of American arrogance that has nothing to do with an individual republican bent.

[erimir]

Yes, but do you need to spend so much money on them?

[Carnivale Ed]

I am, by no means, an expert on what it costs to maintain the royal family. Lots, probably, and there's certainly an argument that, wealthy as they are, they should bear more of the burden associated with these costs, whatever they may be. The trouble is, I believe, that the benefits they provide are not so easily quantified in dollar-value terms. Ultimately, I suppose, the British people will make the decision on when the costs outweigh these benefits. What they base that judgment on, though, I have no idea. Probably just the royal family's popularity at any given time. That might be a reasonable yardstick to measure what the public thinks they're getting from the royals.

[Veritas]

The royal family is quite cheap. They cost each person in the UK less than 50p a year. I think. There was a check done a few months back, I'll have to look it up.

However, I still object to them in principle. They are no better than the ordinary man; the mystique has gone, as has all illusion of moral superiority. The queen is a figurehead, nothing more and quite redundant. Put the old dear out to pasture.

[Faith]

Thought I'd have a go at this one for my first post :)

- Is the UK a federation? What are the geographical areas called from which members of parliament are elected? Already answered :)

- How much longer do you think the monarchy will last - indefinitely? I am very proud of our monarchy and hope it will last indefinitely, however, I feel more and more British people are losing their faith in them. As it stands I think if it carries on the way it is, it will die out over the next generation, unless William can make a difference and win the populations trust back.

- Do most British feel loyalty to the Queen? Do most English? I think this is definitely on the turn, I feel loyal to the Queen, but as I said before, we are at a point were people are losing that loyalty

- Do most English people think that people like pakistanis living in england are really and truly "British" or just british citizens and/or residents? I think most would say it depends on where they were born, if a person has move here from a different country, than they are seen as a “Pakistani who is a British citizen” whereas if a person is born here and has Pakistani parents, they are British with parents from Pakistan.

- Is there any real chance that Wales or Scotland will break away from the UK in say, the next 20 years? I think has already been said, they can’t break away from UK as it is a collective word for the four countries, there for there would be no UK.

- If they did, would the english let them? The English do not own the other countries within the UK

- Do british feel any "seperateness" from continental europe? I think the majority do. Europe is seen as a different place, even though we are part of it.

- Is there any underlying tension between ordinary english people and and scots or welsh because of history? hahahaha, god yes! They all wear funny skirts ;) and the Welsh name their places with unpronounceable worlds ;)

- Finally, the big question:

Do british people commonly use the word "fix" to mean "repair", as opposed to meaning "make immoveable"? Of course, we have “Bob the Builder” who sings “can you fix it!” lol

[livius drusus]

Excellent first post, Faith. Welcome to FF. :welcome1:

[Faith]

Thank you - I've posted in the newbie section :)

[livius drusus]

Excellent second post too. :D

[Carnivale Ed]

That's the best XMMMXX post I've ever seen, liv :D .

[livius drusus]

:glare:

[Crumb]

That's the best XMMMXX post I've ever seen, liv :D .
You sure it wasn't her XMMMXX post, Ed?

[Leesifer]

Ok, how many of you people replying to this thread are English? :england: :innocent:

[Carnivale Ed]

That's the best XMMMXX post I've ever seen, liv :D .
You sure it wasn't her XMMMXX post, Ed?
I don't know how to do the liney thing. I was hoping no one would notice. Thanks very much!

[Carnivale Ed]

Ok, how many of you people replying to this thread are English? :england: :innocent:
I'm from the colonies. Is that close enough?

[Carnivale Ed]

:glare:
Uh-oh.

[Leesifer]

Ok, how many of you people replying to this thread are English? :england: :innocent:
I'm from the colonies. Is that close enough?

I expect so but you probably couldn't get any further away really!

[godfry n. glad]

And really, what does Lizzy have to do with Oz, anyway?

[Carnivale Ed]

For good or ill, she's our head of state.

[Leesifer]

And you get a day off for her birthday - we don't! :glare:

[Carnivale Ed]

We're Aussies, we take a day off for a horse race. It's in our nature.

[Veritas]

I thought Aussies took a day off for everything?

[JoeP]

I am. English that is. And I'm replying to this thread even if I haven't answered the OP. :glare: :larrow: best smilie of them all

[Widget]

So am I, and proud of it.

[Godless Dave]

Yes, but do you need to spend so much money on them?

Probably not. Several European countries still have monarchs but they live much less ostentatiously. Until recently the King of Sweden took the subway.

[Godless Dave]

So y'all keep talking about the four countries in the UK. When did Cornwall become part of England? And how do the Cornish feel about it?

Also, if Northern Ireland is ever reunited with the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom would no longer exist. Do you think they would rename it, or just start calling the remaining entity Great Britain?

My final question is inspired by my Scottish ancestry: Can any of you lend me 20 quid until next Monday?

[Godless Dave]

I'm serious, wtf is up with Cornwall?

[Leesifer]

Here ya go:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/nations/cornish_nation_03.shtml

[livius drusus]

Check out some of the articles on the Cornish Stannary Parliament (http://www.cornish-stannary-parliament.abelgratis.com/) page for a contemporary Cornish nationalist perspective.

[Godless Dave]

Thanks for the links! I asked because I new the Cornish language, like Welsh, was a Celtic one that had survived the Anglo-Saxon and Norman conquests. I also knew Cornwall was not part of Wales. I also knew it was a duchy. So until recently I assumed it was a separate political entity within the UK and was surprised to discover in Wikipedia that, administratively anyway, it is a county of England.