So, it seems we’ve been sneakily abolished. I’ve been noticing for some time that I don’t get the option to list England as my country of origin on many official forms both online and off, but it seems that our government and Europe between them have contrived to make England a Non Country. We are now to be known as ‘The Regions’.
I don’t know about you, but I most strongly object to this. I’m going to start flying the flag - no NOT the Union Jack, that is the UK flag. I’m going to fly the English flag, the Cross of St George. Bit difficult actually, because it’s Not Politically Correct to do so. People think you’re a racist, a bigot, extremely right wing, a football supporter, or possibly all of the above. I happen to be none of them, but would just like to be allowed to be English in peace.
I may join the Witanagemot blog roll. Why? Because Scotland has a parliament. Wales has a parliament. Northern Ireland has one. England? Nope, we do not - and there are no plans for one. And the cabinet of our government is largely composed of Scots!! Of course they aren’t interested in giving us one. We might object to the billions of quid we give to Scotland each year so that they can have free prescriptions, free university tuition, free care for the elderley, access to many NHS drugs that doctors are not allowed to prescribe in England, and .. oh, various other stuff unavailable here in the motherland. Free eye tests coming soon, I’m told. That’s the Scots, not us.
Anyway. I’m not really political, nor do I feel any great tendency to become politically active any time soon. But if you feel as aggrieved about all this as I do, pop along to the Campaign for an English Parliament site and take a look-see. Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to take the England Quiz.
England, where art thou?
Waiting mate, waiting!
Tis true!
And on some lists we are part of Great Britain and others United Kingdom ….. so which are we and what is the difference?
Many feel the same way as you as you can see from these letters to England’s National and local press. Baically th e problem we have is that our politicians are pig ignorant.
Ah, well that, Doris, I can answer. Great Britain is the largest island of the archipelago known as the British Isles. The British Isles includes Ireland and many of the smaller surrounding islands. The UK is the sovereign state, and includes Great Britain, Northern Ireland and most of the smaller islands, but not the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
Clear as mud, huh? No wonder the Americans can’t get their heads around it!
… and many are Scots, Hotspur! I have nothing against Scots or Scotland (having Scottish blood in my veins myself) but I am English born and bred and I resent having my country pulled from under my feet.
Thanks for the link!
It could be worse- you could be Welsh, we aren’t even on the new currency, we aren’t on the Union Jack, & we’re the only one of the home nations that hasnt got its own banknotes.
H John - that does indeed seem to be a strange omission.
I once took part in a college discussion where several black members of the group said that they regarded the Union Jack as a racist symbol. I thought this was incredibly sad. I’m with you, though - we should fly St George’s Cross at every opportunity and bloody celebrate St George’s Day too. It’s always pathetic compared with St Patrick’s Day. Whassamater with us Brits? We’re hardly patriots are we.