Britain's identity crisis

[sabadgeman]

Britain's identity crisis
12/12/2007 13:40 - (SA)

London - Here's a question. What's existed for four hundred years but is no longer quite sure what it is?

The answer, according to a new survey, may be Britain.

A poll in the Daily Telegraph newspaper showed that only 37% of English people would describe themselves as British if asked for their nationality abroad. What's more, 78% said England would be "better off" or "no different" without Scotland - the country to which it was joined by King James I in 1603 to create Great Britain. Yet at the same time, nearly six out of 10 of the 869 surveyed said it would be a good idea to create a British football team - rather than having separate English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish ones.

Clearly there's something of an identity crisis going on.

Since coming to power in June, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Scot, has worked hard to promote the idea of "Britishness" - the pooling of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales under one banner - in an attempt at inclusiveness. Yet as much as he's tried to talk it up, others have been pulling at the ties that bind the nations together.

Wales not represented on Union Jack

One of the more recent assaults was on the flag - usually dubbed the "Union Jack" - which combines the banners of England, Scotland and Ireland, but not Wales. Piqued, a member of parliament from a Welsh constituency pointed out that it might be more inclusive if Wales had some representation - the Welsh dragon or leek emblem. Yet legally Wales is a principality of England - Prince Charles, the son of the queen, is the Prince of Wales - and so does not get its own symbol in the Union flag. There may be a Welsh national parliament, but it has only limited autonomy.

The Scottish parliament, on the other hand, has grown increasingly self-confident since its founding in 1999 and now makes all sorts of decisions on national issues ranging from health care to education, although not taxation. The ruling party is now the Scottish National Party, which has made independence from Britain one of its stated aims as it rides a wave of nationalist feeling.

Brown, Cameron promoting 'Britishness'

That has raised the hackles of Brown, who while a proud Scotsman, is equally if not more proud to call himself British. "Brown is a unionist and wants to see the Union flag flying much more often over government buildings in England, Scotland and everywhere else," said Graham Bartram, the chief vexilloligist - flag expert - at Britain's Flag Institute. "The problem is, the Scots are thinking of themselves more and more as Scots and you're unlikely to see the Union flag anywhere in Scotland these days."

One thing to emerge from the tensions over Britishness is that leaders of both Britain's major political parties support it as a concept - both Brown and the Conservative leader David Cameron. In fact, they seem to be trying to outdo one another over who is the most committed. On Monday, Cameron travelled to Edinburgh in Scotland to promote the issue, and derided "coarse and narrow" nationalism.

"English and British, Scottish and British, British and proud of it.... We must confront and defeat the ugly stain of separatism that is seeping through the Union flag."

Better an imperfect union, he said, than a broken one.

Britain's identity crisis: World: News: News24

[redtanker]

Interesting Story. I spent a few weeks in GB back in 2004 working with the British Army. I made the mistake of thinking a Scot was English. He was not "Pissed" but upset and quickly let me know he was a Scot. After talking to several of the Soldiers I learned that they are very much Welsh, Scot, Irish or English. However they (Maybe it was because they were military) also very proud to be British. I can see the division but I also saw some unity. .....all I have to say is....ever meet a Texan?

[Snowden]

That's a good comparison, Phil.

We American descendants of the British seem to carry this determined identification on. I seldom say I am of British extraction. First I am Welsh, then Scot, then Irish and then English. Which of the four I have more of than the others I really can't say -- but we claim to be Welsh because my father's family was Welsh. His Irish red hair and sense of humor in no way detracts from that!

[Woodmonkey]

I would hate to see Great Britain break up into a couple of smaller countries. It would weaken all of them on the world stage.

[jonathan_ddr]

We are weakened already because some idiot opened the flood gates to Europe and the same idiots are trying to bow down to all the different minorities that the true Brits are now in danger of becoming a minority.

Saying around these parts:
"IF you are a White, Hetrosexial, Male and British Born you have NO rights"

Jon

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by jonathan_ddr

We are weakened already because some idiot opened the flood gates to Europe and the same idiots are trying to bow down to all the different minorities that the true Brits are now in danger of becoming a minority.

Saying around these parts:
"IF you are a White, Hetrosexial, Male and British Born you have NO rights"

Jon

[leobold1]

Originally Posted by redtanker

Interesting Story. I spent a few weeks in GB back in 2004 working with the British Army. I made the mistake of thinking a Scot was English. He was not "Pissed" but upset and quickly let me know he was a Scot. After talking to several of the Soldiers I learned that they are very much Welsh, Scot, Irish or English. However they (Maybe it was because they were military) also very proud to be British. I can see the division but I also saw some unity. .....all I have to say is....ever meet a Texan?

I do think Texans (aside from those who are looking to run for office) are the only people in the US who would identify themselves by their state before their nation.

As shown by my sig line.