Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me!?
 

I would have jumped at the chance to say Happy Birthday, but nobody told me!

Tuesday, May 1, was the 300th anniversary of the Acts Of Union, Uniting England and Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UK!:rock: :sunny:

Perhaps cos we are not all stoked about it

Hadrian had the right idea
Big wall to keep them out

:rotfl:

J\K

And was it on the news?

No. :nope:

Not even a word from Tony Blair. :nope: :nope: :nope: :nope: :nope:

Blimey! I was not aware either. Bloody hell...

The website where I get my email has a "This day in history" section. I waited because I thought someone would post about it before now.

:rotfl:

We're talking about that now here in the U.S. Won't work for us either.

Now then...that's just perfect for the occasion.
:rotfl::rotfl:

Well I for one did take a drink. But then I again I take a drink most days.

Actually from what I read Hadrians wall worked pretty well, as long as there were Roman Legions guarding it of course.

Actually from what I read Hadrians wall worked pretty well, as long as there were Roman Legions guarding it of course.[/quote]

IIRC hadrian's wall was the second line of defence....there was another wall further north that did the real work.

/off topic

I suppose the formation of the UK is not important to us because we consider our selves more English than British.

What is the difference between being 'more English than British'?

I was not aware of the distinction. Help me here.

EDIT: I don't use the word American when I'm speaking about the United States or its citizens. I use the term US. Is that what you mean?

I don't want to be associated with the boreing non-consequetial Canadians nor the the third world Mexicans. Is it like that between British and English?

England is a country in Great Britain.
Great Britain is a island in the British Isles.
(most of) The British Isles are Primary territories of the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom is a country and sovereign state.
British Overseas Territories are territories of the United Kingdom out side of the British Isles.

He who comes from England is English and British.
He who comes from Scotland is Scottish and British.
He who comes from the United kingdom, but is not in the British Isles is in British Overseas Territories and may also call himself "British".
He who comes from the British Isles, but is not in the United Kingdon is Irish.

Simple, Right? ;)


*edit*
Close, but imagine the USA owned all of the diffrent countries in America like the UK owns (almost) all of the countrys in the British Isles.


*edit#2*
It's all about the diffrance between a country and a sovereign state. Understand that and it will all be clear.

So that I might get it straight. You are a citizen of the United Kingdom, the state, but you are an Englishman by birth, heritage and culture (ie nation)?

How many others are like you? The Scotts are citizens of the United Kingdom, the state, but they are Scotts by birth, heritage and culture (ie nation)?

The Irish are citizens of the United Kingdom, the state, but they are Irish by birth, heritage and culture (ie nation)?

The Welsh are citizens of the United Kingdom, the state, but they are Welsh by birth, heritage and culture (ie nation)?

Is this correct?

Is Canada British? Citizens of the United Kingdom?

Not quite. You can be born in France and have French Heritage and Culture, but still be English because you have a UK passport and live in England.
Technically it's about where your post(zip) code is, rather than your heritage.

Things also get complicated again with Ireland.
Northern Ireland is in the UK, but the Republic of Ireland is not, although it is in the British Isles.

Making ethnical distinctions is of course almost entirely subjective.


*edit*
This is pushing my knowledge a bit. I am not sure, but I would suppose that when parts of Canada where part of the British Empire, Canadians where British.
Now they are British-Commonwealth, but not British.
The commonwealth is a whole new kettle of fish!
Wiki Link

Cheese and Rice! You ought to make up a kind of flow chart. Here in the US I consider everyone a US citizen (unless they are here illegaly of course) and don't make any distinction as to their birth, heritage and culture. Much less commonwealth.

It's all because of Englands sectarian history. The cultures vary wildly. The Welsh language is the strongest it has been for a long time, as are English, Scottish and Welsh local, native languages. (althow I speak none of these)