Are you British?

The only difference between BriTish and irish is BT :wink:

I spent the first 11 years or so of my life as “the Englishman”: the first person in my family born in England. People of all types would identify me with the country of my birth – “But I was born here!” seemed to stop people who said “why don’t you go back to your own country?” in their tracks. I did experience racism, but all English people didn’t necessarily like each other, so I dealt with it with all the skills a child of my age could muster.

As I got older, I was told more often that I couldn’t be English, ‘just’ British. It’s only in the past decade or so that I have reverted to calling myself English, partly from defiance and partly because, despite my great affection for the other UK countries, I am not Scottish, Welsh or Irish, so there’s only one bit of British left for me to be. More than that, I am a Londoner, defined by the streets in which I was raised.

An anecdote – on a holiday in France in my teens, an old French woman was very hostile towards me until she found out that I was not from North Africa (her late husband had fought there), but “Anglais”. I couldn’t help liking her.

I think that modern political and geographical boundaries deserve only the scant respect of convenience that they deserve, as legacies of genocide and exploitation. However I also feel there are characteristics that we inherit collectively. Whether we adopt them or reject them is our right.

For me, ‘English’ is confident enough to allow a gentle strength and to own my choices. ‘British’ is entitled to a place amongst other nations and a responsibility to live with the legacy of the past, bad and good. I own them both without rejecting anything of my parents’ heritage.

@terry wrote:

Would it be fair to describe you as the JC equivalent of Norris from Coronation Street? I haven’t a clue what your point is.

Just sharing a perspective on the subject of the thread Terry.

Is Norris from Coronation Street a national, ethnic or racial identity?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

@terry wrote:

@wordsworth60 wrote:

I spent the first 11 years or so of my life as “the Englishman”: the first person in my family born in England. People of all types would identify me with the country of my birth – “But I was born here!” seemed to stop people who said “why don’t you go back to your own country?” in their tracks. I did experience racism, but all English people didn’t necessarily like each other, so I dealt with it with all the skills a child of my age could muster.

As I got older, I was told more often that I couldn’t be English, ‘just’ British. It’s only in the past decade or so that I have reverted to calling myself English, partly from defiance and partly because, despite my great affection for the other UK countries, I am not Scottish, Welsh or Irish, so there’s only one bit of British left for me to be. More than that, I am a Londoner, defined by the streets in which I was raised.

An anecdote – on a holiday in France in my teens, an old French woman was very hostile towards me until she found out that I was not from North Africa (her late husband had fought there), but “Anglais”. I couldn’t help liking her.

I think that modern political and geographical boundaries deserve only the scant respect of convenience that they deserve, as legacies of genocide and exploitation. However I also feel there are characteristics that we inherit collectively. Whether we adopt them or reject them is our right.

For me, ‘English’ is confident enough to allow a gentle strength and to own my choices. ‘British’ is entitled to a place amongst other nations and a responsibility to live with the legacy of the past, bad and good. I own them both without rejecting anything of my parents’ heritage.

Would it be fair to describe you as the JC equivalent of Norris from Coronation Street?
I haven’t a clue what your point is.[/qu

I think the “secret” is listening Terry. an honestly written passage, with a twist and a Brillaintly written Sense of Humour? well done wordy :)

@wordsworth60 wrote:

@terry wrote:

@wordsworth60 wrote:

Is Norris from Coronation Street a national, ethnic or racial identity?

He is a character on a soap opera.. . . .

Ain’t we all . . . . . .?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

indeed :)

/Millie Tant. Dundee . x