It's the UK or the United Kingdom or Great Britain or Britain NOT just England

Not forgetting the Bank of England was founded by a Scot, and Sterling is named after the SCOTTISH estate where the largest and purest lump of silver ore ever found in the British Isles gave its name to the currency,
But I'm British first and then Scottish.

 

Inflation was so bad in Belorus, and the value depreciated so fast, the locals took to calling their Rouble "the Rabbit"

 

If I recall correctly one of the main events leading up to that was the Scottish King assuming the crown of England. Some seem to forget that he was James the VI of Scotland before he was James the I of England. Of course the current royal line were German roalty before they were British....

 

That was due to them being the closest eligible Protestants under the terms of the Act of Settlement-
http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/TheHanoverians/TheHanoverians.aspx

James 1/VI inherited the Crown when Elizabeth I died-
http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/Scottish%20Monarchs(400ad-1603)/TheStewarts/JamesVIandI.aspx

 

On the other hand claiming that country A conquered country B when country B's king was invited to become king of country a seems a bit of a stretch. I guess he could have been speaking of that relativly brief period under Edward the 1st and even briefer one under Edward the 2nd.

 

It always kills me when I hear guys in the pub describe themselves as "jacobites", then turn round in the next breath and claim to be republicans. So they're not bloody Jacobites then.

 

Oh come on, the history of Scotland is a history of English invasions and occupations. That the final act was a voluntary union doesn't erase the previous 500 years.

My only point is that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all British, or if you prefer, parts of the UK. It's one nation and you'll have to excuse us former colonials if we view those divisions as ethnic rather than nationalities.

 

But so did the Irish and the Vikings, and we invaded England as well on many an occasion.

 

It's OK to lecture the British about the history of the UK. And it must be done, because you British citizens obviously know nothing about it.

But what can you expect from those colonials that can't spell armour, colour, honour, or valour...

(edited because it was perhaps not so well expressed, or it was too well expressed, and got tangled up in its own grass skirt and tripped over itself, making a huge mess all over the thread)

 

why did you choose to quote Gordon ? he's Scottish, I'm sure he's not a English-wannabee at all.

 

Because calling Amercians yanks is likely to invoke the wrath of the KKK, whereas the Scottish can't get their knickers in a knot, because there's nothing worn under the kilts. Mind you, I suppose a caber across the forehead would hurt a tad.

 

I do not know if the UK is unique in the world but as a sovereign state it consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales. Northern Ireland is a controversial one as some would call it a country some a province. They are all separate entities under one flag so not the same as USA. Scotland has it's own law, courts, currency, education system etc.

 

Actually, it's exactly the same thing. Each US state has its own laws, courts, education system, tax system, etc. Things that are legal in one state are illegal in others. Prostitution is legal in Nevada, but a crime in other states. Marijuana is legal now in WA and CO, but illegal elsewhere. Anybody can carry a pistol open or concealed without any kind of permit in several states, and that would be a major felony in yet other states. We're the United "States" (as in nations), and though that independence has grown less over the last 200 years, it still exists.

We don't have individual currencies (though we once did), but arguably neither does Scotland since its value is tied to the British pound.

I certainly don't intend any insult to Scots pride or even Scots nationalism. My only intention is to point out why these distinctions might be kind of a puzzler to many Americans. Yet, it's your distinction and we should honor it.

 

While each state has its own laws, etc, I imagine few Americans would ever identify themselves as to foreigners by state first when overseas (as Californians, or New English, then again perhaps the Texans do...), and then there is that peculiar Irish-American, Afro-American, German-American, heritage story going on.

Whereas the UK citizens, tend to say "Oh, cup-of-tea, old chap? I'm English" or "Hold ma haggis lad, while I toss mae caber! We're Scottish. Enjoying the mist, are ye?"

 

I can't say as I have ever identified myself as German-American...Pennsylvanian Dutch has a much better ring to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Dutch

 

Not only your own spelling... you lot also ruined Australia, the wannabe state.

Australia can't decide how it wants to spell words, and it collapses into a pile of indecision, allowing either both US or UK spelling or favouring one at one time, and another in a different, without rhyme or reason.

Its all very peculiar.

 

Australia is far more like America than the UK. A immigrant nation, which means incorporation of words from other lands and cultures, bringing with it the natural mutation of these new words and those that preceded them. Further, Rome created a commonality of culture and language through their commerce and roads, America does something similar though modern communications technology such as film, books, television and internet.

Don't you all feel better now.