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What Americans don't seem to understand is that most Scottish, Welsh, and Irish people are still pi$$ed at England, even if it's only an emotional undercurrent. Nobody likes a bully, and for centuries England was a bully, and any of you who've seen Braveheart knows why. The English were ruthless for centuries, and Celts have long memories.
Of course, this doesn't mean that all English people are bullies, or bad, or in any other way inferior to Celts, but there's still that cultural distrust that all Celts are born into and raised with. I know I sure was -- even if it didn't really 'take.'
I must admit that it bothers me though when people call me 'British.' I am not British; I'm Scots - period. To me, it's rather like people from the States being called Canadian. I'm guessing that most U.S. citizens have nothing against Canadians in principle, but they wouldn't like to be hailed as one if they come from south of the border.
Just my thoughts.
Mahrie.
Mahrie ... you don't speak for all Scots or even for a majority. Most Scots are comfortable with being Scottish and British. The two are not mutually exclusive. Most Scots are not 'Celts' and while there is a sense of rivalry with England to suggest that Scots are still pi$$ed at England is taking things too far.
A million Scots live and work quite happily in England. 400,000 English people do the same in Scotland. Everyone gets on just fine. Maybe, you have been away for too long.
We (USA) are in fact a former colony and our law and culture came from UK. Due to time and differences as well as mass migration changing our culture, we are less and less like the UK. But I'm at least 50% descended from tribes originating in the UK so my culture and DNA pretty much is from the same source....that is what is retained.
You do realise that most Brits consider American culture to be quite different to British culture and that your DNA is quite irrelevant to them. From a British perspective, you are not British and not even a little bit British. You are an American.
You do realise that most Brits consider American culture to be quite different to British culture and that your DNA is quite irrelevant to them. From a British perspective, you are not British and not even a little bit British. You are an American.
Brits can think whatever they want and I doubt you know exactly what most Brits think on the subject. Still doesn't change the fact that most of my DNA and culture evolved from the British Isles.
Mahrie ... you don't speak for all Scots or even for a majority. Most Scots are comfortable with being Scottish and British. The two are not mutually exclusive. Most Scots are not 'Celts' and while there is a sense of rivalry with England to suggest that Scots are still pi$$ed at England is taking things too far.
A million Scots live and work quite happily in England. 400,000 English people do the same in Scotland. Everyone gets on just fine. Maybe, you have been away for too long.
Brits can think whatever they want and I doubt you know exactly what most Brits think on the subject. Still doesn't change the fact that most of my DNA and culture evolved from the British Isles.
And many Americans seem to think that this is enormously important. And therein resides a huge cultural difference. Nobody in Britain - or for that matter Europe - regards it as important.
This is a good analysis. Your point regarding Irish-Americans is especially intriguing: many would argue that, for example, America's somewhat tardy entry into World Wars I and II was due in part to the chilly relationship between the US and the UK, fostered by resentment of Irish immigrants in America toward Britain.
On the other hand, there has been considerable intermingling among the Celtic and A/S cultures within the UK over the centuries. This must surely have blurred the lines a bit -- though the vehement comments within this thread would seem to suggest otherwise (at least to this American)!
I think this is just due to the ignorance of one particular poster, the British are VERY mixed, in the 21st Century Scots are NOT all Celts just as the English are NOT all Anglo-Saxon! In fact there is not a Briton alive that can claim to be genetically 100% Celtic or Anglo Saxon.
And many Americans seem to think that this is enormously important. And therein resides a huge cultural difference. Nobody in Britain - or for that matter Europe - regards it as important.
Some dont care or know the history of the US.. and yes its not important to us.
And many Americans seem to think that this is enormously important. And therein resides a huge cultural difference. Nobody in Britain - or for that matter Europe - regards it as important.
Glad to speak with someone that feels free to speak an opinion for an entire nation and continent. Everyone can think one thing but the facts are oftentimes the opposite.
I'm not saying it's enormously important that my DNA and culture evolved from the British Isles but the fact that it does affects many things that I do and think about. It is what it is. Maybe because Americans come from so many cultural backgrounds and we see how that affect that population over generations, it's just far more clear to us than it is to you.
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