Why can't I be English?

Question

It's ok for someone from Glasgow to call themselves Scots not British
It's ok for someone from Cardiff to call themselves Welsh not British
But if someone from London calls himself English and not British this is seen as racist.
WHY?

Answer 1

i never knew that, does this happen to you a lot or did it just happen yesterday?
By the way, that's an original user name, it's what i sometimes get called where i live!

Answer 2

Can you actually get a Scottish or Welsh passport ? Or is it still British? Thing is Britain is made up of several countries. If your English your English, but you have a British Passport, same if you're Scottish or Welsh isn't it? There's nothing racist about calling yourself English, and I doubt you've ever actually been called a racist for saying it by someone with an ounce of common sense.
Maybe it's because if England hadn't invaded her neighbours oh so long ago, she would be a separate nation, but since she did and the borders became nullified "Britain" was under English Rule. So while there has been a movement from other countries in the UK to re assert their Nationalism from under English Rule, England has always been at the centre of rule with no need to assert it's Englishness because no distinction was ever really made between English and British. Now, with the increasing power of Europe and Britain's decreasing importance in the World Order, the English have found themselves in the position that the other countries have already faced. Unfortunately for the English, you are still seen by many as the "RULERS" of Britiain and so feelings of Nationalism can sometimes be construed as triumphalism in the face of ex colonies ( for want of a better word) or reactionism in the face of decreasing importance. There is of course also the idea that you may be suggesting that to be English makes you somehow better. I'm not for a minute implying that this is what you believe, but if the person that you express your " Englishness " to feels that this is what you mean then maybe your national pride could be mistakenly construed as racism.

Answer 3

It is NOT racist to call yourself English. The English are a race of people who dominate the Island of Britain, making up some 80 to 85 percent of the total population. The next group of natives are the Celts; Irish, Welsh, Scots, Cornish etc. There are two official languages in Britain, English and Welsh. The Welsh are not just Welsh they are also British by Race, being Brythonic Celts or Britons.

Answer 4

I am from Glasgow - and I don't like the tag Scottish - I prefer being a Glaswegian or British.. Scotland and the Scottish" thing " is embarrassing.. especially the whole Whisky Kilt & Castle fantasy.. Go on and call your self English if that is what you prefer to be "tagged" as... after all you do stay in England.. I think the Englishness term has been too much associated with Football hooligans and the Victorian era..when Englanders wanted to rule the world..

Answer 5

Why on earth would anybody WANT to be English? Beats me when so many folk think of the English as a walking joke.

However, I know people from London area who call themselves English without a problem.

I think we should drop this 'British' name tag anyway as each of the four countries within the UK prefer to be called by their national name, i.e., Scots, Irish, Welsh, English etc.

Answer 6

Maybe it has got something to do with history. The English dominated and treated the Scots and Welsh like sh*t. That why when someone says English, people tend to think of it as racist. I'm not saying that this is right, but thats the way people see it.

Answer 7

No, call yourself english - that's what you are

but I think you should also look at this example. When the tennis star Andy Murray from Dunblane is playing well he is called " the next great British hope" - yet when things are not going well of the public have fallen out of favour with him he is "Scottish tennis player, Andy Murray"

sounds like the english based media are very biased - so do what feel right for you - dont listen to media rants

Answer 8

Being Irish, If you are born in England then you are English, to say otherwise is simply wrong. You have a choice to call yourself British if you wish but this sound silly. Your question comes about because of immgration, and the PC lobby

Answer 9

This is all caused by sterotypes and chips on shoulders and hearing what we want to hear to be duly disgusted. Its all a little petty and the sooner all three nations becomes independant, to the natural detriment of the all three, including NATO (when we have less troops and money to play with) and the UN (Dont forget only BRITAIN holds the permanent seat), the better.

Answer 10

Because Blair needs the dual passport vote and the wimps who call themselves Representatives who have their eye on the gravy train.
Until the whips are outlawed it won't be any different but that will be democracy and that's the last thing on offer.
Wrong am I?
Look at those who oppose and the accept a promotion?

Answer 11

my X g/f had that when she was going for a job! In the space for nationality she put English, but when she got to the interview they had crossed it out and made her put British. She argued and argued that she was English and not British, but they wouldn't have any of it! Oh she did'nt get the job in the end haha