De you beleive in a 'European identity'?

Question

Do you feel more British or are you European?
Can you be both?
Is the UK european?
What do you think?

Answer 1

all i know is i am English not british

Answer 2

Since I have long been amused by the idea that someone can be American...I cannot now subscribe to the idea of anyone being a European. This is of course other than in relation to what continent they live on.

I don't even feel British for much the same reason. About the closest I get to the whole geography / identity thing is that I do feel that I am a southern englishman. Any further than that is highly subjective.

Is the UK European?...well it's closer to Europe than any other continent. I suppose the question is...do all countries HAVE to be a part of a continent?

I only ever use the term European when I am in America and I am trying to explain what irony is.

Answer 3

No. I am British, no more no less. I was born in England to English parents and my maternal grandmother was Scottish.
As usual it is the politicians who are trying to bestow European-ness upon us. Britain may be on the European continent but we are not part of the mainland. There are also the obvious cultural differences, not to mention the many different languages.
It is no coincidence that Europe spent centuries at war amongst itself. There is still historical distrust between different European countries, not just Britain.
Culturally, Britain is closer to the USA than any country on mainland Europe (not necessarily a good thing but it is a fact).
So although there may be a European identity, I do not feel that Britain shares that identity.
No doubt my views will provoke the usual cries of "little Englander" but the fact is wherever I have visited in Europe I have faced hostility because I am British.
That is not to say, however, that integration is impossible. My best friend is Serbian!

Answer 4

The UK is European but I see myself as English. I was born and raised in England so I am English as were best part of my family tree. I have plenty of Scottish, Irish and Welsh friends who call themselves exactly that as they think the term British is a bit wide. They don't want to be British as all four areas are different.

I don't think it's at all racist or hateful to wan to be called English instead on European. The English and the French are very different, as the Spanish and the Russians are too. Europe is far to big to have everyone who lives there to be termed as the same group.

Answer 5

A study was carried out on a group of white-racists to try and get them to review the way they saw other races. This study through pigmentation of the skin showed how the British are not actually fully white and came out with percentages of ethnicity from different countries mainly Europe.
So you may be British, but also European, however Europeans can differentiate themselves from the british as they have language and cultural differences.
Although i am not European, and instead Asian, i still am British as ive been born and bred here my whole life. I guess its jus how openminded you are and the way you see it all.

Answer 6

A European Identity seldom exists. I am Irish, I define myself as so. However, I define myself as European in the same way as Chinese and Japanese define themselves as Asian, or people from the United States, Mexico and Canada define themselves as north american.

The UK no matter how much it tries to ignore the fact is European. Geography and heritage show that. An argument of different language is false as the UK has four langauges: English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish. Not to mention Cornish and Manx which are now dead. English bares no relation to these languages and is closer to German and French than it is to the celtic languages.

What exists is more a european connection, certain ideals, morals, beliefs that history has bound every European country to one another. Ireland for instance has strong links with Spain and France even though we were subject to England for 800 years and the English didnt really like them.

The English aristocracy made sure that britishness was watered down considering the Queen, symbol of Britain, is part German and her husband is Greek.

I know myself that Irish culture has langauge in common with the UK and USA. But personally i feel closer to those on the continent and even to those in Australia. What Europe has is history, so much so that we are less likely to declare war or use it as a first move.

My username is Irish for European and Irish. I define myself as so, as there are many nationalities here. European to associated myself with French, Spanish, German and even English, Scottish and Welsh, and Irish to define myself. You can only be both as European does not exist on its own, European is state of connection, Irish/British/French is a state of distinction.

Answer 7

I am proud to be British, but also proud that I am a European.

If all the diverse cultures, races and creeds that make up the european community can find peaceful ways to resolve their differences then maybe there is hope that "We" as the human race can eventually achieve an understanding of each other on a world wide basis.

Maybe that is just too much wishful thinking on my part........

Answer 8

I think that we are british and not european. There are alot of similarities between cultures on the continent that we don't share with them and vice versa.

Personally i dont feel European. I think we are more in line with American culture than anything else. Maybe in time we'll be the 53rd state

Answer 9

I am very happy to be classed as European or British. I would describe myself as British on forms however, i don't think being European has to be a dirty word like it seems to be for some of the right wingers we have on here. What's the difference anyway? we are all individuals and we should raise our glasses to that. happy christmas x

Answer 10

Scottish first, British second.

I'm pretty sure the Spanish and French don't quote themselves as being "european" any more than we do.

Answer 11

Yes, I am British living in Spain and consider myself a European. It is only us British who think we are better than everyone else and are mostly anti-european.