Why does Britan think they have a right to countries 1000s of miles away?

Question

EG: Eire(Ireland),India,The Falklands,Northen Ireland they want a 32 county Ireland.

Answer 1

because the are thieves and robbers the only way to deal with them is bombs just like they took this lands,natives in s America chopping off there hands for not getting enough rubber.i.e this is a nation who think the can have what they want like hitler robbers ask the ones who sufferd under english rule

Answer 2

Because the UK (or more accurately for the period, great Britain, comprising England, Scotland and Wales) was prosperous, thriving, outward-looking and expansionist in the period between about 1600 and 1815. Great Britain acquired, over two centuries, an Empire which at its peak covered one-fifth of the world's surface and one-quarter of its population. Therefore, despite the rapid deconstruction of that Empire between 1945 and 1970, there have inevitably been a large number of what we could call 'legacy issues'. These have included the partition of the Indian sub-continent, the partition of Cyprus, the division of Northern Ireland into Eire (the 26 counties) and Northern Ireland (the 6 counties of Ulster), and a host of other political, territorial, social and cultural issues. Some of these legacy issues have been positive, many others have been negative. Ultimately, the greatest legacy of the British Empire has been the creation and maintenance of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Although this can be seen as Britain's attempt to retain its dominance/influence/importance in global affairs, the Commonwealth has nevertheless been generally beneficial, and sits well with the post-1945 trend for supra-national organisations (UN, NATO, EU, etc).

To correct the factual inaccuracies in the question: Eire became an independent state in 1922; India received its independence in 1947, being divided into the modern states of India and Pakistan; Northern Ireland is an integral part of the UK (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), and the Falkland Islands are a British Dependency - which incidentally, British Governments were attempting to return to Argentina from at least 1965, with each attempted solution foundering on the objections of the islanders themselves.

Overall, I think this question is a bit naive. You would have been perfectly justified in asking this question in, say, 1750 or 1880 or 1925. Today, however, the UK is attempting to deal with the conditions of medium power status in a multi-polar political world, and doesn't attempt to exert a right to other countries. Most people in the UK just want a few quid in their pocket and a quiet life - much the same as most of the rest of the world, really.

Answer 3

Most of these countries are independent, and are VOLUNTARY members of the Commonwealth; others, e.g. the Falklands, were British before Argentina was independent: and, like the Gibraltarians, Falklanders wish to REMAIN British.

I was in Sierra Leone during the fighting there. An old local came over to me and asked if we (Britain) were taking them over again. I replied no, and the tears of frustration this man shed were heartbreaking.

You see, Britain left almost every country in the Empire in a better state than they found it, and it's SINCE independence that Zimbabwe has fallen apart into the morass of violence and racism it is under Mugabe the Marxist butcher.

Time you learnt some history fom the OTHER side of the argument. Incidentally, I was once a socialist who thought the British Empire was evil. What I discovered on my many trips abroad changed that.

Wild1: keep taking the medication, dear. Unless it's illegal: spliffs, uppers or downers, that is. Then again, the PIRA never did murder, or kneecap, or tar and feather, did they?

Answer 4

It's Britain ...

and Northern Ireland is not thousands of miles away, plus the majority of peole there like being part of the United Kingdom

India has been independent for over 50 years.
The Falkland Islands were NEVER a territory of any country apart from Great Britain ...

To Wild1 - take a chill pill honey - and stop dreaming - Northern Ireland is already part of the United Kingdom.

Answer 5

I think you need to buy a map, and a history book. Ireland is not thousands of miles from England, India is no longer under English rule, and the Falkland islands have never been an independent country.

Answer 6

Why does any country, don't knock my country too much, yes its had its faults, and still has some, but it is currently the best in the world. Would suggest that you and some of your type ie. "wild1" take up READING BOOKS" for a true historical set of facts, not spoon fed political correctness crap that is all too predominant today. This apologising for what occurred several generations ago is ridiculous, yes it may have been despicable, but we today are not God and cannot turn back time, and justly alter these events.

I'll finish with a quotation, "Those who forever look to the past are in danger of losing the future"

Answer 7

OK I'll bite, Eire is NOT under the UK period, Northern Ireland hmmmm well they want to be apart BUT still get all the government hand outs BUT pay nothing back, Falklands IS UK land period end and sorry have no clue as to what you mean about a 32 county ireland..........cut them free and let them blow themselves up for a bloody change.

India IS not under British rule has not been for some time and as you will see what a sterling job THEY are doing of running themselves.

Learn some history and come back please.

Answer 8

Do some reading of history, if you can ! Why pick on Britain ?
Not so long ago, in my lifetime, we had an empire that was on the whole a force for good in the world. We let a lot of countries have independence, now look at the state of them. I give you one example :Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). There are dozens of others that done well in the Empire, but are now begging for aid .

Answer 9

The Union of England & Scotland was not forced on the Scots. They willingly signed for the Act of Union which created Britain. You watch too many Mel Gibson movies.

Answer 10

Because of history and the commonwealth.

What right do the americans have over the native americans?
What right do the Australians have over the Aborigines?
The Scottish over the Pics (the original scottish natives, not sure of spelling)

It's because of historic conflict or migration.

Answer 11

How dare you assume that all Britons think the same way! I am glad that we have given most of our former foriegn territory back. As far as I am concerned, Ireland should decide it's own fate- peacefully. Where do you get your views from anyway? check your calender, you appear to be about 10 years out of date.