As a Brit do you feel more allegiance to?

Question

Europe or America?

All of us in Europe have fought with everyone else so many times - as recently as the 1940s we were all at war with each other!

With the exception of their Revolutionary War, the Yanks have always been our friends.

However, modern day American policy upsets and alienates a lot of people and they also did fund the IRA terror campaigns (which killed people in mainland Britain) which makes it sometimes hard to feel allegiance to them.

So who would you prefer to be allied with. America? Or Europe?

RitchWilliams - yeah I do understand that funding the IRA was more individuals than US government policy but I also beleive that the US government turned a blind eye to it to avoid losing the so-called "Irish-American" vote.

Gortamor - you are a nasty twisted bigotted hate filled litle man and I am sick of your pro-IRA ramblings. *I* have never "occupied" anyone's country and anything that was done was started hundreds of years ago by people who are long long dead. I have Irish ancestry but people like you make me feel ashamed of it. Few British people care about the "Six" being part of the UK most of us would be happy for it to be given back. The IRA were evil murderers, get that through your thick head.

Annie

*sigh*

There is no such thing as "Welch". What the hell are you talking about?

I was born and live in a little country called "Wales" which makes me "WELSH" - if that what you mean? Look it up on an Atlas if you have them in your corner of America. Its just West of England and East of Ireland.

My great-great grandparents were Gaelic speaking Irish Catholics from Co. Cork. Thats what I mean when I say I have "Irish ancestry" - South Wales had a high Irish immigrant population in the late 19th and early 20th century.

My partner is English, my son is half English and my great grandfather was also English. I happen to think England is a great country and have many English friends. That why I say I love England. Sorry if that goes against what "Welch" (lol!) I mean WELSH people are "supposed" to say.

Anyway thats as far as I can be bothered justifying myself to you. The rest of your post makes no sense.

OMG just re-read your post and can see that you're actually that Good ol' cowboy Ray N! So it looks like you've had that sex change after all!! Well done!! Wondered what you were doing over there in the far east all that time. The operation is cheaper over there I beleive. Don't forget, Ray (or Annie I should call you now) you have to "stretch it" daily for the first few weeks. . . .

Answer 1

america - they are mightier.

Answer 2

United States.

Answer 3

A great question.
Growing up in the 1980s I did resent American support for the IRA. I used to hate those idiots in America who romanticised the conflict in Northern Ireland and kept it going with their gun running and fund raising for the IRA.
Now that the IRA is no longer in the business of killing people I feel much closer to America than before.
A reading of history says that American values were founded in the minds of idealistic Englishmen like Thomas Paine. I share those values and I want England to be more like the United States.
The only time I support Europe against America is during golf's Ryder Cup.

Answer 4

As a Brit myself it would be USA rather than Europe simply because they would align with us more readily than Europe would. Yes they have made their mistakes (IRA funding and Friendly Fire Gulf massacres) but when you are under fire Top Gun or the yellow bellied French and Italians with their tanks that have 6 reverse gears, Modern day American policy may upset but hey it is only the current administration that does and their days are numbered! Remember how well Clinton was for US world relations until they ruined a good thing by impeaching him! So you got rid of a great president who had a little fun in the Oval offices (Crikey what man could turn it down?) and replaced with....Bushy! yeah! But the 2 term max rule applies and Im sure that comes to an end soon. (That is another question I think I'll raise)

Answer 5

Given the present economic and political set ups in both the USA and Europe neither. Both have institutions which further the interests of big business at the expense of the ordinary people.

As for the US having always been our friends - they have always seen us as economic rivals. After WW2 American policy makers were more concerned about opening up what had been British economic spheres of influence to US economic interests than aiding their wartime allies.

When it comes to foreign policy I think that the UK should pursue a more independent line than at present. If that means distancing ourselves from the US - so be it. Having said that, Britain, given our past history and current circumstances, is in a unique position to act as a bridge between the US and Europe.

As for which I would personally prefer to be allied with - I'll let you know after the next US presidential election.

Answer 6

The Americans in general terms we speak the same language all the others are apt (not unreasonably) to lapse into their own language when in a group so you can't always know what they are saying unless you know their language. I speak from experience in meetings containing groups of several nationalities. In general discussions everyone uses English, then break up into groups to discuss things in their 'own' language while you are in earshot. They can talk without you understanding them (usually) you on the other hand cannot as everyone else 'understands' English.

If you notice as a Brit you very quickly learn to use a form of coded English that is not likely to be known even outside your own county let alone country. The civil servants/diplomats have a special coded English for talking 'publicly' about private matters. They often get criticised for being like 'school boys' but are in fact trying to protect UK interests.

Answer 7

With out a doubt Europe, don't ever believe that the ordinary people in Europe were responsible for past conflicts.
They were either caused by family disputes between royalty or greed for goods and land by colonialists and politicians.
The problem is that the present day self styled British patriots are exploiting people in third world countries instead of investing in the countries of Europe to create a strong European economy which would benefit the E.U as a whole.
They never change their spots.

Answer 8

Um, in our defense, funding the IRA was not national policy, but was done on the part of a few misguided individuals, individuals that we helped British law enforcement find and address.

As to the arrogance, well, there may be something to that, but come on. Let's be honest. Are you telling me that the British don't have a touch of arrogance? Even a little?

I know I'm not the one you asked, so I'll shut up now and enjoy the responses you get.

Answer 9

to be perfectly honest i dont think we should feel more or less allegiance to any one or the other simply because at some pont or another one of them is going to have a bad idea that they want us to go along with and because the nation feels an allegiance to them we r goin to go along with it and end up in all sorts of mess ... remind you of anything?
and also i live in northern ireland and the have lived amongst the IRA terror campaigns and i know that the general feeling here is that yes the american government could hav handeled the funding better but it wsnt the government that gave it and therefore that doesnt sway our allegiance but the things that are happening in the world at the min are affecting te way brits here feel about america

Answer 10

I would hope you would feel more allegiance to Europe than our country. Physical location if nothing else.

And in this confusing time, the world could do without the constant hateful British talking points, like the latest, the USA funded the IRA. You didn't hear as much about that when the IRA was actively bombing as you do now -- because it's just another talking point that Brits pass back and forth to one another like little bigoted sheep. Before that, it was the friendly fire talking point.

The UK has raised a generation of bigots, young Brits spewing hatred, not to mention assimilating immigrants with that bigotry.

Take your troops out and stop obsessing on your hatred of the USA. We need a time-out at the very least.

Answer 11

Europe all the way. Bring on the United States of Europe! The sooner the better!