monty1412 Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 OP. you were in an Immigration Office. That's where a legalistic view is taken of such matters as nationality, and your nationality is what it says in your passport - British - the same as all the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish presenting themselves for the same process (assuming the latter haven't exercised their right to present an Irish passport instead). It's fine to be proud of your heritage and identity, but no IO gives a flying fart about anything like that, and you're wasting your time trying to make such facile points to them. When I worked on the desk at Heathrow I used to smile at the American tourists who, against the 'Nationality' line on the landing card would put their genealogy - wonderful concoctions like Irish/Jewish/Polish, and so on. And then there were the ones that used to put 'Caucasian', and would get horribly confused when you asked them "What's the weather like in Caucasia at the moment?" Caucasia.. it has a certain ring to it doesnt it... where you from Ohh Eastern Caucasia.. you lucky bugger you. When I lived in Tennessee for a few years Id invariably get .. "where ya all from" question. Most times my answer of Australia was responded to with either " Geee Id love to go to Europe" or " gee you speak English right good".... of course rural eastern TN was the shallow end of the genetic gene pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJIC Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 (edited) What have the Romans ever done for us? Good question Monty, apart from the the Great North Road, now called the A1, and some fancy plumbing for the era,at Bath. Basically,sweet F***A** But i'm sure some history nut will Crucify me for saying that, oh dam_n! didn't they do that as well? Edited July 27, 2011 by MAJIC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJIC Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Ill always be English and never be british... Just because a passport says british which i have no control over it still will never make me say british when asked... I can remember an american in vegas saying hey ur british,, I said no im English,, he looked confused haha Go on accuse me of being Glaswegian...I dare you.... I went to Glasgow once... And................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moe666 Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 hope you guys get it sorted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endure Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Ill always be English and never be british... Just because a passport says british which i have no control over it still will never make me say british when asked... I can remember an american in vegas saying hey ur british,, I said no im English,, he looked confused haha Go on accuse me of being Glaswegian...I dare you.... I went to Glasgow once... And................... I think that the word 'once' probably answers your question... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endure Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 hope you guys get it sorted Don't worry. Family catfights never get sorted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onionluke Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 What have the Romans ever done for us? Good question Monty, apart from the the Great North Road, now called the A1, and some fancy plumbing for the era,at Bath. Basically,sweet F***A** But i'm sure some history nut will Crucify me for saying that, oh dam_n! didn't they do that as well? They kept the marauding Northern tribes out of good old England !! Although it wasn't called England then . What it will be called in 1500 years is anybody's guess . EDLland ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with you o/p. I always put English as my nationality any any forms I need to fill in. I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsycat Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I was born in Belfast and I have an Irish passport, as does my brother who was born in Uganda. It's something to do with your parents and/or grandparents having been born there. I think. I know at least 2 or 3 Americans with Irish passports because their grandparents had been born in Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Bahh to the naysayers. Though worlds may change and go awry . While there is still one voice to cry There'll always be an England This YouTube video brought a tear to my eye and I'm not even British or English or whatever the heck it is you're fighting about. Should be Englands national anthem. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonrakers Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 Asides from the Olympics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneliane Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 My country, England, became a foreign land years ago. Where I came from, today it is more pertaining to South East Asia rather than as a part of old England. This means that my roots have all gone anyway. I always say I`m British at Immigration because that`s what they expect, so why create problems? Just get the stamp for another year and continue on with your business without any hassles. I coiuldn`t give a rat`s behind if I had to tell Immigration that I am half Mohican Indian and half Zulu, providing I get my visa. Who cares?. As the wise man says; anything for an easy life and also keeping in mind that the Immigration officers have long memories towards wiseguys and those that give them a hard time. As for the OP, he should try waving his flags in areas like Southall or Brixton. I`m sure it would go down like a flag house on fire over there. My rat is officially offended Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodriver Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with you o/p. I always put English as my nationality any any forms I need to fill in. I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 British Lions rugby team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmos Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 (edited) And yes, it's foggy here all the time, and we stop everything at 3pm for tea, all wear flat caps and keep ferrets. wasn't that the basis of the TV series 'Last of The Summer Wine'? The little guy kept ferrets - one in his trousers as I recall Edited July 28, 2011 by Atmos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmos Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 (edited) who is English these days? Lyrics for England, Half English by Billy Bragg My mother was half English and I'm half English too I'm a great big bundle of culture tied up in the red white and blue I'm a fine example of your Essex man And I'm well familiar with the Hindustan Cos my neighbours are half English and I'm half English too My breakfast was half English and so am I you know I had a plate of Marmite soldiers washed down with a cappuccino And I have a veggie curry about once a week The next day I fry it up as bubble and squeak Cos my appetites half English and I'm half English too Dance with me to this very English melody From morris dancing to Morrissey all that stuff came from across the sea Britannia, she's half English, she speaks Latin at home St George was born in the Lebanon, how he got here I don't know And those three lions on your shirt They never sprang from England's dirt Edited July 28, 2011 by Atmos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janverbeem Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 He could have just wrote farang (sorry in advance to all for opening this can of worms). Or Alien. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bifftastic Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 What have the Romans ever done for us? Good question Monty, apart from the the Great North Road, now called the A1, and some fancy plumbing for the era,at Bath. Basically,sweet F***A** But i'm sure some history nut will Crucify me for saying that, oh dam_n! didn't they do that as well? The aqueduct...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatrickid Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 What have the Romans ever done for us? They brought baths. Had it not been for the Romans there would be a lot of dirty foul smelling British still walking about. Oh wait.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmos Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 off topic - but maybe someone here knows I have a question - a while back talking ancestry with an Englishman who said that where he was born was once inside the Wales border - when his his great-grandparents lived there (or could have been great-great-grandparents). He was about 80 so could be talking ? mid-late 1800s I suppose? Sorry no more details, just wondered if there was fact in this tale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 <pointless pedantry> The N. Irish are not British. The passport is for "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland</pointless pedantry> Good job. Well done! Very much appreciated. SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bifftastic Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 off topic - but maybe someone here knows I have a question - a while back talking ancestry with an Englishman who said that where he was born was once inside the Wales border - when his his great-grandparents lived there (or could have been great-great-grandparents). He was about 80 so could be talking ? mid-late 1800s I suppose? Sorry no more details, just wondered if there was fact in this tale. It's complicated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales%E2%80%93England_border Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Ill always be English and never be british... Just because a passport says british which i have no control over it still will never make me say british when asked... I can remember an american in vegas saying hey ur british,, I said no im English,, he looked confused haha I don't think we get the choice. But if it was up to me you wouldn't be British. SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossfinn Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with you o/p. I always put English as my nationality any any forms I need to fill in. I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 British Lions rugby team? There is no such team that I am aware of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 Asides from the Olympics Well I never. I didn't realise that. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with you o/p. I always put English as my nationality any any forms I need to fill in. I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 British Lions rugby team? There is no such team that I am aware of Oops there is. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I agree with you o/p. I always put English as my nationality any any forms I need to fill in. I think I am right in saying that in all sporting competitions there is no such thing as a British team. jb1 British Lions rugby team? There is no such team that I am aware of Oops there is. jb1 Until recently, the Home Nations fielded a unified Great Britain rugby league team. Recently the Lions have been referred to as the British and Irish Lions. Are there any other national teams which represent people from two nations, as the Irish rugby team does? I still don't know how we'll compete in the Olympic rugby; if it was down to me, we'd have a competition amongst the home nations, with the winner representing the Kingdom at the next Olympics; I think you would get a better team that way than by selecting players from several nationalities. I suppose it would stick in the craw a little bit to support an English team, but I managed it for the Ashes... SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I was born in Belfast and I have an Irish passport, as does my brother who was born in Uganda. It's something to do with your parents and/or grandparents having been born there. I think. I know at least 2 or 3 Americans with Irish passports because their grandparents had been born in Ireland. I believe anyone born in Ireland is entitled to an Irish passport, so illegal immigrants sneak into Britain to give birth in Ulster, and get the bairn an Irish passport. For all I know, that could actually be true... SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmos Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 it is a strange situation I follow motor racing, often see references to the British drivers Jensen Button and Lewis Hamilton, and in USA Indy car it's the British driver Dario Franchitti I wonder if they were asked I suspect they would prefer English, English, Scottish, respectively? Maybe it is just laziness from the (non British) commentators/writers? Never understood the irregularity between Commonwealth Games (individual country) and Olympics (combined). Must be a good historical reason, somewhere. The British and Irish Lions rugby side? I thought that was just to try to be competitive against the southern hemisphere sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 I was born in Belfast and I have an Irish passport, as does my brother who was born in Uganda. It's something to do with your parents and/or grandparents having been born there. I think. I know at least 2 or 3 Americans with Irish passports because their grandparents had been born in Ireland. Either of you guys any good at football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7by7 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Not bad considering the English had Colonised nothing at that point in time,probably because we never had a Navy. Mai Pen Rai. Apart, of course, from most of what is now called England! (English and proud of it; but accepting that to the world's bureaucracies I'm British.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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