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Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:22 pm
by Timbob
So, i had this discussion with my dad about Wales. There was a football/Soccer match Holland - Wales. so hence..

Most people in holland would say: England is a country.
They will probably get smacked if saying that over there.

So you have Great Brittain. Split up in parts like Wales, England, Scotland etc..
I've read that Wales was not a country but does have it's own political power?

Anyway, it's all quite confusing.
How does stuff work out? there are no borders, right?

And why didn't you join us with the euro?

Educate me :D

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:57 pm
by hippy dave
england, wales and scotland are definitely countries. and they're all part of britain. seems a bit silly really.
don't ask me about the political stuff tho :lol:

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:36 pm
by Timbob
In holland we do have 'provincies'
like this:
Image*
(My parents live in Noord holland, My place is in Noord-Brabant, my school is in Utrecht)
But it's all The Netherlands.

Friesland does have it's own language, but that's about it. There are a lot of dialects tho.
No provincie is like a stand alone country.

But still, You do have one prime minister. Or is that just a show-off function.

* Amsterdam is not a big red square

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:25 am
by memly
Don't forget Northern Ireland!!
Yes it is all a bit confusing. These are all countries with different historical & cultural viewpoints.
Scotland has its own Government, who decide on bylaws in Scotland which has no bearing on the rest of the country, England is obviously the home of the Prime Minister and the British Governement who vote on legislation that affects the entire country (I dont know how this conflicts with what the Scottish Governement decide on?), all the other countries are politically represented and they all have different political goals....presumably ones about independence! :lol:

Although we are all grouped together as Great Britain or United Kingdom.
There are no borders but obviously Northern Ireland is across the water.

...I'm terrible on british history. We have been invaded on numerous occassions since historical records began and I would assume that this is where different sections of the populations started forming independant ideas...

As for the euro, we are not the only european country to decline the invitation. I am no economist so I have no idea whether it would have benefited us. But I do know that ENGLAND is rapidly losing its cultural identity, afraid to celebrate its culture & history because of fears of alienating our minorities. This to me seems tragic when so many countries across the world celebrate their history with pride and honour.
I personally think keeping the pound is good, but this opinion is not an economical one, its one that is based on pride and being "english".

Gone are the days of Opel Fruits, Marathons and Jiff!! Now its Starburst, Snickers and Civ....

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:05 pm
by Timbob
memly wrote:Don't forget Northern Ireland!!
Yes it is all a bit confusing. These are all countries with different historical & cultural viewpoints.
Scotland has its own Government, who decide on bylaws in Scotland which has no bearing on the rest of the country, England is obviously the home of the Prime Minister and the British Governement who vote on legislation that affects the entire country (I dont know how this conflicts with what the Scottish Governement decide on?), all the other countries are politically represented and they all have different political goals....presumably ones about independence! :lol:

Although we are all grouped together as Great Britain or United Kingdom.
There are no borders but obviously Northern Ireland is across the water.

...I'm terrible on british history. We have been invaded on numerous occassions since historical records began and I would assume that this is where different sections of the populations started forming independant ideas...

As for the euro, we are not the only european country to decline the invitation. I am no economist so I have no idea whether it would have benefited us. But I do know that ENGLAND is rapidly losing its cultural identity, afraid to celebrate its culture & history because of fears of alienating our minorities. This to me seems tragic when so many countries across the world celebrate their history with pride and honour.
I personally think keeping the pound is good, but this opinion is not an economical one, its one that is based on pride and being "english".

Gone are the days of Opel Fruits, Marathons and Jiff!! Now its Starburst, Snickers and Civ....
We had jif in holland.
now it's also civ.
altho it was Vim.

twix where called raiders.
I believe you call the armpitspray Lynx?
we call it Axe.

anyway. you people are confusing and being stubborn. :P

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:31 pm
by hippy dave
Timbob wrote:anyway. you people are confusing and being stubborn. :P
and proud of it :Finger

Re: Teach me about Great Britain.

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:37 pm
by memly
Thats right, Lynx is Axe in Europe...
I cant be representative of all english timbob (although I thoroughly deserve to be because I am brilliant!) and yes I am gutted that the names I used as a boy for sweet and stuff have changed, but I can live with that.
What I cant believe is that you bloody foreigners want to change everything.....(joke :shock: ).

I love the way you think we're confusing... this coming from random Timbob! Heh...