Why do we have to be known as Britain?

Question

I'm English, I don't want to be known as British. It annoys me when we here Lewis Hamilton (English) is Britains F1 hero or Andy Murray (Scottish) is Britains Tennis hero. Are the Swedes, Danes, Finnish and Norwegians referred to as Scandanavians every bloody day? Is Kimi Reikennen known as the Scandanavian F1 hero?! No...in Football and Rugby there is a fierce rivalry between the 3 home nations but don't know why we all have to come together for other sports.

Answer 1

I'm Scottish born and bred, of English parents, married to a Czech and living in Prague. Believe me be very happy and proud of being called British because it does mean something. It shows that as a group of individual nations we combined to make something that was bigger and better than the sum of it's parts. I am not English for sure, I am a Scot and in spite of what some of the narrow minded bigots north of the border would say, most of us are very happy with our ties to the union.



The very fact that the Scandinavians etc don't share an identity like the British do, does not mean that it is better. I am sure some one will start to bang on now about the British Empire and what a horrible thing it was but that is another debate - however Britain has contributed so much to the life of its people and the world so be happy that you can indulge in an identity that others can not.



Our little island is a unique gathering of countries where we can still all be Scots, English, Welsh or Northern Irish and incredibly patriotic about that too but there is also something else that binds us, so why is that such a bad thing?



Please don't base your opinion on football and the like - it is what so many of the moronic idiots in my home nation base the reasoning for their hatred of England on. Luckily the majority of people have more brain than that.



I don't wrap myself in a Union Jack by any means but at the same time I am a lot happier with it than I would be without.



I am just waiting for the negative ratings to this to come flooding from the blinkered nationalists, who think that if you don't want a separate state then you can't be a true Scot - thankfully I know better.

Answer 2

Im Scots born of Italain father and Western Isles Mother..



I can see your point about being British and Im mixed on it too ,what I think makes it so important to some is the old colonial values when you guys ( english ) ruled the world.



The BRITISH EMPIRE to me thats one way to look at it in the sense its kinda of testament to that.



The other factor is the war where we put aside our differences and fought against Germany.



I think the part in History highlights more than anything the strength in being British .



Either way I dont mind me called British or Scottish , I prefer Scottish but when you start breaking it down as to whats really Scottish or English you'll find theres not much pure English or Scots any way.



You guys had roman settlements and then normans etc

We had vikings and Irish so what is defined as being Scots, English or British any way ?



Its just concept no more , having a national identitiy is not such big issue when you've already found one of your own

Answer 3

Just be proud to be British.You have so many heroes than other countries.Scotland,Wales,England.All of their heroes are recognized as British.You know how much you can brag about?

Answer 4

I understand what you mean and then you get immigrants(I am but not a typical one that calls himself British once he gets the passport) that call themselves British too!!!

Answer 5

Yeah, that annoys me too! I don't see why it should be that way. Maybe its just so theres more people for the sports that might be good enough? I dunno really.