Being British

[watervole]

Interesting to see that the poll results from yesterday largely match my own reactions. 94% of people who replied felt that their nationality was British, not UK. (Even people who feel that they live in the United Kingdom tend to regard their nationality as British)

(But I should have included boxes for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish)

A strong majority of non-Scots/Welsh thought of themselves as living in England, not 'United Kingdom' or 'Great Britain'.

I first noticed that other people didn't understand my nationality when I visited the USA several years ago (before I gave up flying). On entering the country, I filled in a form stating my nationality as British and was told that this was incorrect and that I had to put UK.

It was MY damn nationality, not theirs. It really pissed me off.

I find the same problem with drop down menus that want my address. 'England' is not an option. 'United Kingdom' is the only choice I have.

Thinking about it, I realise that I consider my nationality to be British, but my ethnic identity to be English. That must have shifted at some point as I'm sure I used to think of my ethnicity as British. That may relate to my interest in folk traditions, as I'm aware of distinct different traditions in different parts of the British Isles.

So, to conclude, we're an odd bunch. Most of us live in England, have British nationality and our monarch is ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(If you really want to go crazy, try the same questions for the Channel Islands... They're not part of the United Kingdom, but are still under the British crown - they're actually the remnant of the Dutchy of Normandy. I wonder what nationality they have to tick when they enter America...)

Comments

[temeres.livejournal.com]

Unlike some people here I will always opt to describe myself as British rather than English, even though I am English. I don't know why I loathe and despise the whole concept of 'England' so much but I suspect it may have something to do with football.

As for ethnic identity, I am variously liable to think of myself as placental mammal, vertebrate or eukaryote, depending on how inclusive I'm feeling.

[sugoll.livejournal.com]

I can relate to that to some degree.

katlinel and I spent a couple of weeks in the NE USA, and were kind of freaked out by the number of US flags on display (it was just after 9/11, but even so). When we came back home through Gatwick, we encountered a souvenir shop bung-full of union flags. Was it a patriotic sight? Nope. It was trashy, gaudy, tat.

[aeshna_uk]

Airport shops (and others to attract tourists) tend to cater to a particular, non-local, market, so I let them off a bit. And I love football, so I have no issues about those flags! ;) But I know what you mean about the flags in some parts of the US, though - I was out in Nebraska in late 2007 and it seemed like every tiny diner and gas station was in competition to fly the biggest flag they could lay their hands on (and some were huge). I'd been in China a few weeks earlier and commented to my friend that it reminded me of all the Chairman Mao statues and portraits I'd seen all over the place there! It's just one of those odd cultural things, but the only time you see so many flags over here is when there's a major sporting event on. :)