Perceptions of the UK

[Urwumpe]

I lived in London for 34 years and totally had enough and wanted out. I just want to get a job outside of London now.

You needed 33 years and 355 days longer for that than I needed for this realization. :lol:

London is an British Empire Disney Land, in which some million people are forced to live.

 

[Notebook]

Point of view, adding to GaryW. Came down South in 1977 to work, lived around Teddington, (SW London). Had to commute into central London for a few years, and that was awful, but the money was good...
Agree that the UK is very London/SE centric, thats where the media/politics/money is so, such is life.
I would think the capital city dominates the media in most countries?
Regarding Scotland's independence, I really can't see any point now, the SNP has got most of what it wanted? Whats left?

N.

 

[N_Molson]

The flag of the United Kingdom is a merging of the flags of its sub-countries

I never noticed that before :facepalm:

Now that you say it, that's obvious. For the Wales, well, maybe they could have added one or two dragons in the blue spaces. But that would be a very complex flag.

 

[Scruce]

For the Wales, well, maybe they could have added one or two dragons in the blue spaces. But that would be a very complex flag.

Answer by GoForPDI:

Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England prior to the Treaty of Union in 1707, so Wales was part of England then.

 

[GoForPDI]

In Scotland around that time, a different version of the Union flag was flown, with the Saltire of the Scottish flag layered on top of the English cross.

When Ireland joined the union, a St. Patrick's cross was incorporated into the design.

 

[Scruce]

In Scotland around that time, a different version of the Union flag was flown, with the Saltire of the Scottish flag layered on top of the English cross.

When Ireland joined the union, a St. Patrick's cross was incorporated into the design.

 

[Notebook]

Nice flags Scruce, you just need to explain the off-set of St. Patrick in the final version. Good Luck...!



N.

 

[Scruce]

Nice flags Scruce, you just need to explain the off-set of St. Patrick in the final version.

Care to elaborate?

 

[Notebook]

I'll have a go!

St. Andrew has White diagonals, St Patrick Red. Put them together, and one covers the other, so the reason I was given is that St Patrick was a later addition, so was made smaller and fits inside the White diagonals. Don't know why it was off-set though.

N.

 

[Scruce]

I'll have a go!

St. Andrew has White diagonals, St Patrick Red. Put them together, and one covers the other, so the reason I was given is that St Patrick was a later addition, so was made smaller and fits inside the White diagonals. Don't know why it was off-set though.

N.

Still don't understand. Nevermind, it dosent matter though. :shrug:

 

[Notebook]

The red diagonals aren't lined up with the white one's, or if you like, the white diagonals are different thicknesessess...What a way to end a Sunday night, I'll start talking about upside down flags next.

N.

 

[Scruce]

I'll start talking about upside down flags next.

N.

Right way:

Wrong way:

On 3 February 2009, the BBC reported that the flag had been inadvertently flown upside-down by the UK government at the signing of a trade agreement with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. The error had been spotted by readers of the BBC news website who had contacted the BBC after seeing a photograph of the event.

Tell the difference?

 

[Notebook]

Yes, thats the one, Union Flag is asymettr...,assmys..symssa, not the same in every direction.
Used to be a maritime distress signal when flown upside down I believe(used to work with a Scout Master, this isn't built in)

And thats enough flags for me.

N.

 

[insanity]

I was a Parliamentary Researcher for the Scottish National Party and I wrote my college thesis on the issue of Scottish independence and its feasibility. I think that devolution is not going to work now that the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament are ruled by different parties. The Cameron government and the Salmond government are already fighting more than Salmond did with Brown/Blair (despite the SNP/Labour rivalry) and it's far worse than when both had Labour governments. In the end, I think Scotland should be given the choice for referendum, and given the vast economic and energy resources that Scotland has, it could make for a self-sufficient country. Given a vote, I'd probably side with the SNP.

 

[T.Neo]

given the vast economic and energy resources that Scotland has, it could make for a self-sufficient country.

And cut itself from the rest of the UK? Why? What on Earth does it possibly have to gain?

And what does the rest of the UK, have to lose? I think this sort of urge for independance, is a sign of notions of unity having wondered off to lands unknown. :dry:

 

[garyw]

Used to be a maritime distress signal when flown upside down I believe

True.

It was actually used by land based forces during the time of the Napoleonic wars. If the enemy decided to assault a position the flag would be lowered, turned upside and reflown. British ships would be looking out for the distress version of the flag and would be able to render assistance.

 

[GoForPDI]

And cut itself from the rest of the UK? Why? What on Earth does it possibly have to gain?

And what does the rest of the UK, have to lose? I think this sort of urge for independance, is a sign of notions of unity having wondered off to lands unknown. :dry:

Its about giving Scotland its own spending powers and fiscal control, freeing it from Westminster's control and just trying to make Scotland better.

The opinion of the people in each country is so politically different! Look at this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2010UKElectionMap.svg

Scotland is mostly Red/Yellow, while England is pretty much blue, for the Tories. Yet, because of the fact that England has a much much larger population than the rest of the union combined, we have a government in office that we didn't really vote for! And while our devolved SNP Government has some control, that doesn't stop the spending cuts that are sure to devastate the North East of Scotland when the RAF bases are closed without the Government giving the North East anything to recover!

Only one constituency voted for the Tories in Scotland, yet the Tories are in power. We need our own proper Government that has the leverage to tackle the countries problems without waiting on Westminster's money!

And, to be honest, the rest of the union would benefit from the money freed up by Scotland's departure..

 

[T.Neo]

"Just trying to make Scotland better?"

What is your definition of better? Look, I'm not trying to push any political affiliation/party/agenda here, but you're unsatisfied with politics and then you want to go off and form your own nation?

How can you guarantee that an independant Scotland is going to be anything more or better than it is now?

Would you be complaining as much if your favoured political party(s) were in control?

Money freed up by Scotland's departure? What about money lost from Scotland's departure? Or resources lost? Or crucial ties lost?

Or money wasted in the paperwork and whatnot that would need to be worked through in a case of independance?

Why aren't you just asking, for a better political system, that gives a constituency equal power?

It all smells to me of some seriously, seriously outmoded sort of wannabe-nationalistic, exclusionist, almost a sort of racism going on. In South Africa, there is far more diversity than there is between England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland.

In South Africa, you don't see black people, or white people, or asian people, demanding their own nation. Well, there are some. But they are... fringe groups... who cannot be taken seriously.

It's called the United Kingdom for a reason. If you are dissatisfied with the 'united' bit, do not call for its destruction, rather for its improvement.

 

[Spaced]

Reading this thread with interest, there's two phrases springing to mind.

United we stand, divided we fall

and

"Brothers and sisters are natural born enemies, like Englishmen and Scots, like Welshmen and Scots, like Scots and other Scots." Groundskeeper Willie.

---------- Post added at 08:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:37 AM ----------

Continuing with the "interesting" facts about Britain some may not know about. Why the "Great" in Great Britain? It's not pretentiousness. The British Isles are made up of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and many smaller islands. But the single, large island of Wales, England and Scotland are known as Greater or Great Britain. I suppose Ireland and the rest could be called lesser Britain and it has in the past, though I've never heard that term used.
That's why Northern Ireland is mentioned seperately when anyone refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I think it stems from ancient Rome's terms, Brittania Majoris and Brittania Secunda.

 

[bujin]

I think it stems from ancient Rome's terms, Brittania Majoris and Brittania Secunda.

On the subject of the Romans, I think it's a bloody cheek that they come over here from Europe, then give us the name "Wales", which is derived from their word for "foreigner"!!! :lol: