Trafalgar,Waterloo,Princes and St George

[Evadne]

In the old days, once you had conquered a country it became part of your empire, so Scotland, Wales and Ireland (not to mention Australia and Barbados et. al.) became part of "England". They were eligible to pay taxes and ... er ... that's about it, really.

Nowadays we are much more laid back; think of it along the same lines as having children. When you first get them you are proud to call them your own. Once they start answering back, arguing, costing you money and, worst of all, beating you at sports in the back garden, then it is time to send them out into the wide world to make their own way.

Personally, I'd have been happier if we'd sold the British Isles to the French and kept Barbados, Australia et. al.

 

[Nickel]

That's downtrodden in my book, not nice.

 

[primitiveman]

Perhaps you could enlighten me as to exactly when Scotland was conquered by England and thereby absorbed? I was under the impression that the United Kingdom came about as a result of a union of two independent nations in 1707. The objection to using "England" and "Britain" interchangebly is nothing to do with political correctness, just historical fact; something most Englishmen are either too arrogant or ignorant to realise. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[jimi]

Erm yes .. from what I recall James VI of Scotland took over England after Elizabeth's death.. we've actually been very clever at keeping the natives quiet .. I'm part of the occupying forcesand can confirm they're all a bit thick really!

 

[Sgeir]

Jimi\'s Missionary Position

So you're doing missionary work down there?

 

[Gunfleet]

No you're not. You're a Jock-come-lately. Now Chris Robb and me, <u>we're</u> part of the occupying forces.