U.K. is not a synonym of England

[amused]

Screen capture from the end of that video:



Perfectly clear to me.

[Cormac]

That doesn't fly. Geographical naming IS political.

This is not a British Isle. It never has been - even during 8 centuries of occupation.

10 PRINT "Geographically, not politically."
20 GOTO 10

10 PRINT "Geography is political."
20 GOTO 10

Cormac, honestly, you're being overly antagonistic towards a simple fact. I can fully understand the reason for that antagonism, but it is wrongly-placed.

"The earliest written records of Ireland come from classical Greco-Roman geographers. Ptolemy in his Almagest refers to Ireland as Mikra Brettania (Lesser Britain), in contrast to the larger island, which he called Megale Brettania (Great Britain)."

These group of islands, off the Western coast of Europe are called the British Isles. Not because they're all owned, controlled or been the possession of London, but because that's what they're called. The subsequent history of these isles have given Irish people a very understandable reason to reject that label, but facts aren't altered by wishes or opinions. Ireland is one of several British Isles and that would be true even if it hadn't been under the control of invaders from the largest British Isle.

Meh. Just because he made the same error means nothing.

[HomerJay]

This is mainly a problem caused by the weaknesses of previous regimes.

If England had said to the minority lands, 'Look, we own you now, you're part of England' this would never have happened.

We've caused more harm by trying to be good.

[Cormac]

This is mainly a problem caused by the weaknesses of previous regimes.

If England had said to the minority lands, 'Look, we own you now, you're part of England' this would never have happened.

We've caused more harm by trying to be good.

Tried and failed.

[klr]

...
These group of islands, off the Western coast of Europe are called the British Isles. Not because they're all owned, controlled or been the possession of London, but because that's what they're called. The subsequent history of these isles have given Irish people a very understandable reason to reject that label, but facts aren't altered by wishes or opinions. Ireland is one of several British Isles and that would be true even if it hadn't been under the control of invaders from the largest British Isle.

Hmmm ... as someone who protests (rightly) about the UK being confused with England, this is an odd perspective to hold.

If/when Scotland gets its independence, would you object to someone who uses the term "Great Britain"? Or even "Britain" ...

Just because the term "British Isles" dates all the way back to the Greek and Romans, doesn't mean it's valid usage anymore. There are plenty of geographical names that are no longer common currency for some reason or other.

[Bella Fortuna]

Let's just call it all "over there."

[Red Celt]

Hmmm ... as someone who protests (rightly) about the UK being confused with England, this is an odd perspective to hold.

If/when Scotland gets its independence, would you object to someone who uses the term "Great Britain"? Or even "Britain" ...

Just because the term "British Isles" dates all the way back to the Greek and Romans, doesn't mean it's valid usage anymore. There are plenty of geographical names that are no longer common currency for some reason or other.

I'm confused. This is a disparity between fact and opinion. It doesn't matter what I do or do not like.

[Animavore]

Meh. I don't feel strongly about these islands been called 'The British Isles'.

But then, I'm a Jackeen


God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the queen....

[Cormac]

Hmmm ... as someone who protests (rightly) about the UK being confused with England, this is an odd perspective to hold.

If/when Scotland gets its independence, would you object to someone who uses the term "Great Britain"? Or even "Britain" ...

Just because the term "British Isles" dates all the way back to the Greek and Romans, doesn't mean it's valid usage anymore. There are plenty of geographical names that are no longer common currency for some reason or other.

I'm confused. This is a disparity between fact and opinion. It doesn't matter what I do or do not like.

When was the word "British" adopted by the people on the bigger of these two islands?

[klr]

Hmmm ... as someone who protests (rightly) about the UK being confused with England, this is an odd perspective to hold.

If/when Scotland gets its independence, would you object to someone who uses the term "Great Britain"? Or even "Britain" ...

Just because the term "British Isles" dates all the way back to the Greek and Romans, doesn't mean it's valid usage anymore. There are plenty of geographical names that are no longer common currency for some reason or other.

I'm confused. This is a disparity between fact and opinion. It doesn't matter what I do or do not like.

Many geographical names and/or political names are value-laden, often unwittingly so. I can validly protest against persistent use of "British Isles", being a citizen of a sovereign state that is not "British", no matter how much culture we share.

You didn't answer my question. If Scotland becomes independent, would you then object to the use of the above terms?

Meh. I don't feel strongly about these islands been called 'The British Isles'.

But then, I'm a Jackeen


God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the queen....

Come out of the Pale and say that ...

[Animavore]

Shudup, you. We should've built a wall to keep you out.

When you comin' down to do your Christmas shopping.

[klr]

Shudup, you. We should've built a wall to keep you out.

When you comin' down to do your Christmas shopping.

The madness of Grafton Street and Henry Street in December ... er, no thanks. We do have shops and access to the Internet here in the sticks y'know.

[Red Celt]

OK, to answer your question...

If/when Scotland gets its independence, would you object to someone who uses the term "Great Britain"? Or even "Britain" ...

When referring to England and Wales , "Great Britain" would be factually untrue. It would be like referring to the U.S.A. as North America, ignoring Canada. "Britain" is a shorthand for United Kingdom of Great Britain. So, again, it would be untrue.

The island of Ireland is the second-largest of the British Isles. This is true. It has been true for (at least) 2000 years, when the names first originated. If Ireland somehow stopped being one of the British Isles, when did this happen? If it did happen (it didn't), it would be for political reasons (separation from the U.K.) rather than geographical reasons... which is what I've said from the start.

This isn't about opinions. Sorry and all that, but it really isn't.

[Animavore]

Shudup, you. We should've built a wall to keep you out.

When you comin' down to do your Christmas shopping.

The madness of Grafton Street and Henry Street in December ... er, no thanks. We do have shops and access to the Internet here in the sticks y'know.

God bless the webs. I hate going into that city. I'll go as far as Swords if and that's it.

[Animavore]

Just on the wind-up above. I never refer to Ireland as the British Isles.