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little Englander

(422 Posts)
obieone Mon 25-Apr-16 06:46:17

This subject has come up again on another thread.

What is wrong with little Englander? Or big Englander. Or little Welsher. Or big Welsher? Or little Scotlander? Or big scotlander. Or little Northern Irelander? Or big Northere Irelander? Or little Rep of Irelander? Or big Republic of Irelander?

Or little any other nation on earth? Or big any other nation on earth?

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 21:06:48

To be fair- the Normans were not French much, at all in fact- just cousins of the Vikings who were over in the UK. Harold and William- Vikings.

Jalima Tue 26-Apr-16 21:02:46

Ths UK is four countries not one with a few bits stuck on

Spot on Annie grin

Unfortunately it is not just Americans who think that; Australians and much of the rest of the world do to.

When you cross the bridge from Wales to England you do not have to pay. When you cross from England to Wales, you do. Why? One always has to pay for quality
It used to be both ways. However, I don't know why we have to pay at all (but that is another question).
It's just a bit of motorway.
A toll for wanting to go into Wales.

Jalima Tue 26-Apr-16 20:57:02

England was subjected to or threatened with invasion by the Romans, Spanish, French (many times) whereas for Scotland, Wales and Ireland the 'Auld Enemy' was always England.
Which, if you think about it, means that Wales and Scotland were threatened with invasion by the Romans and French etc - who had already invaded England and overcome the English.

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 20:30:54

I absolutely love that video, brilliant- where are you 'really' from?

youtu.be/DWynJkN5HbQ

and love this quote from Whoopi Goldgerg:

Call me an Ahole, but don't call me an African American...

unless I can call you a 'German American', 'Scottish American', 'Irish American'...

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 20:30:52

Hardly surprising as so many native Americans were killed by invaders / terrorists

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 20:27:51

You'll find that most Americans are not exactly Native Americans ...

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 18:48:59

True, Boris the born in America wannabe PM showed that when he dismissed Obama half Kenyan

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 18:42:03

Brilliantly thought through and brilliantly acted- and shows so well that
'little England' ideas and prejudices are not just for 'little' people (whatever they are ?!?!)

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 17:04:29

And some worry about bananas and cucumber

trisher Tue 26-Apr-16 16:23:55

Brilliant thanks.

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 14:28:55

Now the government wants to write a new one , wonder why

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 13:27:37

Just click on the link obione- you don't have to be on Facebook to see it. Patrick Stewart at this very best- wonderful.

Human right - imposed on us by Brussels, indeed.

obieone Tue 26-Apr-16 13:25:10

I am not on Facebook so I dont think I can see what is on there.

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 12:56:14

Brilliant Granjura, just brilliant , thank you

granjura Tue 26-Apr-16 12:04:32

Those Little Englanders are wearing suits:

www.facebook.com/theguardian/videos/506897629498005/

Anya Tue 26-Apr-16 11:11:03

Never attacked anyone for their beliefs though I wish some people would keep them to themselves, though to be fair most people do (except those annoying ones who keep knocking on my door).

I suspect most people couldn't care less about who people worship and wouldn't know unless told. And that's as it should be - live and let live.

grandMattie Tue 26-Apr-16 10:24:18

Absolutely! One really gets it in the neck from a lot of people for admitting that one is a practising Christian... I don't shove it their faces, so why do they attack me for my beliefs?

Anniebach Tue 26-Apr-16 08:27:28

A fact that one has to be wary of admitting one is a Christian ?

grandMattie Tue 26-Apr-16 07:16:56

To be patriotic and English has become a capital offense. It is OK to be proud to be Scottish, Welsh, Indian, Sudanese... It is a bit like religion - one is proud to be Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, but one is very wary of admitting to being a Christian.
this is not being critical, just stating a fact! confused

Anniebach Mon 25-Apr-16 18:18:55

Petra, I was. Ring fair, I did it make one personal comment on any poster, this was a discussion on what little Englander means, all I did was explain what it means to citizen of the U.K. .but not English. You and two others just had to snipe. Yes I love Wales and I have friends who are English , love England but are not little englanders . Carry on, enjoy yourselves doing what you do best

petra Mon 25-Apr-16 17:49:09

To be fair Anni it's a very emotive subject. I've been called it by a particular poster. It's not so much the words ( sticks and stones) it's the sneering way it's said.
In my case it's a bit of a joke as I've lived in 2 other countries and we made it our mission to visit every country in Europe in our Motohome and we spent a year on the French canals. Hardly a little englander.

Anniebach Mon 25-Apr-16 17:09:12

What a pity, what was a friendly discussion has turned into another attack

Witzend Mon 25-Apr-16 16:39:59

Personally I despise the term. It is used IMO a lot by people who for various reasons don't much like their own country and sneer at anyone who does. At the same time they would not dream of sneering at e.g. anyone French or Spanish or Italian, or from any other country, who displays any hint of patriotism.

They reserve their sneering for England and the English.

TerriBull Mon 25-Apr-16 16:12:00

I don't really get it either, I don't think I know of anyone on here who has actually said, I live in England. will die in England, my holidays are in England, England is the centre of my universe . On the other hand AB you evoke Wales so often in your posts, I don't think anyone would label you Little welsher but here we are again with the pejorative Little englander.

BBbevan Mon 25-Apr-16 16:11:05

Anniebach just a slight detour from the OP.
When you cross the bridge from Wales to England you do not have to pay. When you cross from England to Wales, you do. Why? One always has to pay for quality.grin