How confident are you in a good deal for the UK?

Of course it was true- that a small proportion of the French behaved abominably- but why bring it up here? What was the point of that in this context?

Some people hate the French / Germans/ Belgians/ Italians/ Poles and just about any other nationality you care to mention, apart from English of course, so will bring it up as a reason for Brexit. They are all so horrible to us doncha know? Unlike us who are perfectly accommodating to everyone and not remotely nationalistic. I can’t believe you are surprised.

Civil War has always been unpleasant - for sure. Just as it is now in the UK in many ways, the country so divided. The vote may have been 48/52 based on lies- but certainly not 48/52 of the population- many felt they just didn't know enough to vote and were bewildered.

You would never dare have a Second Referendum- as you know full well that now people know of some of the consequences (and are becoming aware of manBrexiters know that full well- even Ress-Mogg admitted so months ago.

But if you want to whip up nasty stuff against the French and other European countries-- then think again. An Island will always be an island - it can be connected, or cut off by those that surround it. This is not a threat, but the reality. So go on- pile on anti EU xenophobia on a public forum - hope the Press picks it up.

I have a genuine question - why is it ok for the Scots, Welsh and Irish to be so patriotic but when the inhabitants of England are in anyway patriotic and supportive of their Country they are accused of being little Englanders ?

I can just see the Headlines in the French press and TV news- British grannies blame the French because of Vichy. That will go down well, methinks- considering how the French people really suffered because of Vichy and how many died.

I've asked that question GG13 and am still awaiting an answer. Maybe you'll be luckier than me and someone will give you a genuine reason. Could be a long time coming though !

Lemongrove and Jabberwok Have you seen the film "It Happened Here"? This is about Nazi occupied England after WW2. Set in a rural village it shows how some of the inhabitants supported the Nazis and some fought against. Not a lot different to France, except that France was actually occupied.

Who knows how the Brits would have behaved had the UK been invaded?

One thing I do know is that the French are ashamed of collaborators and that there are still divisions between families of those who collaborated and those who didn't.

I’ve often thought about how I would behave in such a situation. I know for a fact that my ex would have behaved totally honourably and bravely even if it would put his family at risk. Whereas I would probably do whatever it took to keep me and my family safe.

GrannyGravy13

I have a genuine question - why is it ok for the Scots, Welsh and Irish to be so patriotic but when the inhabitants of England are in anyway patriotic and supportive of their Country they are accused of being little Englanders ?

Because many English have a small island mentality.

Dinahmo sorry that’s just a throwaway comment.

Being supportive of your own country doesn't need to include being derogatory about other people's. When people start to say that it was everybody else's fault, that's when the hackles rise. When people try to say they are better than people from other countries, just by accident of birth.

To be fair, we used to be like that in Scotland. We've mostly got over it. We talk about our successes and don't try to do other countries down. Can't speak for Wales or Ireland, but I guess they are the same.

Having traveled far and wide your comments above regarding the English could be applied to Countries anywhere.

Is it just since the result of the referendum that those who voted remain have decided that those who voted leave persistently run other countries down?

Most folks that I know who voted leave love Europe and it’s inhabitants they just do not like the EU establishment.

I didn't mention the English in my post, GG13, but you did in yours. QED.

lemongrove

I thought it was so obvious that it didn’t need saying.
The actual people of a country don’t come into it, it’s those with power ( the govt) that counts.

Ah right, so I hate the English.

Of course I don't mean the English people only the Englsih politicians. I thought that was obvious....

I thought you were replying to my post of 13.30 Alegrias2

I was GG13. If you ask a question, be prepared not to like the answer.

I am sorry Alegrias2 but your answer doesn’t add up, just because of a few anti French/German etc. comments on a little forum like GN does not mean that the majority of the English are anti French or any other country.

Just as Marine Le Penn does not speak for the majority of the French, Nigel Farage does not speak for the majority of the English (tried to find a simple analogy for illustration purposes)

I think what I am trying to say, somewhat clumsily is that there are extremes in all countries and that the extreme views of some in England should not detract the majority of inhabitants from being proud to be English as the French are proud to be French, the Scots are proud to be Scottish, the Spaniards are proud to be Spanish etc.

In my opinion it is infantile to tar all folks with the lowest common denominator.

Little Englanders are those who think themselves superior to other nationalities, it’s not the same as patriotism, you can support the English football team whilst acknowledging there are other teams which are as good or are better at football.You don’t have to think that England is the best at everything and we can learn from , and cooperate with, other countries .

This was the question: I have a genuine question - why is it ok for the Scots, Welsh and Irish to be so patriotic but when the inhabitants of England are in anyway patriotic and supportive of their Country they are accused of being little Englanders ?

No mention of anti-German or French comments or Gransnet. Nothing to do with remain or leave either.

You set up a false situation, that inhabitants of England are accused of being little Englanders whenever they are patriotic. That is not the case - I pointed out that people are accused of being Little Englanders when they do down other countries, or talk about their country being better than others. And then they complain about how hard done by they are, without seeing the difference between patriotism and nationalism and how offensive some of the comments could be to the countries they are talking about.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

I do get what you are both saying, however this is not always visible on here.

There are lots of anti English posts by some Scottish posters (one in particular) but I never see them being called Little Scotlanders

Jabberwok I have no issues with patriotic English folk ,its their government I hate with a vengeance as I have said on here many many times.I have English family and friends including an English GD.The problem is that WM thinks it took a deed of ownership over Scotland when in fact it signed a treat of union.You know just like that treaty of union England voted to leave with the EU.
Westminster controls 80% of Scottish matters and ignores or makes fun of our Politicians thats ELECTED represntatives in WM .Now they want to abolish the Devolution we fought so hard to get and voted for by a huge majority .
We just want to be in control of our own affairs ,our own finances instead of having to go cap in hand to get some of OUR money back.We give WM 68BILLION a year and get less than half as the Barnett formula and they spent our money on their projects and then expect us to fork out for the debts they run up .For things we dont want and have no need for . Things like Trident or HS2 or refub for Buck house or Big Ben or London sewers or London crossrail.That ALL money that could be spent IN Scotland FOR Scotland.I really cant see whats so difficult to understand.IF and its a big IF our finances are in such a bad way then that should be laid squarely on the door of WM who have had control of them for over 300 years! They did the same with India ,said they were in deficit every year while quietly STEALING 43 TRILLION pounds from them.Take a look for yourself WM is interested in no one but themselves .They are proving that with Brexit.

GG13 never ANTI ENGLISH always anti Westminster ,see my previous post.

GG13, yes, I didn't express myself at all well this afternoon!

No more comments from me on this matter.