In Reply to: Why English Democrats ? posted by Steven Uncles on November 25, 2004 at 17:38:12:
Why is it I get the distinct feeling that for some reason the "celtic" countries, ie: Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Cornwall, and the fact that at least the first three have been recognised as having their own distinct culture, seems to annoy you so much.
I do not go along with the comment that because the English try to assert their "Englishness" in any way can be regarded as racist. Whereas the Celtic countries are not regarded in the same vein. I can assure you that being classed as English when one feels part of another culture and way of life can be equally annoying, especially if one is forced to call themselves English.
As far as the last census goes we where given a choice. For the first time the Cornish were given the opportunity to call themselves "White British" other Cornish or Kernewek. You could have put English.
As for a motley group of Saxons who forged their own nation in a new land, fought off invading tribes etc.They also drove the Celts to the fringes, forcing Cornwall, which was then its own Kingdom to pay huge sums of money to the Saxons to avoid being invaded and driven completely from English soil. The Cornish Kingdom fell when Athelstan was the Saxon leader, unable to pay any further crippling pay offs to remain free. Where is all this leading. Well I personally think that England and the people who prefer to call themselves English do have much to be proud of that there is no doubt and these Islands have skeltons in the cupboards too. But then show me any race of people that don't.
As for Braveheart well anybody who knows their history knows it didn't quite happen like that. Mel Gibson just loves making films about people who have stood out in history against all the odds and died heroes if you like. Well if you didn't like that he is just about to start filming a film about Boudica, my heroine and a celt.
For goodness sake be proud that you can call yourselves English and stop getting so hung up about it. I am Cornish and proud to call myself Cornish but I am not English and will never succumb to pressure to call myself anything other than Cornish, even though we are largely forgotton about in Westminster, are the butt of endless jokes about being thick, and going around with straw in our mouths, and so it goes on. I will never surrender my indentity I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. You too must keep on fighting for what you believe is right and to heck with PC (altho that nowadays has been re-phrased as persecuting Christians in some quarters).I don't think anybody who asserts their "Englishness" is at all racist and they are not always portrayed in films as the bad guys. Anyway keep on plugging away I feel sure in the end the English and their nationhood will be recognised just as I pray it will happen for Cornwall. Kernow bys vyken!