BristolUK

Not so much mixing opinions up, more using your quote to make my overal point.

I don't think symbols of identity can be totally separated from actual identity. They came from somewhere. That 'somewhere' may have morphed but there's still a link.

flashman

Plus it tends to include sarcastic put downs which can be insulting.

blackcomb1

Yes I was going to post that, and then I remembered this guy who got on my nerves over here as he was the worst for sarcasm, over the top in fact, it annoys me let alone any Canadians. He is from Nelson region born and raised, but European roots.

triumphguy

Sharon Osborne?

dbd33

More of a star in America and indeed Canada than the UK, shirley?

dboy

My god i've got a headache and i think i'm having an identify crisis

nooka

Canada seems very different to me that the States, but that might be more to do with the difference between the East Coast and the West Coast, and also big city to small town.

I can't stand people who want to emigrate because "England has gone to the dogs because of all the immigrants" and sadly there are a fair representation here from time to time. But otherwise I don't see why it should be a problem to like the country you have decided to live in.

One of the significant differences to some other countries with ex-pat groups is that most people here are coming for the long term. They are expecting to educate their children in local school, take local jobs and become part of local communities. So their experience is that of someone moving to Canada, and living a Canadian lifestyle. Whereas those in Dubai, or Hong Kong etc often move to an ex-pat community and fully expect to move back to the UK, or on to the next place. They send their children to international or private schools, or to boarding school in the UK, an their friends tend to be other ex-pats. Often they then become more British than they would otherwise have been. Personally I have found this very grating.

I also wonder whether it is easier to naturalise here because Canadians (maybe only in BC, or possibly only in Kamloops) are very welcoming?

Having said that I also like England, and maybe one day will return (hopefully not too soon, as we are only just getting over the moves!). I don't feel I "owe England respect" but I have no problem in saying I am English, an no wish to bad-mouth life there. My life was quite happy, and my family are perfectly happy there too. I think it is a pretty good place to be born and brought up in, and I am aware that I was fortunate to have been born me. I just don't get the concept of "Britain" being something to be grateful for. Many people in the world have done good and bad things, and those that were my ancestors I feel some ownership of, but "Britain" is not a person, so how can it be respected?

johnh009

The United States became a nation in 1781 when the first 13 states/colonies ratified the Articles of Confederation after a rebellion against the British a few years previous. Britain acknowledged the United States as an independent nation in 1783 in accordance with the Treaty of Paris (which formally ended the revolutionary war between Great Britain and the US).

clynnog

Simon Cowell, Ant and Dec, Jordan, Jade Goody, Amy Winhouse.

johnh009

Robbie Williams. The whole country comes to a standstill when he is on the box.

johnh009

Maybe it is the Canadian obsession with conformity that is rubbing off?

Mistress Miggins

Well that's because about half of us are thinking about what we do to him given a chance, and then if statistics are anything to go by quite a few of the other half are thinking the same too

burton bunch

My sentiments exactly

DaveLovesDee

I understand it completely. Some are self-justifying their decision, others do it because Freedom of Speech allows them to do so. Yet more bash England because their experiences have given them good reason to.

Personally, I got fed up of seeing work-shy people making more a month on welfare in the UK than I was taking home working 48hrs a week as a single parent. Why should I or anyone else be happy that the UK has been the focus point of a large percentage of illegal immigrants in Europe.

Whatever happened to the planeload of Afghani's who were 'hijacked' to get asylum in the UK because they were afraid of the Taliban. The Taliban is out of power now and Canadian and British soldiers are dying to help the Afghan's have a better quality of life. Are these 'hijacked asylum seekers going to volunteer to fly back to Afghanistan? Or has the Home Office lost track of them as well?

I do appreciate Canada has it's own problems too, but at least the perception is better. I would much rather live in Toronto with it's gun problem than live in the UK. I feel much safer here.

nooka

What like (metaphorically of course) kick him in the teeth?