tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25091781.post6365591731722030550..comments2023-03-25T14:03:38.597+00:00Comments on Why England Needs A Parliament: Alan Duncan - Ignoring England, Backing Regionalisation...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25091781.post-88945902510378785982008-07-18T07:11:00.000+01:002008-07-18T07:11:00.000+01:00Yes the UK is a union of countries, just as Englan...Yes the UK is a union of countries, just as England is a union of counties, and counties, so one hopes, a union of towns and vilages, each of which are unions, again so one hopes, of neighbourhoods and families - which are, again, so one hopes, unions of individuals who don't hate each other too much.<BR/><BR/>This to me is the natural, healthy order of things. No I'm not saying 'There is no such thing as Society' but we need, I feel, to return to our roots, to the familiar, to what is most home about ourselves.<BR/><BR/>The UK is essentially two things: The shared face our four countries show to the world, and a statement of our common bonds of cultural affininity, bonds that understand themselves as united around a common allegaince to the Crown.<BR/><BR/>To me The Union Jack is a Monarchical expression of the Union of the British peoples around the Crown. It is not the flag of England, and obviously not of Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland (though these nations (exept wales, alas) express themselves through it. There really should be no tensions or confusions regarding this matter.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I have no problem being both English and British. But I am not Welsh, nor Scottish nor Northern Irish...and I would expect a person from these countries to get upset with my presumptiousness if I claimed I was. <BR/><BR/>But the problem is if you take away my right to be English this will then mean either that I will have to become either Welsh or Scottish or Northern Irish OR that all of our British peoples will have also been deprived of their right to identify themselves with their respective countries. <BR/><BR/>Is this what Europe wants I wonder?<BR/><BR/>May the Union stand strong; and may the dignity of the countries that comprise it also.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03467412541030183747noreply@blogger.com