Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

But the English channel has only been there for 10,000 years and there are wider lakes elsewhere in the world. It's a very insignificant body of water.

........... and the Channel Tunnel was really only built so that the next time the Germans invade towards the West, the French will have a quick escape route, and not have to rely on any immigration centre on the coast.

I also understand the Italians are also in the process of having railway wheels fitted as subsidaries to the tracks for quick egress via the rail-link. Apparently cheaper than having than having a six speed reverse gear-box fitted.

My personal opinion is: of course we are European - that isn't our nationality but we are still European because that's the continent that our country belongs to. I agree with Graham - why are so many people in denial about it? Europe is a great and fascinating place. Nowhere else in the world are there so many different countries, cultures and languages packed into such a small space. We should be embracing Europe, not shying away from it.

Look at somewhere like North America where there are just three countries (counting Mexico - that could make a whole new debate too...). Many Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders say that we are lucky to have a choice of 40-odd countries to choose to visit that are within a couple of hours by plane, and I agree that we are lucky with this.

If being an island means that we are not European, does that mean that people from Sicily, or Malta, or half of Denmark, are not European?

J.R. wrote:If we are European why did someone put the English Channel there ?

To keep weekend sailors happy?

Wuppertal wrote:My personal opinion is: of course we are European - that isn't our nationality but we are still European because that's the continent that our country belongs to. I agree with Graham - why are so many people in denial about it? Europe is a great and fascinating place. Nowhere else in the world are there so many different countries, cultures and languages packed into such a small space. We should be embracing Europe, not shying away from it.

Look at somewhere like North America where there are just three countries (counting Mexico - that could make a whole new debate too...). Many Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders say that we are lucky to have a choice of 40-odd countries to choose to visit that are within a couple of hours by plane, and I agree that we are lucky with this.

If being an island means that we are not European, does that mean that people from Sicily, or Malta, or half of Denmark, are not European?

We may be in the same continent but, in the country where you are, there are so many localised differences in culture, interests, even language (I have even had to ask the waitress to give me the menu in Spanish, French, Occitan, even English (at a push) after she gave me the Catalan one.) What makes a European? I simply don't know - each area has its own "being" and hopefully we don't try to impose our ownb thoughts on other areas.

Remember that Europe is seen by many as a collectivism being pushed on us by politicians for their own ends. What do my neighbours think about "Europe"?
Not a lot. Yes, they get the agricultural subsidies and want more agricultural subsidies and want more money from Brussels but their real interests are jobs within range for their kids, (Algerians are not seen as a problem here but are in other areas of La France), Gypsies, Spanish fruit and veg putting farmers out of work....... - purely local issues. I know in many areas there are concerns about the rosbif invasion but there coul be equal concerns about the Dutch, Belgians ....... but again, it s a local issue. What happens in Riga or Katovice or Pest does not interest peeps - many of them probably don't know anything about such places.

You mention North America. Go to the US and foreign news is what has happened in the next state. I have heard an educated man ask what State Marrakesh is in. I have myself been asked what state Eire is in when the peeps could not believe that my accent was American! Canada - split between English and French speakers and there are other major differnces. Mexico has its own "splits" with some native peoples demanding seccession. You might have three national flags but you have a huge number of diverse cultures - almost an equally huge number of different peoples.


David