Hmmmmm I think before we get all philosophical on the point we need to think about what National Identity is. I'll post some of what is on Wiki :







I don't see why then you can't have a national identity as simple as the region you are born into.

For example I don't really class myself as a "English" person above being a "Plymouthian". I definitely hate it just as much as any Northerner, Scotch-man, Irishman or Welshman when "English" actually means the South EAST of England (then again I have the added hatred of people just saying the SOUTH of England, we are the Southernmost part of England here in the WEST Country and we're just as shat on as anyone else!)

Why do I class myself as a Plymouthian before English?

Well that is point two. We have our own way of life down here and our own economical, political and so on problems. We have our own speech patterns that I've noticed people outside the West Country can find difficult to understand (depending on what area you live in and what your upbringing and family roots tend to be) and we have our own kind of way of life.

Outside of England I'd always say I was English only because it stops funny looks when you try to explain that your a Plymouthian!

In the bigger sense I guess it has to stop with English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish or indeed British or even European. But the fact it is seen as a normal thing to say "I'm a European" or "I'm British" but then strange if you narrow it down to "I'm a West-Countrier" Or Simply "I'm a Plymouthian" is what really should change.

I'm not proud to be English 90% of the time but that has nothing to do with my national identity or even the country I'm in, it is because of a minority of people whether it be hooligans or politicians (and many will ask what is the difference) so I'd rather people just knew me by the city I was born and raised in then know me as one of those faceless "English" people that they've heard so much about from the other "Home Nations".

There seems to be a bit of hate towards people on their national identity.

It is like being patriotic is such a bad thing.

I have some people I know that say their national identity is more to do with their cultural background, I have a friend who was born to Japanese parents. Never been to Japan himself, not even on holiday now that he's in his 30s in a good job. Never really cares if he goes or not. But you ask him his nationality and he says Japanese. He's really proud of it even though he's not actually really Japanese in the sense that he is a American citizen with a American passport and has never left America.

You can't be Canadian you aren't sexy enough and you can't speak French .

That was the one thing I hated about the Scottish Indy Ref was people was being horrid to people whose only crime was to be proud to be Scottish. Now I find the England v Scotland thing stupid but I get that some people just wanted to be Scottish. Its crazy to think that people can actually get angry for you to be proud of where you come from!

Well it is a very personal thing. Whatever you feel to be your national identity is up to you and when you have morons around you telling you what that means or that you are wrong or you can't possibly feel that way it is out of order.