St George's day

[P. G. Tipps]

...and St Piran! I didn't notice any St G celebrations here yesterday but St Piran's day was well celebrated in the Count(r)y. Today is Recognition Day. Tomorrow will be Trevithick Day, shortly will be 'obby 'oss an Flora Day - all of which will be celebrated well in their respective towns. Right or wrong England will never have unity at a level the Celtic nations have - regional rivalries will always prevail.

You think there are no 'regional rivalries' and other such things in the Celtic nations? The history of Ireland and the clear North/South divide in Wales might suggest otherwise ...

As for Scotland, it has always been a country beset by stark internal divisions both political and religious, and the former at least is still clearly true today as demonstrated by the recent Independence referendum.

My fellow-countrymen and women have many undeniable attributes but a sense of national unity has not been a particularly notable one.

In fact, intense, self-destructive internal squabbling has been one of our very favourite pastimes throughout the centuries.

[Beef Oven!]

...therefore I am?...

Ho ho!

[EdgeleyRob]

IPhone

[Nick Armstrong]

[Beef Oven!]

Rob and Cali on form today!

[mangerton]

In fact, intense, self-destructive internal squabbling has been one of our very favourite pastimes throughout the centuries.

Absolutely, PGT. It's what has made us what we are. As my mother would say to me, "You'd make trouble in an empty house!"

I'm reminded of the new boy at school who was asked by his classmates on his first day, "Are you a Protestant or a Catholic?"

"I'm a Jew."

"Yeah, but are you a Protestant Jew or a Catholic Jew?"

And anent (good word, that!) the remarks about You Tube.... "You Tube!" in these parts is rather an insult, and might be followed by an invitation to continue the discussion outside.

[ahinton]

As for Scotland, it has always been a country beset by stark internal divisions both political and religious, and the former at least is still clearly true today as demonstrated by the recent Independence referendum.

I'm not entirely conveinced that this is fully understood in terms of what SNP suppoters want. Obviously, the very fact of supporting SNP might well suggest a desire for the wholesale secession of Scotland from the rest of UK, yet not everyone who votes SNP on 7 May will necessarily want that - what they will want is what they believe to be in Scotland's best interests and, as the said referendum demonstrated, not everyone who was entitled to participate in it believes that such independence fits that bill. I happen to know several SNP supporters who think that Scotland should remain part of UK and, whilst that might on the fact of it seem like a contradiction in terms because of what's perceived to be SNP policy on that, there are surely very few supporters of any political party in UK who advocate their every single policy at all times?

Imagine if, on 7 May, every Scottish seat goes to SNP. SNP would almost certainly then have sufficient clout to persuade the Westmonster government (if and when there is one following the election) to allow Scotland to re-run the independence referendum; if that happens, and the refeendum is held and the outcome is as before, what then?

But this is about St. George. Richard Barrett rightly pointed out his position vis-à-vis Catalunya, so why would England want to adopt as its patron saint a Syrian-born Greek who already occupies that position in a country that is seeking independence from Spain?...

[Richard Barrett]

We, the English lead the way and are world-noted for our tolerance and understanding of multicultural issues.

Spoken like a true (ummm... what is the phrase now?) left-liberal cultural relativist.

Well, saints and their days don't bother me overmuch, and neither (since I was at school) do any public holidays attached to them, but surely it is a bit odd when the patron saint of a country has nothing to do with that country (whichever it is)...?

[ahinton]

Spoken like a true (ummm... what is the phrase now?) left-liberal cultural relativist.

Well, saints and their days don't bother me overmuch, and neither (since I was at school) do any public holidays attached to them, but surely it is a bit odd when the patron saint of a country has nothing to do with that country (whichever it is)...?

That's pretty much what I've been trying to say, without it cutting much ice...

[jean]

...surely it is a bit odd when the patron saint of a country has nothing to do with that country (whichever it is)...?

It is indeed!

What about St Edward the Confessor? Or St Charles the Martyr?

[french frank]

It is indeed!

What about St Edward the Confessor? Or St Charles the Martyr?

It isn't really so odd.

"But how many countries across Europe are represented by an indigenous saint? Scotland’s St Andrew was a New Testament figure, as was Spain’s St James. St Nicholas (Russia and Greece) came from Turkey. Ireland’s St Patrick came from mainland Britain. France’s St Denis was an Italian missionary. Germany’s St Boniface, came from England. The Portuguese, Venetians, Maltese, Georgians and Lithuanians all have St George (the most cosmopolitan of all patron saints). In fact, St David (Wales) is very rare in being a saint who actually came from the region of which he now is patron

http://www.ianmortimer.com/essays/George.htm

[Richard Barrett]

Ireland’s St Patrick came from mainland Britain.

But at least he had an Irish name!

The fact that it happens so often doesn't make it any less odd IMO.

[Padraig]

But at least he had an Irish name!

No; he hadn't.

[french frank]

No; he hadn't.

On cue!

[BBMmk2]

But at least he had an Irish name!

The fact that it happens so often doesn't make it any less odd IMO.

Eee gads man! :)