An American's view of 'The Troubles'

[RabidGibbon]

Cue Pedantic interruption

Originally posted by Gawain of Orkney

How long did it take the Irish to accept that they were British.

My understanding of the terminology being used here has always been that British is a geographical term, meaning someone from the British Isles. The two main islands in this archipelago are Great Britain and Eire.

Its like calling the United States of America, America. Call a Canadian American and he'll tell you he's Canadian, but he's from North America, and henceforth can be accurately called an American. Or tell someone from England he's European - he'll deny it till his last breath, but any atlas will show you the truth of the matter.

The cause of contention was being a member of the United Kingdom, and a subject of that most terrible of tyrants, Elizabeth II. Although, god willing the recent peace agreement wil hold and they'll be no more troubles in the British Isles.

EDIT: Whoops, post mades whilst typing have rendered this obsolete.