In the United Kingdom (also known as Great Britain), the citizens of the constituent countries (England, Wales, Scotland & Ireland) are 'generically' referred to as British - no problem with that.  After all, we could hardly be called 'Kingdomish' as there are many kingdoms throughout the world.  However, while the Welsh, Irish & Scot are all allowed to be Welsh, Irish & Scottish respectively.  Me, an Englishman?  No.  I'm not allowed to be English, I can only be British!  WHY?  Why is this so?

In an article titled 'A new language of racism in politics' (written by Derek Brown and published by guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 April 2001 17.09 BST) there is this sentence "Townend is more concerned about Englishness, and specifically about the loopy old notion of Anglo Saxon-ness".

Now, I know nothing about the 'loopy old notion of Anglo Saxon-ness', but I do care about my perception of Englishness.  What do I mean?  Well, I'll probably be less than coherent but to me, being English means at least these (some might say, romantic) attributes -

• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Truthfulness

For many years these things (amongst others) were generally considered to be the traits of a true Englishman.  They're all intermingled and I think can be best expressed as 'An Englishmans word is his bond'.  I have these qualities and I'm proud of them.  Let me expand with a true story as an example of my 'Englishness' - but first a little background info.

Over recent years I have been researching my family history.  I can confidently state that the vast majority of my direct ancestors, back to 1773, were 'shire' folk - primarily from Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire (and those who weren't from the shires hailed from Middlesex and Surrey).  No foreign dilution in almost 240 years.  I'm English - got it!

So my story - a modestly wealthy man had a holiday cottage in Wiltshire.  For various (read, tax) reasons, in the mid '90's, he 'made it over' to his two daughters, one of whom was my (now, ex-) wife.  At the time of our (less than amicable) divorce, the value of the property was approaching a seven figure sum.  A part of the divorce process is to identify & value each persons individual assets.  I would have been within my rights to have made a claim for a 25% share of this property.  However, never having really 'felt at home' in this holiday cottage, I stated that I would make no claim on my, then, wife's share of this property.  The shits!  Having known me for more than 27 years they (my ex's family) were not content with my word, 'they' wanted me to sign a legal document binding me to my statement!  BOLLOCKS!  I didn't sign any such document - as an Englishman, I just kept my word (but forgive them - they're not 'shire' folk and only 'English' within the last few generations).

Well, I wrote that I would expand with a true story - but another example has sprung to mind.

When my ex and I married we did so in church with a traditional ceremony.  This means that, amongst other things, I promised to 'forsake all others as long as we both shall live'.  

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