Hatred in the UK

OT:  Catamount -- always wondered if you went to Western b/c of your screen name!  I went to UNCA.   

The Scots and Irish are descendants of the Celts, there's a blood bond there that goes back centuries and thats why theyre comfortable with each other and view the rest of Britain and Ireland with a somewhat jaded eye

The Scots and Irish are descendants of the Celts, there's a blood bond there that goes back centuries and thats why theyre comfortable with each other and view the rest of Britain and Ireland with a somewhat jaded eye

But so are the Cornish and they're English.

It's more like a rivalry than hatred...

I'd say that is spot on. Rivalry.... DH has made disparaging comments from time-to-time about the Welsh, but it's never ever hate-fueled.

There's pockets of Celts all over Britain, but its not considered a Celtic nation, at least not by the Scots and Irish.

Apparently there are 7 Celtic nations and Cornwall is one of them, so is Spain! Never knew that.

http://www.celticgrounds.com/chapters/c-nations.htm

I think "hatred" is a pretty strong word to describe what is, as the others have said, just plain old poking fun at each other.   I have been to Scotland, Ireland and Wales quite a few times with nae problem  although some good friends of ours in Wales did tell me that I'm OK because I don't seem "too English."  Anyone who thinks there is a deep seated hatred is taking life a wee bit too seriously.  It is true the rivalry stems from ancient historical events but that's all it is - ancient history.   I would say there is only some hostility between the Irish & English at times, but that is down to more recent events involving the IRA etc etc.  (NB that wasn't an invitation to debate the merits of the NI situation  ).

OT:  Catamount -- always wondered if you went to Western b/c of your screen name!  I went to UNCA.   

Yep I bleed purple and gold!  I'll actually be in Cullowhee in a couple of weekends.  My beloved Cats play the paladins of  furman in an early season major 1-AA battle.  Chances are the winner of that game will ultimately win the Southern Conference football title.

Hey if you are in Sylva any time in the near future my brother just opened a new restaurant there called Mill and Main.  It's casual Italian dining, early indications are it's going to be a big success.

My husband is English and Wishstar's husband is Scottish and they don't hate each other.

That's good enough for me. 

Aye but that's different b/c he's a sound English fella  . 

Hmmm. Yeah, 'hatred' is probably the wrong word. But I have indeed seen serious, serious disdain and disrespect. Well, that's the best word I can think of right now. And it was from the Welsh (sorry Belindaloo!). I agree that in general it's good natured teasing but I do believe that like the US north and south, there are some deeper seated feelings - especially amongst older generations.

And it was from the Welsh (sorry Belindaloo!).

I am not doubting that's been your experience, but....

I have never heard the Welsh say anything about the English, Irish or Scots.  And I know *loads* of Welsh people.  I find the English are the biggest culprits. Could be the region that I'm in.  I get the feeling from most of the Welsh that I know, that they can't be bothered.  The English just like to make fun of everyone not English.  Just my experience.

The English just like to make fun of everyone not English. 

Sounds reasonable to me LOL.Seriously though,as far as the Welsh go,how could anyone hate people who go around in long pointy black hats and carry leeks,and as for the Scots,could you really hate a guy in a skirt?

Dave

well the English can take as well as they can give....nothing is sacred really if you look at it...there's rivalry between the classes , the north , the south , other nationalities....just look at Blackadder for example

well the English can take as well as they can give

Too true,I remember an old English boxer years ago being interviewed and being got at,and he said"You can't insult me,I'm too ignorant"

Dave

My husband is English and Wishstar's husband is Scottish and they don't hate each other.

To be honest, that's only because he's got a Swingball set.

I think much of the ribbing and joking probably has its roots in the fact that several centuries ago the English did indeed fight with both the Welsh and the Scotts (not to mention that little skirmish we had over in Ireland in the early part of the 20th century).

There is supposedly an English town somewhere near the Welsh border which has never repealed an old local by-law which made it legal to shoot without question any Welshman seen within the city walls after dark!  

I think it would be wrong to deny that there is some deep-seated resentment among a small percentage of people.   For example, it has not been unknown for English tourists to go into a shop in Wales and find the people pretending not to speak English, even though they were heard doing so a few seconds before and switched to Welsh when they saw strangers come in.    English-owned holiday homes have been torched in Wales in the past too.    

On the whole though, I think it's mostly just ribbing and joking, just as exists between parts of England, e.g. the Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry, which quite possibly also has its roots firmly in history (search on "War of The Roses,"  I'm sure there must be plenty of references).  

could you really hate a guy in a skirt?

The dreaded "Devils in Skirts!"  

But so are the Cornish and they're English.

Cornwall (or Kernow) was separate from England at one time.  There are groups in the county today who would seriously like Cornwall to become a completely separately country again, and who certainly consider themselves to be Cornish, not English.