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Results so far:
| No | 18% | 32 votes | Total: 173 votes | |
| Yes | 82% | 141 votes |
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Add to FavoritesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain. United? I think not. It saddens me to say, it's time to go our separate ways. In many ways, we already have. I have never understood why Britain does not have a national team. When the football or rugby world cup comes around, teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are entered. There is not a "British" team. That in itself speaks volumes of how disenfranchised this country is.
Nearly every document I read that resembles anything legal, the fine print always reads England and Wales only'. So one deduces that Scotland and Northern Ireland are living by a different set of rules. And one would be correct. There is very little national continuity throughout the UK.
I don't know a lot about Northern Ireland except that over 700 British soldiers were killed by the terrorist group the Provisional Irish Republican Army, keeping Northern Ireland out of the grip of the IRA and maintaining it as part of the United Kingdom. I also know, that in 1998, Tony Blair signed the Good Friday Agreement in an attempt to halt the violence in this province. Part of his solution to the conflict, was to release convicted terrorists in exchange for peace in the future and to grant devolution of legislative powers to Northern Ireland so they may implement laws only applicable to Northern Ireland itself.
I don't know a great deal about Wales either. Except that in 1999 (again under Tony Blair), they were allowed to set up the National Welsh Assembly. And once more, they are able to legislate laws only applicable in Wales. They also have their own language and many signposting are in Welsh as well as English. One can even ask for government forms to be provided in the Welsh language. That's not very British, now is it?
Then we have the Scots. If England is in the World Cup, the Scots will root for any other team to beat the English. I remember a few years ago, a news channel went to a pub in Glasgow when England were playing Brazil in the world cup. All the Scots were barking for Brazil to beat England. So much for national unity.
The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999. Of the four countries that form the United Kingdom, Mr. Blair had made it possible for three of the four to pass their own legislation. Only England is not able to pass laws applicable only to the English. Scotland has different property laws and a different healthcare system from the rest of the UK. And the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond, is actively campaigning for Scotland to devolve from the United Kingdom altogether and become a country in it's own right, free from interference from Westminster.
Mr. Blair had worked hard to fragment the United Kingdom. I think he has succeeded. Scotland taunts England because although the vast majority of tax revenue is raised in England but more tax money (per head) is redistributed to Scotland. And Scottish MP's are allowed to vote on matters that only concern England however, English MP's are not allowed to vote on Scottish matters.
Animosity is brewing. There is a growing resentment in the UK throughout the regions with one another. Sadly, the Union flag does not hold the same pride it once did. One is more likely to see flags pertaining to the particular region than to see the Union Jack.
It is sad, but perhaps it is time to go our separate ways.
Learn more about this author, Travis Casey.
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Yes
It is a difficult decision to make, to keep the Union Flag flying! The UK history does not bode well for this continuing. For centuries there have been skirmishes, difficulties, opposition, bullying from all sides, and the fact that so many people did manage to consider themselves British is quite a feat!
One of the reasons why I finally came down on the side of the Yes people for keeping the Union flag flying is that the EU is determined to break this great country into smaller areas, and England does not even exist as an area within the EU. The old countries of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are classed as Regions within the EU. However, because they have the same regional borders as the old country borders it is easier for them to retain their ancient national allegiances.
England however is not classed as one region but several within the EU. This is making a strong division between the different parts of England, and in turn is causing more friction internally than necessary.
We also now see how the old countries of Scotland and Wales are showing their ancient hatred of England. The initials, NHS, stand for National Health Service. The Nation concerned is the whole of the UK. Yet, Scotland, and now Wales have decided that they can opt out of certain costs and payments, and expect English people to support them.
Divisions like these are rife, and have been for many years. Shipbuilding has been a strong industry in several parts of the UK, but over recent years the north east of England has seen its industry disappear, in favour of other parts of England and Scotland, as well as putting orders abroad.
Coal mining has been a staple industry in the north east of England for centuries, but now all deep pits in the region have gone and when an energy company - now owned by a European company - said it wanted to build a coal powered electricity plant, with coal imported from the continent, I just lost my temper. Fortunately, no-one outside my home heard me, but why should this be? England is being destroyed. The EU is one of the reasons, but their attitude towards the UK has encouraged age old enmities to flourish and have the country demolished from within.
It doesn't help that the present government is made up mainly of Scottish MPs who seem to take a great delight in the way England is being brought to its knees. The fact that so many immigrants, both legal and illegal, choose to stay in England, rather than the rest of the country, speaks volumes for the encouragement to destroy the British, and especially the English way of life!
I don't say things would be easier if the Union was kept up, and I do believe that in many instances it will appear at first sight to be helpful to break away from the Union, but by breaking up into little bits we will never be able to hold our own within Europe and so end up with even more national destroying life laws such as have been in place for several years, and are increasing by the day.
If only we had a government which would take us out of the EU. We could still trade with the European countries but we wouldn't be financially supporting them whilst impoverishing ourselves. Wales and Scotland have done their best to impoverish us even more by their so-called parliaments/assembli es.
I feel sorry most of all for Northern Ireland. It seems to me that our present government is determined to have Northern Ireland join up with the rest of its Irish landmass. Unlike the break up of England, they are encouraging a unification of those two areas. Whether it will work only time will tell, but it too will be torn away from mainland Great Britain.
A disunited country is a vulnerable country, and I have watched this once great land become impoverished, slovenly, and destitute of all pride and virtues. if we let the Union flag go we finish what has already been started. It would be a very sad day indeed if this happens.
This is why I want to keep the union flag flying. As long as it does so there is always hope that the people in this great land will wake up and unite as one force, regardless of their ancestral origins, to become great again. We may never have an empire again, but we should at least have a country to be proud of. This can only happen if we keep the Union Flag flying!
Learn more about this author, Carol Noble.
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