What is Britain? First of all it is an island, a geographical area on the map.
Secondly, it is a grouping of nations governed by a central authority based in London, the capital city of England. Thirdly it is a financial and economic powerhouse and a constituent member of the European Union and the United Nations.
In the recent past it has been involved in two major wars and has suffered drastically in terms of infrastructure at home and domination overseas. During the past millennium it has fought against the Welsh, the Scots, the Irish, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Boers, the Americans, the Russians, the Indians, the Chinese, the Turks, the Sudanese, the Egyptians, the Afghans, the Germans, the Italians, the Japanese, the Argentines and the Serbs. For Britain read England.
If you believe in karma, think of this: the chickens are coming home to roost, and what goes around comes around. There is no question of disloyalty in thinking this way, as loyalty is to one’s nation, whether native or adopted. Britain is not a nation.
Britain is a union of nations which were incorporated following years of oppression.
The fact that Scotland allied with France, and Ireland allied with Germany reinforces this view, as England and its conquering armies was the enemy of both nations. The colonisation of Ireland was an act of war against a people who wished to be left alone to live in peace. Instead of this they were forced to defend themselves, and shed their blood for the freedom to live at peace in their own land, and ally with other nations to gain support for their just cause. In Scotland the banning of the wearing of the tartan and the enclosure of lands similarly brought about great distress and tribulation.
We are now in this new century reaping the results of these cruel and destructive acts perpetrated by England and its government against its neighbours.
It may be argued that these events are nothing to do with us, as they took place long ago and were the acts of our forefathers. But this is no absolution in my opinion, as we have inherited this situation, and the deeds of the forefathers are passed down and visited upon succeeding generations. It is therefore our duty and responsibility to redress their intransigence in this present age. In the days of King Edward I of England, and King Henry VIII there was no referendum for the Welsh people. They were forcibly annexed and incorporated into the English realm, like it or not. Some liked it, no doubt, as they do today, these people who still proclaim a British identity, and are “first British, then Welsh” or “first Welsh, then British”. It means nothing – one cannot be both, or one is accepting the fact of Wales being England – annexed, incorporated and subsumed, lost in the illusory ocean of “Britishness”. Let us all face and accept this reality : there is no ‘Britain’ as a nation. British = English. Those who proclaim their Welshness are in fact accepting the fact that they are English and inextricably a part of the Union, a union instigated by infidels - unless of course they perceive the truth, and reject the term “British” along with the iniquitous Union.
Your analysis in "Huw's Lament" (from his blog) is correct, and your perception of his failure to back the right horse is accurate. His actions have only resulted in exacerbating the divisions between Welsh Labour in the Assembly and the Welsh MPs at Westminster. His alignment with the latter has done him no good, as they and he are out of touch with present political realities.
The government in Wales lies with the Assembly and not with a clique of disgruntled MPs. I trust you will continue to support the new dynamic of Rhodri and Ieuan.
Posted by: Alan Jones | August 15, 2007 at 10:13 PM