Dave , sadly your correct , the indigenous North American Natives were either slaughtered or herded into groups where Cholera and other diseases brought from Europe / UK decimated their numbers .
The way we’re going with Asylum Seekers it won’t be long before we will be an ethnic minority on our own island , I know these people have had a hard time but surely it must be easier to help them rebuild their own countries than have them move over here. We even allow people who openly praise terrorism and pray for suicide bombers to preach their poison on British streets – Abu Hamza for one – he’s banned from his mosque so he now preaches in the streets . If Europe is so great why dont they all just bugger off over there.

Keltic,
I just noticed your location is Santiago de Compostela , me and some friends went on a motorcycling tour four years ago , we got the ferry to Santander then headed for Oviedo , spent a few nights in La Coruna ( I think we passed Santiago de Compostela , although I’m probably wrong !!) before travelling down to Vigo then crosscountry to Salamanca , then headed down to Jerez for a trackday , the accomodation and wine was amazingly cheap , unfortunately it got more expensive the further south-east we went. Riding with no helmets on wearing just Tee-shirts made a big difference to what we are normally used to.

But in general terms we could consider american culture, based on Europe, european traditions and melting pot of many europeans. Amalgamating europeans……in the EU would bring at the end….an europe like the US?……surprising concept. [/B][/QUOTE]

Crap , the USA started with an empty playing field where many cultures came together in a new country to start a new society , in Europe there are many cultures all with their own historical location , if the French , Spanish and Germans want to have their own New Europa then feel free , we don’t want to be part of it , simple.

[. What I disagree is about not acknowleging that we share lots of points in common, with some small differences. [/B][/QUOTE]

The thing is we share more in common with the US than we do with the EU , war has raged back and forth Mainland Europe for the past century whilst the UK has sent forces to help countries in need , the only true ally we have had all through the century has been the USA

Welcome back Ja , Best wishes to your dad.

Originally posted by keltic
And even in that point the UK fought for democracy in the european soil, sharing the same fate. One more thing to unite us.

To be united you must be willing to BE united , up here there is very little support to back this up , nobody I know wants to swap the Pound for the Euro , we don’t want to be a part of New Europa , ask our fishermen , ask anybody from our oil industry , we do not want to be part of the EU . We have more in common with the USA than we do with any European country .

Jeez , that means there really is a Webmaster !!!!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mongu
[B]Ah, but there you have yet another issue. Most of Europe has emerged from dictatorship and oppression in the last 50 years – Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Benelux, all the new members…

But the UK hasn’t.

That’s a damn good point Mongu !!