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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

How European Do You Feel?

At a social event on the Ladder over the weekend, conversation turned to Brexit. I mentioned that one of the reasons I am sad/angry/embarrassed about the direction we've been taken is because I feel European. Two of the people I was chatting with, although ardent Reaminers, responded that they didn't really fell at all European. 

So, it got me wondering how people in general feel about their European identities. I'm happily a Londoner, an Englishman, a Brit and a European; all identities can live happily side by side. How do you feel? 

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on July 11, 2016 at 17:13

I guess I have in mind a mix of values, culture, way of life and geography, but I haven't overthought it.

Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on July 11, 2016 at 17:25

Not quite answering Hugh's question, but the Saturday after the Referendum one of my old fellow Northern Ireland fellow Remain-voting colleagues summed it all up for me: "Since 1973, if not 1530 or 1066, the English have felt like a trapped fart in Europe's gut. Better OUT than IN."  Agreed, but what excuse have the Welsh or even the Ulster Unionists (DUP variety)?

I have spent 50 of my 73 years out of Ireland (mainly in outlandish places such as Sierra Leone, Berbice, Corentyne?Courantyne/Corantijn, Demerara, Paramaribo, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and Harringay) but I never felt myself an exile till about 4.00am on 24th June just past. Now, whether in Harringay or South Armagh, I shall be that trapped fart in the Brexit gut for decades to come. I'm glad to see that Theresa May will feel similarly though, for politic reasons, she has to pretend otherwise.  

Permalink Reply by Hugh on July 11, 2016 at 17:28

Thanks Eddie, I shall always think of you as a trapped fart from here on. 

Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on July 12, 2016 at 9:27

OK - time to drop the OAE moniker.

Permalink Reply by Renato B on July 16, 2016 at 4:11

It is so simple. By definition ... if any anyone was born and lives anywhere in the continent of Europe is 100% European. That includes Russia - the part that is west of the Urals, Iceland and the bit of Turkey on the West side of the Bosphorous.  As I was born in London and now living in Norwich I am European I can't be anything else. If I am not, can someone tell me what I am? I am not an American (that includes ALL parts .... North, Central, South, Caribbean, Falklands, Greenland), am not an Australasian or an African or an Asian.   So a Turk born on the east side of the Bosphorous and a Russian born on the east of the Urals is an Asian. If someone LEAVES Europe they are leaving the continent of Europe and it's territorial waters. If I go on holiday to New York I will be leaving Europe for the duration of that trip. If I go on holiday to Moscow I am remaining in Europe. This is a geographical question ... isn't it? However, both my parents are Italian and if anyone asks me how Italian or English or British, or how much of a Londoner or Norwichian I feel I simply don't answer the question - I just don't know. But what I do know and is unequivocal  ALL these places are in Europe and I FEEL EUROPEAN!

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