luvlondon

I live in Texas and have never called England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, Europe. If I have ever lumped all of the countries mentioned above it has been the United Kingdom or British Isles. When I ask someone where are they going on vacation when they say they are going to "Europe" and their reply is "London" it really irritates me. Am I wrong to let it irritate me? If not, is it best to keep my mouth shut or not?

rhkkmk

its pretty small....i am decently travelled and often refer to the uk as part of europe when engaged in a conversation that is not specific...i see no harm in it...EEC has come to the UK has it not...?? ireland is a Euro country....of course the UK is not a strict part of europe but it is close enough

kvadragon

The U.K. (England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland) are most definitely part of Europe. These countries are not part of continental Europe, but they are European nonetheless.

Clifton

Europe is primarily a continent first and an ever evolving political entity second, in my mind.

If England, Scotland, Ireland, etc are not a part of the European continent, I'm not sure which of the other six continents they would be a part of.

From a more cultural or political point of view, our Irish cousins most definitely consider themselves a part of Europe, but are less than receptive to the term "British Isles". Probably more a philosophical issue than anything. Of course, the republic of Ireland is not a part of the UK in anyway. My understanding of the the rest is that Scotland, Wales amd England are on the island of Great Britain. They, together with Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom. The land mass that the UK occupies is part of the European Continent in the same way that Tasmania is part of the Australian continent (not just the nation of Australia).

When your friends are on their way to London, they'll be visiting Europe. Apparently Fodors feels the same and placed the UK on this board for that reason. PS considerably further out, Iceland is also considered to be Europe.

laverendrye

Britain is part of Europe and its inhabitants are Europeans. It is quite correct to speak of going to London as going to Europe. There is a distinction made between the British Isles and the continent (e.g. "Violent storms in Channel--continent isolated&quot. But Britain is a member of the European Union, and has been for over 30 years. Ireland is also part of Europe.

The formal title of the country is"The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." the term "United Kingdom" arose from the union of the English and Scottish parliaments in 1707, although there had been a single monarch since the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne as James 1 in 1603.

PatrickLondon

'Irritating' is a bit strong, surely? If what they're trying to tell you is 'Not Atlantic City', then 'Europe' is as good an answer as 'London'.

Of course, if someone thinks that a stay in London = understanding/experiencing a whole continent, they're going to be as misinformed as I would be to imagine I know "America" from a couple of trips to New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. But even if I did, I wouldn't take too kindly to someone explaining the difference, still less if they went on to explore the differences between the USA, Canada and Latin America.

SiobhanP

There is a big difference between the Rebublic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Do not include Ireland as a whole as the south is not a part of the UK. It is a completely independent country and operates as such politically and economically.

mgmargate

SP:I am waiting for the day that Ireland reunites as a free independent country.

elina

When I go to London I am still in Europe.

Ann41

mgmargate--won't happen in our lifetime, and mainly for reasons that have nothing to do with why Ireland was split in the first place.

Right now, people in NI are too comfortable because of money from the UK, and because of the massive fraud that is perpetuated (falsely claiming benefits seems to be a way of life here) and so rarely prosecuted. The people who like to claim that they don't recognise the British government aren't shy about accepting money from it.

The Republic doesn't want to take us on because they know the north's economy is strongly, and falsely, based on civil service jobs. The industrial base eroded long ago and replaced only by these clerical offices because it's so much cheaper to have the offices here than in the mainland UK.

So, that's my posturing for the day.

I'm an American living in Northern Ireland, and I'm not sure which is worse: living in a country with George Bush as your leader or in a country where Ian Paisley is respected by half of the population.

Kate

mgmargate: so are we British.

mgmargate

Kate:Have the Queen call the loyalists home to momma.

Tallulah

I shall make my point once again(!).

luvlondon, thank you for not lumping us all together under the 'Europe' umbrella. Europe is a continent made up of many VERY DIFFERENT countries, we don't even speak the same language. Perhaps I'm extreme but I find it insulting - feels a bit like '..oh, you know, those people over there, whoever they are; you know, the ones who aren't American..'

I actually met someone in the States who was shocked to find out that, get this, England wasn't the capital of Europe! (Mind you, someone else was shocked to find out that we spoke English in London...) I'm NOT suggesting that everyone is that ignorant, I know that's not the case and I would never be so rude as to make such sweeping generallisations, but I think that a little education goes a long way.

mgmargate

Ann:The problem is that the alternative to Bush is a man that is impossible to respect.He has no core beliefs,and his 19 year Senate voting record is a joke.The Democrats had an opportunity to retake the White House but they couldn't get a moderate past the primaries.That;s why Bush will be reelected.

ira

>...thank you for not lumping us all together under the 'Europe' umbrella. Europe is a continent made up of many VERY DIFFERENT countries, ...<

Isn't that why we refer to all of those countries under the term "Europe"?

Tallulah

ira: If you read my post properly, and with reference to the original posts comment that when they "..ask someone where are they going on vacation when they say they are going to "Europe" and their reply is "London" it really irritates me..", I think that it's clear that I'm referring to the lack of clarity that's an issue.

It would be exactly the same if someone were to say that they're going to Asia/Africa etc. It shows either gross ignorance or something verging on arrogance and disregard.

TopMan

Magmargate, please keep any of your further political misconceptions out of this discussion. We have enough thought control re the current incumbent already.

ira

Dear T,

For my whole life I have been under the impression that London was a city in a country in Europe.

Was I misinformed?

If I go to London, I am NOT going to Europe?

If I go to Paris, will I be going to Europe?

If I go to San Paulo, am I in South America?

Tallulah

ira: You are totally, deliberately, stubbornly and rudely missing my point.

flanneruk

So an American being offensive about an 80-year old cleric in a foreign country - widely respected by all who come into contact with him these days, Catholic and Protestant, as a model of what an MP should be - is fine?

But an American showing disapproval of a candidate in his Presidential election isn't?