... am I English ...

I was criticised after the talk for calling myself English - rather than British. I have thought about this a lot. If I was born in Scotland - I would have no problem calling myself Scottish - in Wales - Welsh - so why should I - who was born in England - not call myself English. I accept the fact that often people use the word England - when they should mean Britain and an easy way of getting yourself thumped is to go to ask is that Glasgow, England - actually untrue - the average Glaswegian is extremely friendly - even to the English.

I know a lot of people - didn't call themselves English as the word - and the flag - got taken over by the extremists - and to call yourself English was almost a suggestion that you were a thug - or caused trouble at football matches. Interesting the term 'ooligan' - in Japanese - has changed in meaning from hooligan - who was going to smash the place up - to hooligan - meaning English - within the context of being lively - possibly - with a red, white and blue painted face - possibly a little bit drunk - but in a pleasant way - due to the good behaviour - good nature - of the English football fans in the world cup.

Over the last year the St George's cross and the word English has been recovered and is inclusive - and I actually feel proud to be English - proud of England - and I feel that we may be able to recover some of our lost sense of identity. I know there is still a lot of racism - and anti-foreigner feeling - but it is lessening.