Wales: England's first colony. Its land and its people have been exploited and oppressed for hundreds of years under English rule. The valleys are classified as being one of the poorest regions of western Europe, a trait similar to many 'colonized' countries who's lands have been raped of its resources for the good of another country, with little of the profit being invested back to the host country.
Many of Wales' valleys have been drowned to supply England with water, with whole communities being forced to leave their homes e.g Tryweryn in the 60's. England's thurst for more free Welsh water has not yet been quenched as their are futher plans to drown more valleys in order to supply the South East of England with water. Welsh Secretary Peter Hain (A puppet for Westminster) has written in a clause in a future Bill, making sure that the Welsh Assembly will not have control over Wales's water resources. Control will stay in London. Therfore, if the majority of people in Wales and the Assembly were against drowning a Welsh Valley, England would simply say, 'Screw you, were going to do it anyway, whether you like it or not.' So, even though we are in the 21st century, Imperialist 18th/19th century colonial tactics still play a role in English politics.
Is there a future for Wales? The English are now armed with this new sense of Englishness and the St Georges cross, and English incomers who move to Wales are dividing the nation even more. It's fair to say that many areas in Wales have been and forever will be English e.g. Eastern border areas, North Wales coast, South Pembrokeshire and pretty much the whole West coast by now. However, it's the traditional rural heartland areas of Wales which have seen the most devasation in terms of Welshness in the last 30-40 years. If the continual decline of the Welsh language, which is a key element of the Welsh identity in these areas, continues at the current rate, then it will be all but dead as a community language, and basically become a 'Museum language' where it still exists, but no longer used. Many English incomers learn and embrace the language, but they are drastically outnumbered by those who posess the 'Little Englander' attitude i.e Love the Welsh landscape but loathe and hate the Welsh culture, language and people. These type of English incomers include the retired elderly, the supposedly 'liberal' hippies who are one of the worst candidates and the larger drinking, England football shirt wearing, St George's cross waving Englander. All of which have no interest in anything Welsh and do not feel the need to adapt into their adopted country. The football world cup has now become a thing of dread for us Welsh, as shops, cars and houses become adorned by England flags by incomers who obviously have forgotten they are in Wales and don't give a s**t about the local Welsh people, as if saying 'Were English! We will never be Welsh! We are here to stay and to claim this land in the name of England!' This is most obvious and ridiculus in rural areas where small Welsh villages are transformed into an England shrine. They have pushed up house prices to such an extent that the young locals who wish to remain in their community are unable to do so, as only the affluent English incomers get a look in, as even a small cottage can go for 350,000+. To demonstrate how riduculus the sitiuation is, a small plot of SAND near Abersoch, N. Wales, was sold to and Englishman for ยฃ63,000!
In order for Wales to survive and continue as a nation, it must gain further powers and have it's own parliament. Independence would be even better! If Wales continues to be a colony of England, it's people, culture, language and identity will eventually surcum to the English ideal. Already about 30% of the population identify themselves as being English, however this is the national average. The industrial and former industrial areas of South Wales have a high % of people who identify themsleves as Welsh, many over 80%, due probably to the higher density in population and probably the area does not attract that great a deal of English incomers. However in other parts of Wales the figures are depressing. Along the coast from Aberdyfi to Harlech, over 70% of people are born in England. This is meant to be West Wales! Im sure the figure displaying an English identity in Wales will rise significantly, probably the 2011 census will show this. Immigrants don't make 30% of England's population, if it did, English people would certainly kick up a fuss. So why are we in Wales riduculed and called racist against the English when all we are doing is defending what little that remains of our culture and our nation. Can Wales really be called a country if the number of English incomers in Wales reaches 50+%? It will just become a county of England, where place names differ, but on the whole, populated mainly by English people.
Wake up Wales! Lets follow the lead of the Rep.of Ireland. They were also oppressed by the English, but since they gained independence, they haven't looked back, as they now have a successful economy and is one of the best places to live in Europe!
CYMRU AM BYTH!
(Wales Forever!)
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Winners of the Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Six Nations 2005.
Wales 11-9 England
Italy 8-38 Wales
France 18-24 Wales
Scotland 22-46 Wales
Wales 32-20 Ireland
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Wales is a country famous for its beautiful breathtaking scenery, friendly people,coal mines, wldlife, and one of the oldest launguages. Wales is usually sereotyped, we are often called sheep shaggers, which we are not.people in wales live in usually small communities in the valleys like myself, but also have busy and exciting towns like cardiff. we have tourist attractions such as Snowdonia where you can take a train ride to the summit of Snowdon and view the fantastic views, or the town with the longest name ever, llanfairpwllgwyngwll - gogeruqueendrob - pwllandisillio - gogogoch (sorry if theres a spelling mistake lol!) there are beautiful coastlines and interesting people with many a story to tell.hearing locals speak our launguage will leave tourists mesmorised. there are many famous welshes, tom jones, catherine zeta jones, charlotte church, gavin henson to name a few. Wales is a very Cultural country and we celebrate an Eistedfodd once a year. We are not all called gweneth or daffydd. the one downside of wales is that we do have a lot of rain during winter, yet spring time is beautiful with daffodils sprouting and baby lambs roaming the fields. definitly a place to visit!
amy: i visited my family in wales for the summer.
jess: really!? what was it like?
amy: the most beautiful place ive seen. ever.
bore dda, prynhawn dda a nos dda.
good moring, good afternoon and goodnight!
visit wales!
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I've never quite understood why the English think that all welsh people are 'sheep shaggers'. The most densly populated areas in wales (Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, and the rest of south wales) take the piss out of the other, 'sheep-shagging' areas of wales, just as much as the English do. However, it is just a JOKE! I think I can quite safely assume that no one in wales shags sheep (Unless they're into beastiality) lol :P
And as for all that crap about English/ Welsh rivalry in sport: It's just a fuckin' game! At the end of the day, being welsh, i'm bound to support wales; Ireland and scotland respectively, coz the smaller countries in the UK are bound to 'gang up' against the largest country.
But I mean, a lot've my relatives have moved to England; I have a house in Devon and spend a lot've time there. The only difference between me, and the English, as far as I'm concerned, is the accent. And as for all the rubbish that's been said about cardiff (and the violence that's been associated with it); all towns/cities have rough areas. However, we (the welsh), despise the minority of welsh people, who give this stunning and inviting country, the reputation of one that is full of aggressive; violent, 'hooligans'. (Especially considering the fact that it is the English football team, millwall, not cardiff city, who are renowned for having the most violent fan club!)
Anyway, despite all my rambling, my main point is that wales, (especially south wales), is no different to England, and I can't understand why we are stereotyped as being 'sheep shaggers'. We have the most amazing countryside; (My university is situated right next to the Gower, which has been officially designated as an 'area of outstanding natural beauty'). And even though the welsh language is undeniably 'useless' abroad, it is a fuckin' awsum language to be given the opportunity to learn. Wales, despite being small, is a country full of talent and natural beauty and I think it is impossible for anyone to argue otherwise. That is why I get so annoyed at foreigners (the Americans in particular); calling the UK 'England' and not Great Britain. Because, I belive that the UK (all four members included) is a great country. And I think it's fair to assume that we are all united in our pride and patriotism at being British. We all know that bigger is not necessarily better (the USA probably the best example of that :P lol). Despite being small, we are a fuckin GREAT country and as far as I'm concerned we should stick our fingers up to anyone who trys to tell us otherwise :)! Luv all u Brits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain
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the best place in the world,MAZN pubs, beatuifull coastline, mountains and lots of sheep! xD
not evry place in wales is a mouthfull EG. Llanythfeuily.
we have our own language(but isnt used MUCH anymore)
dont ever call us sheep shaggers ESPESIALLY if your in a welsh pub full of MAZN welsh rugby players, youll get HAMMERD! afterall you KNOW Wales is the best!
wales: the best place IN THE WORLD!
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A muslim name that can only be a boys name
Hey waleed aka green giant
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as you can see from the other descriptions it is one of the most stereotyped places.
no we dont shag sheep, pick dafodils or call people gweneth most dont even have the accent.
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