What Does It Mean To Be European?

[The Hand]

I suppose I'm European, both ethnically and geographically. I think the EU thinks it speaks for all of Europe but conveniently forgets about EFTA.

[drone567]

I used to call myself European, naivety + idealism. But now I call myself English. I don't have any problem with european workers. But it seems like we're being organised and controlled by legislators we didn't vote for. As I said I think it's a business paradigm; all businesses want is cheapest labour and biggest markets. I think as individuals and as a country we've had our power taken away from us. It sometimes seems that ideology is more important than people, and what they want. My latest approach; when we interact with another culture, what are we getting from them, and what are they getting from us. Culturally I don't think anything has changed since we joined EEC, I still absorb culture from all over Europe. But our culture is to be found in our ancestors, it comes from the land, the songs, the stories,etc that make up our identity. Enjoyed the Al Murray clip!

[TooNice]

I view it as a purely geographical definition. We have defined a continent called Europe which now consists of a bunch of countries (with borders drawn by history and blood), so the people from this continents are European. Is it a helpful definition? I tend to think not but I feel the same way about British, English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish, Londoner/etc. You can be British and not like football or fish and chips and anything deemed "English" / "British". Okay, nationalities do have the benefit of legal recognition but other than that those things serves nothing more than reinforcing stereotypes in my opinion.

[Meladath]

Purely geographical, although I tend to find I like countries inside the EU more, as most of their laws and rules, ways of life, make a lot more sense to me than places like the US etc.