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Monday, July 16, 2018

United States or Independent Countries? What's Best?

Problem
Is it better to unite, or be independent?

Answers
THE USA
At school, I had learned that the United States had united and that was a good thing. Common language. Common currency. Common laws. That made the country great.

However, when we lived in Rockville, Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington DC, as soon as we drove to The South, we travelled back in time to a different world and world view. At stately homes, we met elderly volunteer lady tourist guides wearing costumes which looked like crinolines. These ladies vociferously told us differently. I remember one comment, "They left us in the dust!"

Please don't mention the Boston tea party.

EUROPE
Italy
In Europe, Italy had united. They now speak Italian.

The UK
Long before, the Romans united Italy and Europe and more. The schoolchildren in the UK are keen on Romans. No mention of the fact that the Romans conquered us.

Actually, there is. Julius Caesar's comment on arrival, 'Veni vidi, vici' is a much quoted, popular saying. To the average eight-year-old, it would appear that the Romans were on a jolly day trip.

The Romans did leave us nice straight roads. Lots of names, Chester, Winchester, Manchester.

The United Kingdom united. The UK joined the Common Marked. We were delighted.

Now, we have voted on Brexit. Uproar.

In England we speak British English. At least I do. Am I the only one?

Conclusion
Unification and division have taken place or been promoted in Yugoslavia, Croatia, Nigeria, The Yemen, East Timor and many more places. Travel to another country to hear different views on modern problems and ancient history.

Useful Websites
HISTORY & WEBSITES
UK TV programme: What the Romans did for us.
http://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/what-did-the-romans-do-for-us/

TRAVEL
UK
visitbritain.org
visitbritainshop.com
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/home#/
virginatlantic.com
visitengland.com
visitwales.com
visitscotland.com

Northern Ireland
Belfast, Giants Causeway, Titanic Quarter and Titanic Belfast museum, Game of Thrones
discovernorthernireland.com

Eire - Dublin and southern Ireland, Republic of Ireland
ireland.com/Tourism

ITALY
visititaly.com
umbriatourism.it (For Etruscan Perugia)
italiantouristboard.co.uk
http://www.turismoroma.it/?lang=en

USA
visittheusa.co.uk
virginatlantic.com

GENERAL worldwide
tripadvisor.com
wikitravel.org
wikivoyage.org
skyscanner.net (airlines)

Author
Angela Lansbury
See my posts on the USA and Canada, Asia including Singapore and East Timor, Europe including Umbria and the Etruscans, and many more. Please share links to your favurite posts. See my last post about Slovenia and Yugoslavia and countries splitting up.

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