See, I was gonna answer on the first comments about the six counties of Ulster, but then you took the words right out of my mouth yourself. Whether any of us like it or not, Northern Ireland remains a part of Great Britain. I'd say, "Blame Michael Collins," but someone already got there.

Yeah, that's something I've always wondered about. Inasmuch as England and Scotland became the "United Kingdom" after James VI of Scotland (James Ist of the UK) ascended to the throne after Elizabeth I died childless... wouldn't that mean that, technically, the Scots took over England? I mean, I know how his grand-mother was English, being Henry VII's daughter and all, hence the whole thing with his mother being imprisoned for most of her life and all that. But, pretty much, I've always thought it was strange that history has it that England took over Scotland when, by all accounts, it's a Scot who ascended to the English throne....

Fair enough, but how long after the fact does "we were invaded" ceases to matter? I can't speak to Tibet. They had voted for their independence, so I say they should have it since they clearly want it.

I've never been in Northern Ireland and won't pretend to understand the various political movements that exist there.

So, strictly speaking as a French Canadian, descendant of those who remained after Great Britain (again, that nasty amalgamation) won the Seven Years' War against France and we (meaning "New France") were offered up by way of payment. Speaking as a descendant of those who remained after every French-speaking person who could afford it hightailed it back to France. Speaking as a descendant of those who remained after the United States won their War of Independence and we got "invaded" by the Loyalists who wished to remain "British" citizens. Speaking as a descendant of those who stayed when no economical or real social benefit was offered for their continued presence in this land.

When do we stop saying it was our land before they took it from us? The Natives were here before us. You don't hear very many of my fellow Quebecers wonder whether we should give them their independence, whether we should give them back their land.

And, what? Are we owed anything because, for centuries, being French and Catholic barred you from public service, from better health care and better jobs?

The past is a nasty place for all of us who were, in one way or another, colonized. What do I know of the complexities that remain elsewhere? All I know is I understand feelings of national identity that aren't necessarily tied to the figure that appears on our currency.