Talk:British Isles

Excellent
A Venn diagram is an excellent way to teach this lesson. Murphynw 14:39, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

The term "British Isles" is a Political term and not an indication of a Geographical Area if it includes Ireland!

Ireland is a Soveriegn Independant State, a member of the United Nations, the European Community and other international bodies. It is a Term that is not used by the Government of Ireland, Irish Regulatory Bodies and Irish citizens in general. Even though Northern Ireland is part of the " United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland" a large portion of it's citizens are also guaranteed, by International Treaties, to have their Irish rather than British identity respected.

The term "British Isles" is usually used in two ways,


 * 1) Used by journalists, and others, as a lazy way to describe a grouping that includes Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland.
 * 2) The more problematic use of the term is by those who do not accept that Ireland is no longer a member of the British Empire and has not been since 1916 -1922 depending on starting date used.
 * 3) It is used as means to insult or be condecending to people of Irish Nationality or Decent especially when they are told, if they object, that it is only a Geographical Location or other dismissive reason.