Confessit

Exactly. He also said he would end the war in Ukraine within a few days of taking office!

He knows he’s only for 4 years in office and he is making sure he is doing everything possible to make an impact and leave a mark. Its dangerous.

I appreciate that. But Iran is far from the only country in the world that has that kind of Islamic regime! America will bulldoze its way into something if it feels necessary to make a point or if there’s a benefit to them.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact we are not landlocked with Europe. Historically there was the British empire, that sense of sovereignty and significance across the world, long and epic wars with France & Spain and the history books being written (not always faithfully to the truth) of British victory over European countries. The EU was stronger with Britain in it. We were one of its biggest financial contributors as you say, but the anti EU feeling was strong. I agree everyone was stronger with us in it. When I was growing up at school we never referred to ourselves as European but of course all Brits know we are part of Europe. It’s just not a typical thing we say. But someone in here said Argentine people don’t call themselves American but they know of course they are from the Americas, they are Argentinian. So I get the feeling we are not isolated in the fact we don’t use our continent as the prominent description and identity of where we are from. Its our country and nationality that takes precedent. But I would have thought the French say they are French first or the Spanish say they are Spanish they don’t say we are European first…. ..or do they?

Plenty of British born people stab people every week here in the UK though. Plenty of crime from British born people happens in towns and cities every day also. Just saying. Media & Social Media absolutely adore to play the immigrants causing crime drum and there was plenty of that spread about in the aftermath of brexit.

That was the myth and the reason many voted. The reality of course is different. That was the propaganda delivered to the British public to ensure we voted out.

I agree. But we still have the mega rich not paying their taxes and multi-million companies tax avoiding. It’s easy to attack the less fortunate in society to take the heat off those mega rich bosses who sit at the top, and that’s exactly what the political party in power always does. The Furlough scheme during Covid was a great example, Richard Branson is one of the richest men from the U.K. and he went begging to the government to prop up Virgin Airlines to the tune of 200 million. He has that is assets ALONE never mind his personal fortune of 100s of millions sat in accounts. The UK is built on entitled riches. So whilst I agree we need to review and organise the immigration issue out here in the U.K., the super doooer rich do not pay what they should and get away with it openly.

I’ve never seen that? We are still in Europe the European Union wasn’t created until 1958 and the continent pre dates it by centuries. Not every country in Europe is in the E.U but they are still part of the continent. They are both totally separate. If you asked the average Brit if they were European they would have said No for all those decades we were in the E.U. It’s not a new revelation for Brits.

I hear you. I appreciate all of your posts about this and perhaps I do come at it from my cultural perspective. I don’t see it that we don’t think we are a part of the continent it’s just we don’t refer to ourselves as European. If some asked someone in the streets of the U.K. which continent are we a part of……then of course we would know. We just don’t frame it as “we are Europeans” we always say British or English/Northern Irish/Scottish/Welsh. Its just not a common term over here and never has been. But I always read posts from international fans in here and I have certainly learned a lot as we have had the debate.

I think most people think of their home country first and continent second anyways?

I know there is but a member has already said they live in Argentina and nobody calls themselves American so I don’t think it’s all non-English countries hun. But we have debated brilliantly !!! I will leave it there. x

I absolutely agree but do you think as time goes on that America the country is slowing taking precedence in people’s minds when they hear/read something that says American over the continent ? Especially with America the country dominating so much of popular culture and news across the world. If America the country wasn’t such a prominent presence in the global stage there wouldn’t really be any confusion between what people think about when they hear “American”…… I am not saying it is right or wrong just an observation. Like Madonna pre-1983 in most people’s minds who came into contact with the word they thought of Madonna & Child, the sacred Madonna and associated it with the Catholic faith. Today of course most people think about Madonna the artist. The Catholic Madonna of course came first but the word is now synonymous with Madonna the star. I feel perhaps it could be the same principle for America the continent and America the country. The continent came first and still exists, but the term American is becoming more and more synonymous with the country. I am not changing history, geography or culture I am just making an observation….. Perhaps?

Thanks for this insight from someone who actually lives in Latin America. That’s an interesting perspective to add into the debate the fact you say Argentine people don’t call themselves American. I did think that originally. Out of curiosity can I ask you in Argentina (or the part of Latin America you now live in) how has the media declared Pope Leo, as the first or second American Pope?

The UK is absolutely part of Europe and we are Europeans in terms of geographical proximity. But the term has never been popular over here and that pre dates leaving the EU by centuries. I think some of it is the fact we are not land locked to Europe, the fact we had an empire for 200 years that was the British Empire, the fact we have our own church and broke with Rome when much of Europe remained Catholic. The on going wars with France & Spain that stretched for centuries. Plus we are made of 4 nations. England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Island. If you talk to the average Scot they will tell you they are Scottish not British. It’s the same for England. But the whole identity of not being European has a long history here before leaving the EU with many factors. Brexit was a prime example of just how much of the country rejected not only the EU but not seeing the UK as European.

Thank you for this I absolutely appreciate that Wiki shows all these countries indicating the term America is the continent and not the a country. I absolutely appreciate as well from my previous post that culturally, as you say, non-English speaking territory/counties typically think of America as the continent and not the country. Bringing it back to the original point though of Pope Leo being the first American Pope, I do wonder if all those countries you have listed have reported him NOT being that and instead the 2nd which is what you were saying it should be…. I did quick search on google as I was curious and I have found for France (one of the countries you listed) Le Monde one of the biggest French newspapers apparently breaks the story as the first American Pope https://www.lemonde.fr/en/religions/article/2025/05/08/new-pope-elected-by-conclave_6741061_63.html Also a French website France24 also breaks the story with the first American Pope https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250508-cardinals-elect-first-american-pope-as-robert-francis-prevost-becomes-leo-xiv So it appears even in the countries you have listed there news are reporting the same as English-speaking counties and citing the new Pope as the first American Pope. I havnt looked at anymore I don’t know how the rest of Europe are breaking the story ….I just looked at French media When Pope Francis was announced as Pope I remember the news breaking he was the first Latin American not American Pope. I totally appreciate where you are coming from that the Latin countries consider him the 2nd American Pope but unfortunately I don’t think the world media does? And that’s even in the places you are saying that view America MORE as the continent and NOT the country. I’m not saying that right but that’s what’s being reported even in one if the countries where you say the term American is still the continent over the country in people’s minds. I guess it’s about where you live ultimately.

That’s absolutely right. The fact is it’s the only example on Earth a continent and a country are named the same thing. But when most people in the world think of America they are thinking about and when people say it’s American I think they also are referring to the USA. In my country we don’t call ourselves European we are split into 4 separate nations, we are English, Scottish, Welsh & Northern Irish. Overall British but never ever European but I know that’s a big term in the rest of land locked Europe.

@Je5u5 @ThomasW @promise to try @ULIZOS @elijah I don’t want to quote everything but I have found it fascinating and interesting reading the comments! I totally accept that people in Latin American countries refer to themselves as American I didn’t realise that originally. I am a Brit and over here we are taught from school that America the continent is split in general terms between North America & South America (commonly referred to as Latin America). I absolutely understand that people from France, Italy ect. are also Europeans in the same way the Chinese & Japanese are Asian. Referring back to the reports of The Pope being the first I suppose it doesn’t help the fact that America is the only country in the world that shares its name with a continent. I was aware that the term pre-dates the US by a few centuries. But the fact there has been a country of America since 1776 and the fact it has emerged as a super power in the last century does of course mean that in most peoples minds, when they hear the term America they think about the country US over anything else (people outside of Latin America). In terms of reporting over here in the West and largely across the world that The Pope is the first American pope is of course driven by the fact he comes from America the country. He speaks English as a first language and with an accent synonymous with the US. And of course American is a nationality as well. We have a huge list of Popes from many European countries, we have only had 1 from America the continent and now 1 from America the country. I think both are stand alone scenarios in that sense. So I do understand it, but also with the knowledge gained in here and thinking more overall with the benefit of history and culture he isn’t the first for the Americas. Its amazing to chat in here to so many people from across the globe because culturally we have so many different perspectives.

Francis was from Latin America (South America) though. That is different. It is a continent all of its own. I don’t even think people from Argentina call themselves American they are Argentinian. It’s the same for all the other countries in Latin America, I don’t think any of them call themselves American. So he is the first American Pope really, from the United States of America.

He’s a cannon law lawyer he will absolutely be the most traditional Pope going.

I hear you. I should hope he will be and follows on from the openness of Francis. But Leo XIV is a lawyer of cannon law, so he is also loyal man of the Catholic cloth and defending the conditions of the Catholic teaching. I saw his opening speech on the papal balcony. He said Jesus Christ loves you unconditionally. Ironic when the Church has a list as long as St.Peters square of conditions

The first ever American Pope.

It’s going the other way here in the U.K. and the far right are gathering momentum. It’s scary times here in Britain currently and it’s not going to get any easier.

He was dangerous. When he visited Africa and told the thousands of catholics there not to use condoms……absolutely shocking he was literally encouraging the spread of HIV.