Did the Celts exist as a distinct people?
 

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Could there be said to have been a distinct "Celtic" people, or was Celtism simply a cultural movement, making them in some ways akin to mdern-day punks or goths? WTF?

It was a language grouping, like Slavs. Almost certainly no pan-celtic state, or pan celtic consciousness. Though IIUC the period before they disperse across Western Europe is not well documented.

Yes, they're in civ.

Originally posted by Lorizael
If the answer to this question turns out to be no, the entire identity of a friend of mine will be shattered. he has an identity as a generic "celt" as opposed to being Irish, Scottish, Scots Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, or whatever?

Originally posted by lord of the mark


he has an identity as a generic "celt" as opposed to being Irish, Scottish, Scots Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, or whatever? My dad's side of the family has sometimes refered to it as generically "celtic" since we're a mix of Welsh and Cornish mixed into Irish stock.

Originally posted by Starchild


My dad's side of the family has sometimes refered to it as generically "celtic" since we're a mix of Welsh and Cornish mixed into Irish stock. I can see someone could do that, like someone of part Polish, part Russian, part Serbian origin could just say theyre "slavs" or someone of part Jewish, part Arab origin, could just say theyre semites, but it wouldnt mean that historically there was such a "people".

So, the english are a bunch of germans for scots and welsh?

Originally posted by Starchild
I've actually had txts from my aunt telling me Wales beat England in this or Ireland beat England in that and reminding me about "my celtic heritage and the english enemy". Tell her Farfur was a Celt beaten to death by English aggressors.

Originally posted by Odin


The funny thing is that the English aren't that different genetically from the Welsh. Most of the Germanic genetic influence is in (IIRC) Kent and East Anglia. My point exactly. Therefore it is terribly un-cool for the Irish to scorn the United Kingdom ( of the British Celtic peoples ) and they should be compelled to re-join.

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Could there be said to have been a distinct "Celtic" people, or was Celtism simply a cultural movement, making them in some ways akin to mdern-day punks or goths? What's a 'distinct people'?

Originally posted by Sandman


What's a 'distinct people'? Rab C. Nesbitts.

Originally posted by Sandman
Plus, an actual Confederation of the Isles (or whatever you'd call it) would see London lose a lot of its powers. Not necessarily a bad thing....

Originally posted by Starchild
Not necessarily a bad thing.... Yes, there are no national assemblies in Wales or Scotland are there? No Lothian Question either. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/neeschud.gif

I have a Scottish friend that describes their parliament as 'Petty parish council politics on a national scale'.

Piegate http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/lol.gif

There's an £11 billion pound difference between what Scotland brings in taxes to the Union and what gets spent up there.

As an English student, I narrowly avoided top-up fees and am sitting with £11,000 of debt after my university course where north of the border, even the £2,000 graduate fee has been scrapped.

Now, I err on the side against university fees. If the Scots want to give their students free education, they should have every right to. Provided they're paying for it.

If devolution had happened properly and sensibly, then a open and acknowledged system of distribution from the wealthy south-east of England to the rest of the Union could have been put in place.

While Westminister technically has the power to dissolve each and every local government from the Scottish Parliament down to individual councils, in practicality, the genie is out and the sooner we sort it out the better in the long run.

Cause at this rate, the Scots are going to keep wondering why they need Union with England and the English are going to get fed up with the West Lothian Question.

It's time to give the throne back to a noble line of genuine Celtic lineage. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

I find the whole pan-Celtic nationalism crap extremely tedious and backward. A huge percentage of the so-called 'evil English' have 'Celtic' blood anyway, in addition to all the European and ex-Empire blood sloshing around the country. It might be best not categorise human beings as if they're cocktails of 'pure' bloods, period.

Originally posted by Sandman
It might be best not categorise human beings as if they're cocktails of 'pure' bloods, period. Yay PC!

Originally posted by Sandman
What does 'Celtic' DNA look like? I've no idea, ask a Celtic Nationalist.