What am I?

[izzymem]

Ok here is a quick one.

I originate from the island of Cyprus.

My grandparents were born in Cyprus and moved to England.

My parents where then born and bred in London, and therefore so was I.

So what does this make me in the eyes of the Law & people from this country?

I am a second generation. I look obviously Turkish Cypriot, but I am very much English based in my life due to my parents being so.

[VINNY100_2]

British..?

[izzymem]

ok. but i am a second generation. Why am i not English? Why British?

[JamesEverton]

Isn't 'British' your nationality (whether you're Scottish, English or Welsh)? If you regard yourself as English then you are. I don't think that the law would regard you as being any different to anyone else. I've no idea about Cypriot law so I don't know whether you could get a Cypriot passport but you would probably qualify for their football team!

[jno]

Englishness is a vague subject. Your nationality is British. This used to include Scottish and Welsh equally; but now that these 'countries' (if that's what you can call them) are acquiring some political autonomy, people who live in England are suggesting that they should have some too. England has, for instance, its own sports teams (cricket, football, rugby) but competes at the Olympics as part of Britain. Over all, I think JamesEverton is right: at present, you're English if you think you are. (You may be a Cypriot too.) Some day legislation may make all this a bit clearer.

[izzymem]

its crazy isnt it. i am british yes, but i am from england so that makes me english too. i think the law sees me as British With Turkish Cypriot Decent. Even though i was born here as so were my parents.

i remember there use to be arguements in schools over black students being refered to as black british

[cliffsdoll]

my parents were born in hungary, so were most of my siblings, i was the first child in the family to be born in england,  i have always refered to my self as british and have a british passport.    you are definatly british.

[Dom Tuk]

If you wish you could be called european as the cypriots came into Europe last year.

[izzymem]

Yes they did. But that was only the Greek side. I originate from the Turkish side. We were not put in the EU. Oh it gets so much better for me lol.

[Chessman]

Try this one, My mother was from the Middle East, my father was born here in London, from parents who were East European refugees, they met during the war, dad was in the eighth army, I was also born in London, Joined the army in 1966, and on my id  card, it had me down as British/English,(of British parents, but born in England), My understanding of the law as it now stands, is, regardless of origins, if both your parents are born in England, even if they are not, you are English, but if only one was born here, you are British.

Confused?, I certainly am.

[bernardo]

British of course.  What else would you be?  Japanese?

[dothawkes]

My grandson is a quarter Greek Cypriot on his Mum's side, as her Mum is Greek Cypriot.  My Grandson is British, as both his parents were born here and so was he. I don't consider that my Grandson originates from Cyprus, he originates from Preston, but he has Greek Cypriot ancestry. I always think that you originate from where you were born and you can't change that.

[louadams6]

http://www.icclaw.com/devs/uk/im/ukim_004.htm

[Piper-AK]

I'm Swiss/Irish/Scottish with not a drop of English blood in me, but I was born in England so therefore I can be any of those four nationalities! 

[spinchimp]

The law sees you as British. Your descent is irrelevant unless you choose to disclose it. If that wasn't the case I would be British with viking, saxon, celt (and no doubt many others) descent. Born here, got British nationality -- British, end of story.

[izzymem]

Well yeah you call me british which is true. But lets go to the COUNTRY i was born in. so am i ENGLISH British or Cypriot British??? You can call someone british but they have an actual state or country they were born in within britain.

[jno]

being British is all that matters legally. For the rest you can be what you want to be. You can call yourself 'of Cypriot extraction' if you want, or 'from a Cypriot family', but you can equally claim to be 2nd-generation English (or British). In terms of identification it might even have more meaning to call yourself a 3rd-generation Londoner - you've probably got more in common with other Londoners, even Ukrainian or Chilean ones, than with people from Gloucester, say. (As you'll have noticed, people in London come from everywhere.)

[mightyWBA]

England are playing Turkey at football,who do you want to win? There's your answer!

[izzymem]

I do not support Turkey in the slightest. I always support England. If the Turkish side of Cyprus had their own football team then I would support them also, but England is always my main. GO ARSENAL!!!!!!

[adam777]

The Turkish side of Cyprus (The TRNC) does have its own international soccer team. However due to the international embargoes they cant really play anywhere.

I hope the world will wake up one day and recognise the TRNC and tell the Greeks to F off, but I doubt it.