Folknacious, I'm still trying to work out why you quoted Billy Bragg's song at me. You think I don't know the history of these islands and our folklore? I think you missed the point of my posts, and as you're accusing others of being dense that's a bit ironic.

I'll try to keep it simple. As someone who is NOT "half English" I want the same right to claim and support my cultural heritage as someone from another background, without any risk of hi-jack from the BNP or any other political group. Like anyone else, I also want to be able to incorporate other influences (or not), invite participation (or not) from other people who share my ethnicity (or not)and not feel I'm doing this out of compulsion or coercion either to attempt the strange phenomenon of "multicultural diversity" or to cock a snook at the BNP.

My fears about the multicultural compulsion come after years of teaching in Hackney and Tower Hamlets.   It feeds the fears of the "Little Englanders" who are the target audience of the BNP. Only when the English (and I'm deliberately not saying British in this context) feel they can express pride in their own cultural heritage and feel it's equally valued by the media and grant-funders will we de-fuse that particular situation.

Me, I love the rich mix of Britain in all of its diversity. I'm also an enthusiastic supporter of our indigenous culture. Please don't preach at me, even through the words of Billy Bragg.