Well, I think Mary raises some good questions. I am a reasonably educated American with friends, ex-patriots and otherwise, from the UK.

Help me out here, you folks. Am I right when I say that:

The United Kingdom is a nation.

Great Britain is an island

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are countries.

And Britain is synonym for England?

Have I missed anything?

Now the question I think Mary raises is, is everyone so consistent with their language that some confusion might not have crept in? And aren't Dr. Howell and the media over reacting just a bit?