[Hermann the Cherusker]

Deacon, we are having a friendly little debate here.

Can an Indian from the subcontinent move to Britain and become an ethnic Briton or English (as opposed to a British citizen)?

I say no, because it is simply a contradiction in terms. They will always be an Indian.

You being an English bloke, can perhaps give us an English opinion. Can people such as your very prevelant Pakistani and Indian immigrants move themselves from one ethnic identity to another, especially when it is across racial lines?

[cyborg]

It is about race with you isn't it? Okay. Whatever.

[nuconvert]

It's semantics. I believe you're correct.

Cyborg has a point about taking it to another thread.

[Tantumergo]

Part of the recurring immigration controversy here is the ongoing debate about what it means to be "British" and "English", and how all this may need to be changed in the light of our glorious "multi-cultural" society.

The consensus seems to be that while such ethnic minorities can become British, it is not possible or realistic to describe them as English, Scottish, or Welsh. "English" is as much about our ethnic roots as "Indian" is about theirs.

No doubt the Thought Police will try to challenge this in time. The only culture that it is now permissible to denigrate here is white, English, Christian culture. I fear that there will be a very nasty backlash some time soon.