Congrats Andy Murray

Hellon: I am sure you would agree that Heritage and Loyalty are not the same. So I don't disagree with what you have to say. I too like many others are proud of my heritage, but my loyalty now is towards the country that gave me opportunity, food and respect. I think we are on the same page on this issue.

Re: My comment, the big difference... most Americans pride themselves to be an American first (a hotch-potch of immigrants, cultures and religions),etc...."
You are interpreting it a bit differently. It is about loyalty first, heritage next, religion last. That is what most Americans believe in. :) Hope that clarifies.

cross checking on most things I state (just a helpful habit, ingrained in me since i was a student, which you folks love to tease me on :), here is a supporting analysis on National Pride from published research:

http://publicdata.norc.org:41000/gss/DOCUMENTS/REPORTS/Cross_National_Reports/CNR19.pdf

On Page 21 (combined pride), the USA lists as #1 :) Great Britain as #11. Australia was not surveyed, but the Kiwis ranked well at #5.

^^"Because she's mentioned as a half sister (and I wonder where you got that from)...doesn't make her one...I say probably a second cousin at a guess? Mary I of England and EI of England were half sisters."

Yes, I agree. Sometimes a person just cannot admit error.

Yes, can admit error...Mary, Queen Of Scotland was cousin, Mary I Queen Of England (bloody Mary) was half sister.

Hellon, I think MQS was 18 when she returned from France, per Wiki and this source-
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/mary-queen-scots-leaves-france-scotland
But, you are right about her being only in Scotland a few years (6-7) after her return.
Hellon above "I don't sympathize with her or anyone else in that period..."
^ Would you, if you knew she was a Poet..?
http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/index.htm
Click on "the Poet" on the left pane to see her poems written in french and translations.

Darren, you are probably also right about E1 not wanting the throne of Scotland, though the English under E1 did send their ships... the quote was taken from a blogsite but not verifiable upon addl history research. However, I am not sure of the rest that you said, as there seems to be a contradiction on whether Mary was a victim of E1 or a conniving cousin.
http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/index.htm then click on Mary's letters and Mary vs. Elizabeth on the left pane to read.

Regardless, of the fine details, she was an example of "royal misfortune", not a "plotter", I think.
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Just occurred to me, I was conceived when my parents were in Edinburgh, Scotland for 2 years..had they waited another 2 months before returning, I may very well have had Scottish citizenship/heritage :)
Might explain why my subconscious seems to sympathize with MQS.