Flying the flag

What is a flag, in the end?

My neighbour was told by the council to take down his England and Union Flag down as it is deemed racist
I suggested he put up bunting of the same nature and if the council said anything it`s for a party, it`s still up.

Is it the flag itself though? A few years back there was a huge fashion trend to have it plastered on everything, so much so you'd have been hard pressed to buy a soft furnishing without it on.

The objection is because the sudden appearance of them everywhere is tapping into a remembered fear - which I think is what growstuff was trying to show. We all know that flags in and of themselves are harmless - as a symbol they have historically been adopted as a rallying point. If you fly a flag you're showing an allegiance. It's fine to have an allegiance to your country and to be proud of being British/English/Welsh/Scottish/Irish/Cornish - nothing wrong with it at all. But an allegiance to a cause is a different beast.

But to pretend that flags mean nothing else but patriotism and pride is a bit baffling coming from a bunch of intelligent, mature people who presumably studied history in school and understood it.

Today 09:33 vegansrock

I guess a typical “English” celebration would be binge drinking

Of course that’s what the English are known for on these islands. Obviously you’d never see the Scots getting blind drunk or the Irish!!

Ohh, a lovely Sunday morning pile-on, how nice.

OK to be wrong sometimes, sure; is it OK to not understand the difference between an address to the nation and an interview with the press on Zoom?

As for thinking its OK to market haggis as a "British" product.....aye, OK! The company is in Glenrothes, BTW, if you want to buy one.

I don't deride anybody's flag. I deride the politicians who think they are fooling anybody by having a flagpole in the living rooms of their own houses.

Right, I'm off to nurture my grudge....

I think mostly the people objecting to the Union Flag being displayed when MPs are giving interviews on TV are Remainers, Labour, Lib Dem supporters or SNP supporters who hold a grudge.

MerylStreep

Polarbear
When I do fly my flag ( and bunting to match) I actually don’t give a t#@@ what other people think. I know I’m not a supporter of the BNP and that’s all that counts,

Must get the bunting out too, I forgot that!

Alegrias1 If the Government of the day ( whichever party it happens to be) give interviews with the Union Flag in the background I cannot see the problem, after all they are representing the UK.

In the present climate of Covid and rolling worldwide news it makes them easily identifiable as a U.K. MP as I doubt we all know the face of every elected member of the House of Commons (or Lords)

As I posted upthread, the EU flag is usually prominent in any interview with a MEP or commissioner. I am really struggling to understand the derision and verging on hatred and fear that some folks have of the flag of the UK.

Having your national flag flying in your garden or on your bookshelf is a fine thing and is miles away from a political party trying to associate itself with Britishness, which is clearly done to differentiate it from all other parties and present a particular "face" to the populace. Or more likely the rest of the world. Its all about motive.

That is the point I was trying to make but you've put it better and more clearly than me Alegrias!

Unfortunately what I said got turned on its head.

Roll away, Alegrias1

If that's the motive, so be it.

I don't really see what the problem is.

Also it appears Nicola has had the saltire during Covid messages to the nation

It's OK to be wrong sometimes.

"See the attached picture for what kind of ridiculous things can happen when you try to use the Union Flag and Britishness to sell products."
What's wrong with that, Alegrias1? Last I heard, Scotland is still part of Great Britain.

Lillie

vegansrock

I guess a typical “English” celebration would be binge drinking.

Only as portrayed by some press reorts. Not true.

You must be a real bundle of fun in real life vegansrock.

Do you ever have a joke with anyone?

We could skip the pub and have a nice cream tea instead if you want. You could even leave out the cream. I wouldn't mind.

Surprised you haven't posted a picture of Miss Sturgeon seated in front of the EU flag. Or perhaps you have.

That's Bute House. FM's official residence. Like Downing Street. Not her living room or the wee office under the stairs.

and for good measure, while I'm on a roll....

Having your national flag flying in your garden or on your bookshelf is a fine thing and is miles away from a political party trying to associate itself with Britishness, which is clearly done to differentiate it from all other parties and present a particular "face" to the populace. Or more likely the rest of the world. Its all about motive.

Lucca
From my own personal experience we can’t compete with the Russians, the Scandinavians and top of the list Icelanders.

Looks like Nicola has been seen with a rather large flag in her sitting room. There's an awful lot of photos of her with it in the background. Maybe not in the Covid meetings, I couldn't watch those. She makes me feel about 10.

I have no interest if they have a background flag or not. I do think we've copied USA but it won't be the first thing we've imported from there

As for the English binge drinking. I've lived in Northern Ireland. What a marvellous place to be on St. Patrick's Day. Rather a lot of alcohol consumed.

Hogmany is also a fabulous event in Scotland where people might had a tipple or two.

So if you want to fly a flag, fly a flag, if you don't, you don't, No need to mock or deride.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressing the nation regarding new coronavirus restrictions(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Polarbear
When I do fly my flag ( and bunting to match) I actually don’t give a t#@@ what other people think. I know I’m not a supporter of the BNP and that’s all that counts,

Nothing sinister, we have a Union Jack on our boat and fly it with pride. Makes a change from bookshelves and strategically placed books anyway, or clocks!

Whatever floats your boat I’d say. If binge drinking is your thing go for it. I’ve done it on occasions in my past and it was excellent fun. (Not to excess of course). An English bank holiday sounds a great idea as long as the politicians don’t try to jump on the bandwagon. Maybe it should be designated a non politics day!!!! Nothing on tv/radio/newspapers allowed.

vegansrock

How can one “denigrate” St. George’s Day?

Good question

Who can honestly deny that an awful lot of the English...British are serious drinkers?

Those of you who are so proud of the Union Flag and think it could be used to show we are all one, happy, flag waving country might like to reflect on the fact that people who raise doubts about its use get told they can leave the country. Or that somehow it’s all morphed into a discussion of how to celebrate St George’s Day or celebrate some other saint who represents Englishness. (If you go for St Edmund remember that’s only 10 days before St Andrew's Day, not that I expect anybody cares). While you're at it could you please come up with your own National Anthem for England so you don't have to keep singing "God Save the Queen" when the English team are playing?

As for the SNP appropriating the Saltire, there are no flags on display at any of the government Covid briefings and nobody feels the need to proclaim their nationality by having a nine foot flagpole in the living room when they’re on Zoom.

See the attached picture for what kind of ridiculous things can happen when you try to use the Union Flag and Britishness to sell products.

vegansrock

I guess a typical “English” celebration would be binge drinking.

Only as portrayed by some press reorts. Not true.

Have just watched an interview with Commissioner Maered McGuinness (sp) who was sporting a very large EU flag, is that acceptable?

vegansrock

I guess a typical “English” celebration would be binge drinking.

Really?

I guess I live in a totally different England?

How sad that you experience binge drinking as a celebration.