Flying the flag

What's all this GBGBGB nonsense all about?

I've never understood it and won't write what my own interpretation of GB is for the people who use it, but I haven't been proved wrong yet.

Do tell us growstuff we are all mature adult we can take it.

Especially if you've never been proved wrong.

SueDonim

It’s very common in America to have the Stars & Stripes on display in or around your house.

Not in any of the homes I ever visited when we lived there.
Not in my son's home, not in his "in-law's" home, not in any home I knew or know.

Maybe it's true in some places.

growstuff

I think it's sinister that people are oblivious of the implications of such blatant jingoism.

I agree growstuff

I didn't know that, Casdon. You learn something every day.

It must have seemed a bonus to them that it was also the "Rose of England"

Jingoism comes from the quote - "We don't want to fight, but by Jingo, if we do . . . "

Having a national flag on view doesn't have to be picking a fight.
For instance -
- when delegates are are an international conference, and the relevant flag is an instant identifier.
- when athletes are competing internationally (for the same reason, and to give a focus for the euphoria when/if they win)
- when the PM or another minister is giving a news conference of national importance. ("Speaking to the nation")
- in the chamber of the HoC (reminding MPs and cabinet ministers that they are supposed to be debating and enacting legislature on behalf of the whole populations of the United Kingdom)
- on goods manufactured in the UK (not just packed there) so long as they are of a high standard. A reputation for maintaining quality is a useful asset, particularly when you are trying to establish a whole raft of new trade deals.

Making it compulsory defeats the purpose - it could become something to resist because it is imposed. They never learn, do they? If you demand love, you get resentment.

However, I thought Government buildings already flew the flag.

Notspaghetti it’s not something my son or his wife’s family do, but a walk around many a neighbourhood on the likes of Memorial/Veterans/Independence day will show plenty of homes with the America flag outside.

I’ve also been into a number of homes of people who are serving/served in the US military and some of them have the stars and stripes on display.

It's ridiculous to try to compare the UK with the USA.

Americans are immersed in the Stars & Stripes practically from birth. They swear allegiance to it every morning in school and live with it plastered all over the place for the rest of their lives.

The British don't do this and never have, except at odd moments, such as the 'Backing Britain' campaign and 'Cool Britannia' or Jubilees.

It is all so very contrived and artificial and just makes us look insecure and needy.

However, I thought Government buildings already flew the flag.
They may do but it's not compulsory just at this very moment.

Is there any need to be so rude, MaizieD? I haven’t compared the UK/US, merely commented on what I’ve seen on my many trips to America.

I wasn't intending to be rude, SueDonim, nor was my post my post particularly aimed at you. Throughout this whole discussion people have repeatedly quoted examples of countries where flying the national flag is common, as if that somehow validates our government's sudden obsession with displaying themselves practically wrapped in the Union Jack at every conceivable opportunity. My point is that other countries have paid far more attention to their flags for decades, if not centuries. We haven't; we really, really haven't.
To do so now is derisory. Or sinister...

SueDomin - the thing I took issue with was the "in or around your house". You may see them outside on front lawns here and there (I've seen them occasionally when driving round some areas of Arizona, Texas and Iowa for example) but only on lawns.
I've never been in a house with them displayed.

I agree with Lucca - "really big flags in the sitting rooms are daft."

Who really would choose to decorate their home with the Union Flag?

At the moment people are working from home. This includes government ministers. I think it's quite acceptable for these people to have the union flag in the background when they are at work. When they are being interviewed by Charlie and Naga etc, they are at work. They're not decorating their homes with them.

The local vicar does online services from his office at the moment. He has placed a small cross and often flowers in view. I have sat in that office and I know in normal time that cross isn't there. At the moment home is church.

I think during the first and second world wars the flags were important. Comments are often made about people dying for a flag, especially when bright sparks try to change them. Some of my family died as Anzacs and the Australian flag was very important for them. It is for me,too. The British flag is a good one, one to be proud of and I am happy that it appears as part of our one. A bit of patriotism is a positive thing, why be ashamed of your own country?

I’m not sure why patriotism is seen as a good thing. You don’t have a choice in where you are born normally, you can easily be ashamed of your own country if the representatives of that country do things which make you ashamed.

During WW2, it was customary in my Granny's street to "put the flags out" when a son in the forces was expected home on leave. Strings of union jack bunting was stretched from upstairs windows to the gate , so that he ran the gauntlet to reach the front door. A wedding might get the same treatment.

Most people didn't actually own any, (Granny didn't) but they were borrowed from somewhere and passed on when the next family were rejoicing to welcome a son home safe and sound.

Flags were for occasions to celebrate, to join your neighbours in a visible sign of relief that a danger was over or there was a reason for joy.

To this day, older relatives greet happenngs like a notorious skinflint putting his hand in his pocket to buy a round of drinks with an ironic "Put the flags out!"

Mamardoit - I think if your vicar brought in a cross the size of the ones in a church (ours is bigger than a person) it would look odd - but of course you are talking about when they are conducting a service in the first place . The cross is basically intrinsic and no one should be too surprised.

I've seen little flags on bookshelves behind people which look OK because they are unobtrusive. My feeling is that big flags dominating the screen look silly and do not inspire confidence.

I know people who like big flags in living rooms will now want to know how big is too big ?... too big is if it overpowers the visuals. Those ones do look ridiculous, in my opinion.

Patriotism for most now is an occasional choice that’s all, rather than the robust support of your country that it used to be.
When the riots were happening in France in 2005 I was glad to tell fellow students I was English.
When I watch a rugby match, I’ll cheer for an English or Welsh team.
When UK fans riot at football matches abroad, I’m ashamed that they are British but it doesn’t make me ashamed of being British.
Your own country isn’t the actions of one person, or a few people, but you don’t have to be proud of where you live if you aren’t.

Flying or showing the flag except on special days is often a sign of division rather than unity, in some places disrespecting the flag or the head of state can get you arrested, beaten up or killed.

The government can only encourage us to obey the lockdown rules at home, the system they have now is working quite well and I would expect it to continue as planned. International travel is different, they can just ban movement and anyone coming is gets isolated.

Pinnywinch

Why on earth is flying the flag of my country “sinister” or “daft”?
I will fly, wear, use my country’s flag?? whenever or wherever I wish. I find it neither sinister nor daft.

Just to say.....again.... I am not against flags per se. I just think the great big flags in sitting rooms or small offices look daft.

NotSpaghetti

I agree with Lucca - "really big flags in the sitting rooms are daft."

Who really would choose to decorate their home with the Union Flag?

I imagine politicians in various countries would these days, NotSpaghetti, as we have moved into a time of politics being a constant fight for the next election rather than running the country in everyone's best interest.

If I was someone with primitive religious beliefs I might think that was why a god or gods sent Covid. Sadly, even if it were true I'm not sure some governments have learned the lessons it has provided.

Mollygo Tue 23-Mar-21 08:54:50
Patriotism for most now is an occasional choice that’s all, rather than the robust support of your country that it used to be.

When was that Mollygo?

Who really would choose to decorate their home with the Union Flag?

Union 'Jack' curtains in case anyone is Zooming from home:

(Other makes and retailers available.)

Pippa Z, well before I was born. Haven’t you read any of the posts on here?