Flying the flag

I wonder why you feel the need to be rude in you post Mollygo. A) I have no idea when you were born and b) if you had "read any of the posts on here" you would have seen I have been taking part so unlikely to miss whatever it is you are alluding to.

Perhaps you could give a straight answer to a straight question.

vegansrock

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.

I do agree. Patriotism seems rather mindless to me. Your country is not your achievement. Why be proud of it?

Grandma70s

vegansrock

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.

I do agree. Patriotism seems rather mindless to me. Your country is not your achievement. Why be proud of it?

I would have to agree with you both. Patriotism has been defined as:
1. Special affection for the country;
2. Personal identification with the country
3. Special concern for the well-being of the country
4. Willingness to sacrifice to promote the country’s good.
(Stephen Nathanson, 1993)

Affection for all that comprises our country is probably there for most if not all of us.

Identification? I'm not sure that most people do identify with it all the time. Some will not be at any particular moment and most will when we are up against an agreed enemy such as a war or a pandemic.

Special concern for the well-being of the country. I see many very selfish people wanting only what is best for them.

But the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the country as a whole? When some won't even wear masks for others and some know their own life is on the line when they tend to others, I don't know.

I do wonder if those who shout the loudest about patriotism and the flag actually are the ones who end up doing least to help the country as a whole? Perhaps it's not as extreme as that but I do get some sense of it.

I suspect those who shouted for sovereignty are now shouting for patriotism, both concepts that are meaningless in this global market.

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Please all ignore last post,Ohhps!

Government buildings will be flying our flag everyday according to the news.

Hideous and cringe-inducing. And how much will it cost?

It's just and attempt to appeal to the demographic that voted for Brexit as far as I can see. It's all been done before in other countries I just didn't think we would see it here.

Now they are dressing to match.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan on the STV news tonight.

Just cancelled my flag pole as I don't want to be mistaken for a government building. I am going to build a bunker to hide in until the country regains it's sanity. FGS I have just read the guidelines on the Gov.UK website, who writes this rubbish? It is like an episode out of "Yes, minister". I despair (I am usually a really positive person!

Kandinsky

Government buildings will be flying our flag everyday according to the news.

This could be fun in NI

This is the worst I’ve seen.

nadateturbe

Kandinsky

Government buildings will be flying our flag everyday according to the news.

This could be fun in NI

Talk about saviours of the Union.

foxie48

Just cancelled my flag pole as I don't want to be mistaken for a government building. I am going to build a bunker to hide in until the country regains it's sanity. FGS I have just read the guidelines on the Gov.UK website, who writes this rubbish? It is like an episode out of "Yes, minister". I despair (I am usually a really positive person!

Love it Foxie particularly the first sentence! Gave me a chuckle on a wet dreary day.

Kandinsky

Government buildings will be flying our flag everyday according to the news.

Chin up Mr Drakeford, it didn't say what size

??

What is the government going to do if government buildings don't fly the flag every day?

Prison sentences? 'Re-education' camps? Sack them?

I was watching an interview with Jeremy Hunt today and it was interesting that he didn't have a flag. I wonder why.

They really are taking the pee - just seeing how much they can get away with, to cover up the more sinister plans.

My across-the-road neighbour usually has two small union flags in his hanging baskets but this week he has added UJ bunting right along his fence.As far as I know he is not a right wing extremist but he definitely is a Rangers supporter. He was letting off fireworks when Rangers beat Celtic this weekend.

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growstuff

I was watching an interview with Jeremy Hunt today and it was interesting that he didn't have a flag. I wonder why.

Matt Hancock did an interview without the flag too. He did have a photograph of a cricketer bowling. I want to know who the cricketer is.

Maybe the cabinet aren't under orders to fly the flag after all.

This country is the most divided since the civil war, the flag waving is just a cynical attempt to plaster over the cracks.

Not to worry folks only four years until the next election...