Flying the flag

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Do you understand how discussions work Beckett?

Or do you fancy yourself as an agent provocateur?

I can't stand flag waving from any nation. The way the current government is aligning itself with the flag is, in my view, sinister as the OP suggested.

I believe those who really feel they owe something to the country in which they live do something material to make it a better country and avoid doing things that might damage the fabric of the country - like tax avoidance, selling off public assets, etc, etc.

firecracker I am sorry you are wrong - there are British people who are not white who do feel the flag is used by certain far right groups who are not inclusive. If you do not believe me I can point to plenty of evidence.

I recently moved to England from Wales and my husband insisted on flying a large ??????? In the garden,I was concerned that it may antagonise the neighbours but it’s far enough away that they don’t really see it and when someone comes in the house and sees it (pre covid) they laugh, it fills me with pride when I sit in the garden and see it flying in the breeze.

Deleted as it repeats a previously deleted post.

Deleted as it repeats a previously deleted post.

EMMF1948

Iam64

I agree vegans rock and wish that wasn’t so. We were walking with a group of friends, one had grown up in NI and has family there. They’re Catholic. His response to seeing a Union flag flying from a farm house was one of anxiety. He assumed the owners were Britain First types

So no-one can fly the flag for fear of upsetting a minority who claim anxiety? Did he realise which country he was in?

Yes, he was in Britain, the United Kingdom of his birth. He was born and grew up in NI so experienced extremism on many sides. I was sad he responded as he did, a kind, intelligent and sensible man.
I spent a fair bit of time in NI during the troubles. the assumption that someone who sees things from a different perspective that contributes to the development of extremism

I can understand the quote from @nazirafzal posted by MaizieD.
There are other instances where flags flying after a military coup has really frightening implications for the residents.
I don’t really find flags sinister, except on the prison in our nearest town which flies the flag. I never understood why.

There was a documentary a couple of years ago with Peter Oborn talking to some people living on the Irish border. One instinctively ducked and was visibly shaking after a car backfired. He hadn't recovered from the trauma of the troubles decades ago. I don't find it difficult to believe that a Catholic would have the same reaction to the union flag.

It’s not a straightforward ‘us and them’, with Protestants supporting the British Government and Catholics wanting a United Ireland, it’s much more complex than that. However I don’t think I’d be displaying any flags at all if I lived there, discretion is the better part of valour.

I agree with you Casdon. I was responding to the post in which somebody thought it wouldn't matter.

Sorry growstuff you’re right. I hadn’t meant my comment as a direct response to yours, just a general point about how complex the situation is there.

Mollygo

I can understand the quote from @nazirafzal posted by MaizieD.
There are other instances where flags flying after a military coup has really frightening implications for the residents.
I don’t really find flags sinister, except on the prison in our nearest town which flies the flag. I never understood why.

Thank you, Mollygo. I'm glad someone noted it.

What I've been trying to say, and I think that others have too, is that there is nothing intrinsically sinister in flying the flag.

What is sinister for many people is the way that the flag is being used by our current government. Ways which look similar to some disturbing historical precedents.

There have been some 'interesting' reactions to this idea, too, on this thread.

^Iam64

I agree vegans rock and wish that wasn’t so. We were walking with a group of friends, one had grown up in NI and has family there. They’re Catholic. His response to seeing a Union flag flying from a farm house was one of anxiety. He assumed the owners were Britain First types^

It works both ways. I will not venture into an area where the Tricolour is flying. Flags in NI are often used to denote whether an area is republican/RC or loyalist/Protestant.
Great way to live. Housing estates are still largely segregated.

Apparently the DUP is calling for the flag to be flown in line with GB,. Interesting to see how this is responded to. I understand them wanting this as we are part of the UK, but I feel in NI we should not fly any flags.

The DUP have a lot to answer for, not least their part in brexit, which is so nonsensical in the context of NI.

Agree with you Nadateturbe. It would just be asking for trouble.

Even something as innocent as a flag is used to antagonize. Nobody used to advertise themselves in this way. Why, all of a sudden must people draw attention to " their" flags if it isn't done to annoy ? What's it all about anyway ?

I'm afraid I don't care much one way or the other.

You would care if you lived here MissAdventure.

The DUP have a lot to answer for, not least their part in brexit, which is so nonsensical in the context of NI.

Agree with you Varian

So, the flag seems to have been appropriated by the Tories
It's not their flag to take. It belongs to every single person who lives in this country
It smacks of jingoism and imperialism
I wonder if they will fly them over the ever increasing foodbanks...

Good point re foodbanks Returnofthemc.

Returnoftheme good point.

Returnofthemc

So, the flag seems to have been appropriated by the Tories
It's not their flag to take. It belongs to every single person who lives in this country
It smacks of jingoism and imperialism
I wonder if they will fly them over the ever increasing foodbanks...

There’s a Spanish flag flying in the food bank at my town in Spain which is under Pedro Sanchez socialist rule - go figure!

Lest we forget