Flying the flag

Lawdy they’ll be telling you not to celebrate St. George’s Day next.....

That's terrible, AmberSpyglass. I don't mean that your comment is terrible, I mean it's terrible that the Union Jack has acquired that connotation.

If I see someone flying or displaying the Union Jack, I tend to assume they’re racist. And I’m usually right.

"he matched the stereotype of a person who would have a flag on a pole" That is what it has come to - that someone who flies the flag of his country has become a "stereotype". If the flag had not been adopted by extreme examples of Little Britain-ness and then shunned by the rest of the political spectrum it would still belong to ALL British people, of whatever shade of political opinion. It is now in danger (or is it too late ?) of being sidelined into a limited and sometimes unsavoury corner. The red rose has gone the same way. When I was at school we sang "Rose of England" without irony, but now it would have to be "Rose of one demographic and political party"

The only way to rehabilitate the flag is for ALL political parties to use it as a backdrop when they are either addressing the whole country or referring to the whole country in some statement or statistic or other. Flood the media image market with photos and force the Tory party to find their own symbol and not appropriate one that is for everyone.

This is just ridiculous. Some countries have a long tradition of flag flying. American children had to chant the oath of allegiance to it every morning in school (do they still do that?). It's a way of promoting cohesion in a diverse population and of engendering reverence for 'the flag'. This is not British. It's never been British. We just don't do it and never have.

The tories are pushing this 'super patriotism' as a purely political ploy and it is straight out of the fascist playbook. It's got very little to do with actual patriotism, it's more to do with singling out people who won't play along with it and calling them traitors. It's about winding up 'the mob'. How soon before people who don't display a union flag on their property have their windows smashed for being disloyal to the state?

I was grateful when my former neighbour moved and the new neighbours removed the flag. Not only did the wretched thing squeak all day and night, but everybody in the area knew the house. The old neighbour was a revolting human being who had a police caution not to harrass me, so he matched the stereotype of a person who would have a flag on a pole.

I think flags do have a place, for national occasions, and I find it helpful when items that are British made have a flag on their websites because it’s good to use UK produced goods when you can. Flying in gardens, in politicians offices etc. not for me. The worst possible place though is on the rear end of Brits shorts and swimming trunks on holiday abroad - that is just plain wrong.

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

Pantglas2

Try telling folks in Cuba that a) they shouldn’t be flying their flags on their properties and b) they’re right wing ?

Good point Pantglas

Cuba is a one party state.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-938-tcdavidson1.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-461120-1200px-scottish-conservative-logo-svg.png

The national flag could only be made an object of derision if a political party tried to appropriate it for its own ends as the SNP has done with the saltire.

They love a national symbol, the Tories.....who is that using the saltire again....?

No reason for you Gwyneth nor anyone else not to display our flag if you want to, but let's not reduce it to a party political symbol.

Try telling folks in Cuba that a) they shouldn’t be flying their flags on their properties and b) they’re right wing ?

No what’s wrong with displaying the National Flag?

Or maybe we should all just be secure in our identity as British. I don't need a flag to tell me who I am.

Unfortunately, excessive flag waving smacks of the extreme right wing.

"Easy solution, opposition parties fly the flag also, after all it is the Flag of the United Kingdom, which employs them?" posts GG13

Do we really want to see flags every time we see a politician?

That would lead to the point where no-one could be elected or keep his seat without flags behind him at all times.

Unfortunately I fear that Keir Starmer may be joining the flag flyers, perhaps feeling he needs the validation.

We should fly the flag in a meaningful way - at significant national events, at the Olympics or when athletes are representing the country, at international conferences or at the UN where the UK delegate has a small union jack in front of her, not just to boost the profile of politicians.

If anyone wants to fly the flag in their garden, or have a sticker on their car, that's fine.

I'm not sure about Mat Hancock's union jack covid mask, it seems just a small step away from the union jack underpants, popular in the eighties, which I always thought rather disrespectful.

WE are a tiny island (sorry!)

Yes, I think it's unnecessary Varian. And too American for me. I think the Brits combine a unique combination of holding their government to account, while also having a very good sense of national identity. All the flag waving does is make us look like Little Britoner, nationalists.

It is a bit too 'draw up the drawbridge' for me. Me are a tiny island. It is not sensible to isolate ourselves.

varian

The national flag could only be made an object of derision if a political party tried to appropriate it for its own ends as the SNP has done with the saltire.

The recent rash of flags in the homes of every Tory politician is a tad sinister.

Easy solution, opposition parties fly the flag also, after all it is the Flag of the United Kingdom, which employs them?

Greyduster

^not just appear ridiculous but a tad sinister^. I think what is sinister is that there are those who think that our national flag is an object of derision and ridicule.

Completely agree. Nothing ‘sinister’ about showing our flag. Well said Greyduster. ????????????

I am one of many who are Coronation Babies, still have my mug & Coronation coin. ..... I agree with you Greyduster, ?????????

But nobody, surely, has such huge flags in their home normally. That's why it looks daft.

The national flag could only be made an object of derision if a political party tried to appropriate it for its own ends as the SNP has done with the saltire.

The recent rash of flags in the homes of every Tory politician is a tad sinister.

not just appear ridiculous but a tad sinister. I think what is sinister is that there are those who think that our national flag is an object of derision and ridicule.

If they are on TV in their official capacity then the flag should be shown and I’ve always thought that.
I dont watch the BBC to hear their presenters mock our flag, in fact I don’t watch them to hear their views on anything, they are supposed to be impartial.

I think that at the very least they should both make a Public apology and be suspended, unless of course their thoughts and deeds echo the BBCs......in which case I will stop watching it.

Perhaps it should be more common for ALL parties to show the union jack (or union flag - see www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags-2/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/) ?

If they all used it for press conferences etc it would stop being the preserve of one party.