Flying the flag

And, I thought Naga and Charlie were very sneery to Robert Jenrick!

I thought so too kitty - I switched BBC Breakfast off a long time ago and can’t stand Charlie or Naga. They were on Saturday Kitchen a few weeks ago and were rude and arrogant on that too and totally ruined it.

All you anti flag folks - will you celebrate or denigrate St. George’s Day?

Gagajo. Your view is precisely why non-Trump supporters started the ‘Reclaim The Flag’ movement ?

Pantgla what do you think. I think some of them would rather stick pins in their eyes ?

It isn't being anti flag, though, is it? We are saying, appropriate flag use. Not reducing the symbolism of the flat to a petty political point. Used on the right occasion, flying the flag is wonderful. Deeply symbolic and important.

We’d like to celebrate St George’s day but somehow our flag has become lost in the mire of anti-English feeling Pantglas. It’s next month & Himself and I were discussing it today. We both agree that to display one on our balcony would not be a good idea, sadly. It’s been hijacked by football thugs and lager louts on foreign holidays. Which is such a shame really. Can it ever be re-civilised?

Aaah yes ‘appropriate’ flag use!

All those furriners flying them all day, every day...we could go around the world and educate them - oh wait, we tried that didn’t we!

Pantglas2 I celebrate St. Andrew’s, St. David’s and St. George’s Day. Also Lancashire Day. Any excuse for cake

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.

Thinking about that, yes, it s Greyduster.
Other countries have pride in their flags, it is time to reclaim ours.
It is also time to reclaim the English flag from the far right. They do not own it.

Woe betide them if they have the temerity to display the English flag!
Never mind they may be supporting England in the Six Nations even if they won't win.

? ?????????????????????

It does have a bit of a 'product placement' feel and is clearly deliberate. My concern is why - it's not something that has been done traditionally here, yet as other s have pointed out is no big issue in other countries. I don't think at this stage that it's heralding the onset of an intractable fascist regime, but it may well be some symbolic nationalist posturing in the wake of Brexit - or maybe it's to let the SNP know they have naff all chance of another referendum! ? In all honesty I'm tending towards just a transparent 'Rule Britannia ' jag.

It is sometimes claimed that the Union Flag should be described as the Union Jack only when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From its earliest days, the Admiralty often referred to the flag – however it was used – as the Union Jack. In 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that either name could be used officially. And in 1908 the UK Parliament approved this verdict, stating that ‘the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag’.

Well done Blossoming ? I’m afraid I don’t understand the argument against being proud of your national flag and the displaying thereof.

I visited the Llangollen international eisteddfod as a child and was delighted to see all the colourful national flags and costumes so don’t see them as threatening at all.

AmberSpyglass

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

I’ll keep that in mind whenever I see a Saltire being flown here in Scotland. The owners will be racists. Also, when we are once again permitted to travel, I shall avoid British Airways, not because of their poor service but because they’re obviously racists, too.

And once again, an intelligent discussion is talked down, just because there are differing opinions.

varian

Does the display of union jacks by politicians making video calls from their homes not just appear ridiculous, but a tad sinister?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/19/flag-of-convenience-why-ministers-cant-get-enough-of-the-union-jack

It's not sinister, varian but the Union flag must not be allowed to be claimed by the Tory Government as theirs. It belongs to us all.

I think the Union flag is all about drawing us all together, post-Brexit. No bad thing as it represents something that unites us all, surely?
?? ?

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

Have you done a survey AmberSpyglass - do you go and question anyone you see flying the flag or displaying it in any way?
For example the British Olympic team?
Like this man for instance?

I'm with GagaJo And Dr. Johnson, the dictionary gent, who said it right a long time ago, "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Apparently he meant false patriotism, which is what these politicians are doing I guess

I don’t think it’s false patriotism EkwaNimitee. I think it’s to counter balance the sight of the EU flag when our government ministers are interviewed. Europeans will be watching. It sends a message. Product placement possibly but not false.

lemsip

if they are making video calls from home then presumably they are work calls as it's the 'office' to all intents and purposes so that is why the union jack is there. Why would someone question it? What's wrong with people, not the flag.

Absolutely right, lemsip. Some years ago, the nature of my job meant that I often accompanied official visitors from abroad to meetings in the offices of several Secretaries of State and related Ministers in various Government Departments. As far as I can recall, union flags and photographs of HM the Queen were standard office furniture - and were always included in the 'grip and grin' photos. Had these individuals been 'Zooming' on official business from home (and from what I got to know of them) I'm sure the same flag and photo would have been on view. And it may surprise all you 'lefties' out there to know that Labour was in Government then.

Or possibly just Tory propaganda

So, Gagajo? Which other country do you spend your time in and what is their attitude to their national flag? Do they have any of their holier than thou nationals breathing down their necks telling them they are ridiculous and sinister if they dare to display it and have pride in it?

AmberSpyglass

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

One of our neighbours flies all sorts of flags from the Union flag through to Norwich City. He goes via The flags for Scotland, Wales and the flag of St. George. He celebrates St. Patrick’s day and American Independence Day.
I don’t think he’s racist.

There are some utterly ridiculous posts on this thread... do those who see fascism in either the display of an English flag or the Union flag, see it in the Welsh flag? The French flag? The Swedish flag? Of course they don’t! Their ire is reserved only for the English or Union one.Now, ask yourselves why this would be?
It’s rather nice to see more of the Union flag, and hopefully, in time, it will be seen as the proud symbol it used to be.
Every country has a flag and uses it .

Or perhaps a case of sour grapes on your part varian that we have left the EU and we are not flying the EU flag. Tories have an 80 seat majority, the Lib Dems will never be a party of any merit. Boris Johnson is now riding high in the Polls thanks to the vaccine rollout. We will be coming out of lockdown soon. The list goes on. ??