Flying the flag

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!

Now they are dressing to match.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan on the STV news tonight.

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.

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

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

Please all ignore last post,Ohhps!

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.)

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!"

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 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?

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

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