Would you fly a flag for your country?

This is not going to go away. People are getting frustrated with the sheer amount of illegal immigrants and our absolute inability to get rid of the ones that have no right to be here! Not all but most are young men who come here for economic reasons. Not all these young men are bad. Not all are going to cause problems in our communities or break our laws. But all are illegal !!! Yes we are a relatively rich nation, and we are generally a very kind nation, but we are being taken advantage of by people playing the political asylum system. I’m not racist. I have mixed race grandchildren, I have friends of different nationalities. But I do object to the sheer number of people living here illegally and our inability to send them back to the own safe countries! And yes I know many are coming here without papers or id. That pretty much tells you that they know they actually have no right to be here! And yes I am frustrated that we have many of our own homeless people who are not being housed in hotels! These people should be staying in the first safe country they arrive in but they are risking their lives crossing the channel because we as a nation are a soft touch. We are paying France enormous amounts of money in order to help stop the crossings but they are only increasing! I understand as a country we need migrants. Our health system would collapse without our legally arrived migrants. But, having ranted on about the issue, I have no idea what can be done. Create immigration centres such as the ones that house illegals found living and working here before they are deported back to their own countries! I honestly don’t know. Someone with more brains than me could surely come up with a workable solution to turn this around. Many other countries are now taking a much harsher stance. I think I read it was Greece that started arresting them on arrival and locking them up and the numbers dropped immediately! Problem is we don’t have enough room in our prison system as it is. And before get all irate about wanting to lock them up I’m not suggesting that. But possibly properly run detention centres might be one option. It surely couldn’t cost more than hotels and perhaps people would be happier knowing that things are moving forward.

growstuff

Allira It was just a random thing which came into my head. I know there's a local voluntary group which does check up on elderly and disabled people (with their consent). They pop in every few days to have a chat and make sure carers are turning up, they're able to get to medical appointments/pick up meds, have basics in the fridge, washing is being done, etc.

There are thousands of voluntary community groups in the country, who benefit citizens far more than any flags do.

Yes, I know.

But would you want some Tommy Robinson clone turning up on your doorstep and offering to do your shopping- oh and he needs your bank card to pay for it.
Suspicious moi? Of course not!

Yes, we had voluntary groups here who collected medicines, our vicar did shopping for vulnerable people etc. There is also a Befriending Group who will visit those unable to get out or sit with them whilst their partner has an hour to go out.

kjmpde

CariadAgain - the British life I see by this new trend of so called patriotism is lots of litter caused by the protests,
lack of tolerance

a flag will not clean up the streets

a flag will not make life better for those living on the streets

a flag will not make me proud of the filthy streets

The Notting Hill carnival generated lots of rubbish - have seen the photos.

"Travellers" parking their caravans up illegally generate lots of rubbish.

It's just something antisocial people do - unfortunately - in all sorts of contexts.

One solitary person can generate rubbish - thinking of a certain neighbour of mine who I do wonder about (clue - she's late 80's and doesn't think logically one way or another) out there deliberately today throwing a lot of bread around on our road.

It happens/shouldnt happen in all sorts of contexts and the one-offs of throwing food around (where there's doubtless rats somewhere in the vicinity) is more of a concern I feel (though no-one should leave rubbish anywhere obviously).

Oh dear, did I sound judgemental? It wasn't meant to be!

I get your point Allira. No, I certainly wouldn't want Tommy Robinson turning up on my doorstep, but I thought all the flag flyers were supposed to be just "ordinary people" .

sankev But but but the flags aren't about making political points - allegedly! They're just a harmless way of showing that people like their country.

PS. Being a human being in a foreign country isn't illegal. The people aren't illegal, even if the method by which they arrived is.

sankev Do you think Iran, Afghanistan and Iran are safe countries?

No I would not.

growstuff

I get your point Allira. No, I certainly wouldn't want Tommy Robinson turning up on my doorstep, but I thought all the flag flyers were supposed to be just "ordinary people" .

I'm sure many of them are, just worried and perhaps scared, but I was thinking of the ones orchestrating it all.

Whitewavemark2

I simply don’t understand this sudden urge to hang a flag on a pole.

5 years ago or even last year I bet hardly anyone on this thread flew a flag or indeed even gave it a thought.

Are people being led by the nose - this is all very odd.

I agree.

Sadly here are many socialists in England who have decreed that the English flag is something to be ashamed of. I suggest that they’re ignored answer we should fly our flag with pride. .

ArthurAskey

Sadly here are many socialists in England who have decreed that the English flag is something to be ashamed of. I suggest that they’re ignored answer we should fly our flag with pride. .

Really? Do you have a copy of this decree?

No I wouldn't although I am happy to be English/British and very proud to be European. Many of the people in my area are racist despite this being a multicultural town,and has been for a very long time. My daughter works part time in an asylum seekers hotel,she can't tell anyone where it is in case it is attacked. I hate how nasty people have become in the last few years.
So no I won't be putting up flags in my little house on a suburban estate unless there is a national occasion.
I'm very happy for flags to be raised on public buildings or bunting at parties etc.

Allira

growstuff

I get your point Allira. No, I certainly wouldn't want Tommy Robinson turning up on my doorstep, but I thought all the flag flyers were supposed to be just "ordinary people" .

I'm sure many of them are, just worried and perhaps scared, but I was thinking of the ones orchestrating it all.

If some people are scared, what needs to happen is that they are reassured y being bombarded by reality as much as they're now being bombarded by scare-mongering.

Where is the decree please? Perhaps it's being held by somebody who is part of the PC Brigade.

They are probably riding around town with the decree held aloft.

Certainly some asylum seekers are bad eggs, I think in many cohorts this is true, but there are those who come from war torn countries and vicious regimes who are are already suffering from PTSD, cannot imagine how the crowds baying for their blood, shouting ‘go home’ and worse, and brandishing flags like weapons, must make them feel. They are after all human beings.
If there was a legal safe route to the UK with enough manpower to sort out those who are asylum seekers and those who are not this would not be happening. The home office needs to go, it is no longer fit for purpose and a new more competent department needs to be created.
There are ways to deal with this. But several crashingly incompetent governments that would rather scapegoat asylum seekers rather than create a better system has led to where we are now.
Farage has nothing better to offer than scaremongering in order to win votes.

ArthurAskey

Sadly here are many socialists in England who have decreed that the English flag is something to be ashamed of. I suggest that they’re ignored answer we should fly our flag with pride. .

No. It all started with the BNP using the Union Jack to represent them. And that tarnish has never gone away.

MayBee70

ArthurAskey

Sadly here are many socialists in England who have decreed that the English flag is something to be ashamed of. I suggest that they’re ignored answer we should fly our flag with pride. .

No. It all started with the BNP using the Union Jack to represent them. And that tarnish has never gone away.

That is because they keep turning up like bad pennies

Babs03 Well said!

Like most people I'm OK with deporting people who have no right to asylum and we should speed up the process and make it clear that we won't accept immigrants who have no justification for being in the UK but we also need to protect those who are genuine and we should take our share of those fleeing war, famine and persecution. It's what civilised societies should do. I don't need a flag to show I'm proud of being British/English, I just want to live in a society that shows care and consideration to those who need our help and support, that is what makes me feel proud of the country I live in.

I live in a Lobdon Borough with 84% BME still fly our flag, never had any issues

No growstuff I’m not listing safe countries because I am not in a position to decide. I’m just making a general point. Some countries persecute minorities. What I mean is people play the system. Some claim they are gay and would be imprisoned if returned. Others claim to become Christian’s and so are not considered safe to be returned. I’ve no doubt some of these are true but many more are being used as an excuse to stay. Again, I don’t know what the answer to all these problems are but I do understand people’s frustration. And returning to the original post many people are proud to be British and so should be proud to fly the flag if they so wish, but it’s still a supposedly placid way of saying enough is enough though not everyone probably feels this way. And in my very humble opinion that is why the sudden rise in the flag raising popularity.

Babs03 - these migrants in the Bell hotel were actually at an open window laughing and photographing the demonstrators. They certainly didn't look terrified by "people brandishing flags like weapons" (a little over the top don't your think when the majority were women quietly protesting as they were worried about the safety of their daughters) - quite the contrary these particular migrants seem to be loving the attention

We have several celebrations, and flags often appear at these times:
The lionesses win
VE day
VJ day
and we are supporting the women's rugby ongoing

I have just driven past the statue of Winston Churchill in his old constituency and it is adorned with Union flags. It made me feel quite emotional.