Would you fly a flag for your country?

So many issues here! In my city it isn’t about the flag, the flag is about immigration. Let us be clear. It might not be so for you but it is being used at the moment to signal membership of a group that wants to loudly say they don’t approve or are concerned about immigration. Do it is disingenuous to talk about the “flag” separate from that. The world will be so unstable and migration will be a bigger and bigger issue. It will take the judgment and wisdom of Solomon to manage this. Meanwhile I am perfectly aware there are illegal migrants in my city, I am also aware we are a city of sanctuary and have wonderful refugees some of whom are my friends. They are frightened by the England flag because at the moment it is not “just a flag” and surely everyone on here knows it? But they have the Union Jack on their WhatsApp picture because they anre so pleased to be here. And my cataract was replaced by a Syrian refugee and my cancer appointment is with another refugee and the pre op nurse is Philippine.

LaCrepescule

It goes completely against the grain. We can have pride in our nation without having to resort to flying pathetic flags on our houses and I feel a sense of shame that this even seems to be a thing.
The Brexit mentality lives on.

I have pride in a nation that has always benefited from immigrant labour, indeed we have a history of an immigrant workforce contributing to our economy from driving buses and trains, to manning the mills and working tirelessly in the NHS.
Also many from immigrant roots have served in our armed forces making the ultimate sacrifice for this country.
And of course we have a richly diverse service industry with restaurants throughout Britain offering delicious dishes of immigrant origin.
All of this makes me proud to live here.

It goes completely against the grain. We can have pride in our nation without having to resort to flying pathetic flags on our houses and I feel a sense of shame that this even seems to be a thing.
The Brexit mentality lives on.

They are beating on the doors Babs, people just don't like what they are saying, that's a different thing.

Here in sunny Essex many white van men are displaying the flag, one had it on the inside of his windscreen which strikes me as hazardous if it flies across the face of the driver. Also a few have broken out like a rash on our road which were strangely not there last week.

I wish people living near me would stop with the flag obsession. I have a very large Malamute who is terrified of flags, especially if they are flapping around in the wind. It makes walking with him unsafe.

Furret

Yes, KSB23 what about them? What have you done to help the homeless and war vets? How many letters, emails, have you written to your MP and local councillors? Can you name your MP? Your Town Cllrs? Your District Cllrs! Your County Cllrs?
Do you know the difference?

Have you run or helped out at homeless shelters or soup kitchens. Funny ain’t it that many running these soup kitchens wear turbans. Are you familiar with the concept of Langar?

Well said.
And is of course just what the government wants, the blame for their gross incompetence being deflected onto people with no agency arriving on our shores.
If people have an axe to grind don’t grind it into the skulls of the powerless, use it to beat on the doors of Westminster.

Yes, KSB23 what about them? What have you done to help the homeless and war vets? How many letters, emails, have you written to your MP and local councillors? Can you name your MP? Your Town Cllrs? Your District Cllrs! Your County Cllrs?
Do you know the difference?

Have you run or helped out at homeless shelters or soup kitchens. Funny ain’t it that many running these soup kitchens wear turbans. Are you familiar with the concept of Langar?

Across the UK, Reform UK and various far-right groups have embraced a campaign called Operation Raise the Colours, which involves hanging Union Jacks and St George’s Cross flags in public spaces. Supporters claim it’s a show of patriotism, civic pride, and unity But critics argue it’s a politically charged protest—driven by anti-immigration sentiment and frustration with councils perceived as unpatriotic or too lenient on diversity symbols. The movement has drawn support from figures linked to far-right activism, including Tommy Robinson and Britain First, sparking concern that the flags are being used not just to celebrate national identity, but to signal resistance to multiculturalism and progressive policies.

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

I love our Union flag and my own Welsh flag but I won't be flying either. Flying a flag doesn't make you patriotic in my eyes and I'm fed up with the nonsense from people who will spend their time and energy making a fuss about flags when they can't be bothered to put litter in the bin.

Being patriotic to me means caring for your country and her people and I don't see any evidence that a lot of 'flag flyers' do either. I don't think following a football team abroad, getting drunk and beating up local fans is patriotic either, even if your face is painted red, white and blue, but according to some YouTube videos I've seen some people (and going by the comments, quite a lot of people) think it is. Personally, I'd prefer to see my country respected.

I just saw that some countries are making new local laws for tourists, to try to stop some of the excessive behaviour - sex on the beach is banned, as is excessive drinking.

Flag flying is just distraction.

The labour government that seems to be against its own people by letting all the illegal immigrates in, putting them up in hotels, feeding and clothing them new phones, medical care etc. What about our own homeless and war veterans, where’s the help for them.
So sick of the way this country’s been taken over.

The Union Jack is tainted. By association.
No Frogoet, it is not.

Remember the days when the National Anthem was played on TV when broadcasting shut down?

I do remember, growstuff, and remember when it was played in cinemas at the end of the programme. As teenagers we used to try to escape first because you felt obliged to stand for the Anthem.

And yes, I do take your point about litter. If they formed voluntary groups of litter pickers they would certainly be showing pride in their country, far more than those dropping it everywhere.

or check on vulnerable people in their community?
🤔 Not so sure about that!

I’m not proud of what I see being done in the name of ‘patriotism’
The Daily Fail and Torygraph have much to answer for and where I live it’s a mark of support for Reform or worse.
The problem is not refugees.
Remember which paper supported the Black Shirts.
Remember Rivers of Blood.
The Union Jack is tainted. By association.

Furret

Just a point of interest, and this is verifiable, regarding the riots last year. Those riots led by violent thugs waving flags…remember? Almost 50% of these Patriotic Defenders of Women had convictions for domestic and/or sexual abuse.

I've pointed that out before, but it's always worth repeating. It's strange that they don't instigate riots when other gangs are convicted. Wonder why?

This explains how we have become a US ' vassal'. And remember that are not paying a fair tax here. www.bigissue.com/opinion/britain-economy-america-business-vassal-state/

I loathe all this flag waving. It can't be coincidental that the urge to fly flags has appeared when immigration is a hot topic, Farage and his ilk see a chance to make political capital out of racism, and the far right is inciting people to frighten refugees in hotels.

And why do you need a flag on your front lawn? I always thought it's ridiculous that the Americans do it. Don't you know where you live? Do you have to have a daily reminder of your nationality. "Oh, let's all wave our tribal symbols!" It's both childish and, in the current political climate, dangerous.

Allira I've never ever claimed that flying flags is 100% about racism. I know some people feel that it shows pride in the country (and no hidden agenda). Remember the days when the National Anthem was played on TV when broadcasting shut down? My dad always used to stand to attention when it played and before he switched the TV off. I thought he was slightly bonkers, but it meant something to him and it wasn't up to me to say anything. He didn't have a racist bone in his body, so would probably have been happy to see all the flags.

Nevertheless, there is absolutely no doubt that the current campaign has been inspired online by a number of right-wing groups, who most definitely do have a racist agenda. It's very clever because flying flags is legal and people get caught up in it without a more sinister agenda.

From reading some of the comments on Twitter, it seems it's become a sort of competition between local gangs to climb as many flagpoles as possible and think of the most creative way of applying a painted flag on road signs etc (which is dangerous).

As others have said, if they really want to promote British values, why don't they do something useful like organise litter picking or check on vulnerable people in their community?

Incidentally, being opposed to the anti-immigrant doesn't make people pro-immigrant. We're concerned about the increase in numbers and where they're being housed, but I think it's also important to have some perspective. The country isn't being invaded and there's very little danger that there will be a wholesale take over by British values. The danger to British values of fairness and tolerance, etc. is coming from the people who attack our police, throw bricks through windows and threaten MPs with death.

Flying a flag, Union Jack or St George's flag is not something that I or my family have done. I guess it's something that we've just not thought about really. I do put up flags and red, white and blue bunting etc on special occasions though, VE Day anniversaries, special royal days, football matches which merit it etc and think it's lovely to see the Stars &Stripes flying outside American homes. Once when we stayed in Florida in an AirBNB, booked by our Australian friends, the owner put up an Australian flag alongside the Stars & Stripes as a welcome. A nice touch.

I am afraid I agree with Vegansrock , for some ( and I am sure not everyone) the reason for flying our national flags are an expression of their prejudice towards those of our fellow citizens who happen to come from other countries, especially if they happen to be other than white skinned.
I think some are flying these flags as a threatening form of intimidation.
I love our flag but the current trend is worrying and makes me think of Nazi flags flying before WW2.
I'm partial sensitive to any display of racism because my darling son in law is Indian and is a wonderful Daddy to my two beautiful grandchildren who are also, of course, brown.
I would hate anyone to be threatened and upset by the current obsession and my heart sinks when I see the number that have gone up in my small northern town of late.
I know the main instigator is definitely not doing it because he loves King and country but because he hates those who happen to be other than white .
I just hate all the hype about immigrants and asylum seekers .
Why can't we just love or fellow man .... We are all ....as Shylock from the Merchant of Venice said, " if you prick us , do we not bleed?"
We are all the same under the skin .

Just a point of interest, and this is verifiable, regarding the riots last year. Those riots led by violent thugs waving flags…remember? Almost 50% of these Patriotic Defenders of Women had convictions for domestic and/or sexual abuse.

CariadAgain

rafichagran

I don't understand this need/want to fly the flag either. I was driving home after meeting my son before he went to the stadium of the football club he supports, I stopped at a Zebra crossing and there was the white stripes defaced by a red Cross.

I am sorry to say the English flag is being high jacked by hooligans, thugs, and racists. I don't feel comfortable about this. English people were never interested in the flags before.

In fairness - saying we were never interested in our flag before - we never had foreign men trying to tell us how (not) to dress before in our own country (1. the woman on the media that was told by middle Eastern men not to dress our way in London the other day 2. one of us reporting on a thread yesterday that foreign men had tried to tell her off for dressing our way - ie in a sleeveless dress). 3. A tv programme I watched recently saw Stacy Dooley being "told off" by a Muslim woman for dressing our way!!)

We never had mass gatherings of Muslim men parading along streets beating their chests before or public areas having religious Muslim gatherings. Just when did the Muslim call to prayer start ringing out in our cities - disturbing the peace and quiet in our own homes?

This is a large part of why we're now putting up our flags - to make it plain that they're in a wrong country for that sort of behaviour affecting us. It's our country and so we do not, for instance, get told off for dressing in our way. We do not expect to feel wary of an unexpected "pass" being made at our women and girls or worse.

The message is "Our country = our British way of life".

Well said CariadAgain.

What I find interesting is that our companies are now quietly being taken over by private equity companies which are faceless, and which means the UK citizens are losing control. Vets fees have gone up because these are being taken over by giants, who can charge what they like, GPs are being bought by American companies. A lot of these companies are registered in tax havens, so not paying tax here. And yet the main topic of conversation is boats.

Barbadosbelle

Growstuff

Maybe those where hotel-housed illegal immigrants are near them and where local white young girls and other women have been assaulted by said 'inmates', might not share your generous views?
.

We must be lucky - a better class of ‘illegals’ perhaps. Our local asylum seekers are conspicuous by their manners and their ability to avoid kissing local maidens.