Would you fly a flag for your country?

Cakeo that’s your interpretation, mine is different.

I have always been a glass half full person. If I or any of my friends and family decide to fly a flag I know they are not far right or racists.

There are an awful lot of assumptions being made on this thread.

Apparently Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester has been festooned with flags. If I were Andy Burnham, I'd arrange a party in the Gardens with entertainment (maybe a steel band, a hip hop group or sitar playing) and then make a rousing speech, thanking the people who put up the flags for creating such a festive free backdrop to celebrate the city's multi-culturalism, which is what the UK is all about (and contributing to the country's balance of payments by buying foreign-made flags).

Used to like walking along the seafront and in the pier at Clevedon 🙂

Galaxy

You can only wave flags if we approve of the thoughts in your head.

Evidently. Seems the thought police are out and about on this thread.

Mollygo

Galaxy

You can only wave flags if we approve of the thoughts in your head.

Evidently. Seems the thought police are out and about on this thread.

Or mindreaders!

The thing is, it's the thoughts in the heads of those who assume the worst of what they think is in other people's minds which is rather worrying!

Allira
The thing is, it's the thoughts in the heads of those who assume the worst of what they think is in other people's minds which is rather worrying!

👍

Caleo

GrannyGravy13

So Caleohow we perceive our national flags is all done to our individual mindsets

Those of us who are positive about the U.K. and are glass half full folks do not have a problem with our flags.

And then there are those who are negative glass half empty folks who look for the downside will have a problem with our flags as they equate them to values which are not their own…

No. It's the opposite.

Glass half full folks think our country is not beyond redemption despite its history of slavery and colonialism .

Glass half empty folks think our country can only be sorted by gesticulating with national flags and fearing foreigners/

I was just thinking the same Caleo. Did you mean it the other way round GrannyGravy13?

What’s the point in putting up a flag if people aren’t meant to know the reasoning behind the gesture?

No.

I am a glass half full person not a glass half empty doom monger.

If someone raised a flag I do not automatically assume they are far right racists, which is being repeated time and time again in this thread.

Just drove for an hour into West Sussex snd back.

Saw one flag hung outside the Masonic hall - which is always there.

No others .

Clearly a very unpatriotic lot in this part of the world😄😄

It was all through residential areas.

My friend has a son in the Met. and she said he’s unfortunately been on duty outside buildings where people were demonstrating. He said that he can’t understand the mentality if people demonstrating against the “immigrants” using the foulest of language and violence as well as being accompanied by their children of all ages.

Drove back from the Cotswolds , where there were few flags and saw just two on a bridge as we were approaching Greater London.Only hope they have been removed with the danger of them becoming unstuck in the high winds

I'm neither glass half full or glass half empty, I am, however, a realist and when I drive under motorway bridges festooned with flags I don't think they are being flown to symbolise pride in being English. I think and I'm probably correct in my thinking, that they have been hung by racists and probably funded by far right organisations.

You wouldn't like the Union flag painted on cliffs in Gloucestershire, then, foxie48.
It was painted to mark a Silver Jubilee nearly 100 years ago.

GrannyGravy13

No.

I am a glass half full person not a glass half empty doom monger.

If someone raised a flag I do not automatically assume they are far right racists, which is being repeated time and time again in this thread.

I've looked at it again GrannyGravy13 and it seems you misunderstood the "glass half full/glass half empty comparison. Whether that was deliberate or accidental I have no idea but it produces a biased comparison.

To compare a "glass half empty" perspective with a "glass half full" perspective both need to be looking at the same thing.

So, if we take the first part, "Glass half full folks think our country is not beyond redemption despite its history of slavery and colonialism," the opposite perspective would be that a glass half empty person thinks the country is beyond redemption because of its history of slavery and colonialism.

Taking the second and seperate part, "Glass half empty folks think our country can only be sorted by gesticulating with national flags and fearing foreigners," this negative view needs an equal but opposing view such as "whereas the glass half full people feel the country can be "sorted" without the need to use national flags or the fear of people coming from other countries.

Your suggestion compares two perspectives that do not look at the same issue. Perhaps you could clarify the one issue you wanted to highlight?

😂

You're in the mire again GrannyGravy
Seems some of us often are, only the depth varies.

If you didn't laugh, you'd weep.

Allira

You wouldn't like the Union flag painted on cliffs in Gloucestershire, then, foxie48.
It was painted to mark a Silver Jubilee nearly 100 years ago.

Isn't the whole point of this discussion that it is both how something is done - in your example I assume it was an organised community event done lawfully- as well as why it is done. In this case, to mark a Silver Jubilee.

That seems to be very different to usurping the union flag to express feelings of hatred and the gathering of rioters.

I've just visited a predominantly white British town from my very ethnicity mixed one.
Here there are almost no flags but there they are everywhere- including gaffer taped onto the street furniture. The roundabouts and bollards (the sort that light up) have been spray painted with them.

This is merely an observation.
I thought I was in a parallel universe - and only a few miles away.

It's clearly rife in some areas and almost absent in others.

Allira

You wouldn't like the Union flag painted on cliffs in Gloucestershire, then, foxie48.
It was painted to mark a Silver Jubilee nearly 100 years ago.

Wouldn't have a problem with that Allira I have been very specific about what I think is being done by racists with flags in all my posts. My neighbour has flown a Union Jack since the start of this century, we all trooped up the Malvern Hills to see the beacon being lit and then had drinks to see the New Year in. The only issue I have with her flag,which is extremely tatty now, is that it's been hung upside down! As I said in an earlier post I waved my Union Jack at the Olympics in France last year and even wore a hideous T shirt with one on for a medal ceremony. I don't have a problem with flags but I do have a problem with racism.

PoliticsNerd

If you cannot understand the very oft used and old analogy that really is your problem nor mine.

And to borrow from another famous lady frankly my dear, I do not give a damn

Ah - yes!

However, posters trying to explain that have been told there is no way of differentiating between the two motives.

So, do we have to stick a little note on the flag to explain why we're flying it?
What about Last Night of the Proms?

When I said our friend proudly carries the standard and he came here as a refugee I was told to Get real whatever that meant. Some people I know from other countries who now live here are more patriotic than others born here, who take this country for granted.
Likewise emigrants from the UK in their new countries.

How do we tell the difference?

nor should be not 🤬

The only issue I have with her flag, which is extremely tatty now, is that it's been hung upside down!
😁 you have to tell her!

I remember having quite a large one on a wooden pole which I waved at the Coronation. It was nearly as tall as me. And quite heavy.

Allira it’s time to get our crystal balls out 🔮🔮🔮

Allira I really don't. She's an old lady who needs support and kindness, the flag will soon be a memory as her lovely home is up for sale as she's going to live with her daughter. She will be missed as she was a huge Royalist and always got us involved in any Royal celebration. I even made a cake for the King's coronation for her party and I'm not even a Royalist!

Fair enough! 🇬🇧