Was it patriotic to clap for Captain Tom?

Totaly agree with M0nica
And as for the clapping brigade....what`s the point ?.
We would be outside all day long clapping for those who do good.
So if that`s the case lets clap for all the shop assistance`s / Bank clerks etc as they have done wonders for the public in these covid testing times.
All for one and one for all as the three musketeers would say.

I feel sorry for the curate.
He may have mis-timed his tweet but from (only) reading the article above I feel he has been very unfairly treated.

Clapping for CT for the vast majority who did was never about aligning with white British nationalism, it was away of demonstrating their sorrow for the sad passing of a gentle old soul who wanted to do something for others.

The fact that his efforts were hijacked and amplified by both the media and the government (as well as a few other unsavoury groups) is what may have prevented many from clapping, or supporting the call to clap. It may also be what has made many other fundraisers feel rubbished. None of this can be blamed on CT or his motives.

Speaking for myself I find standing on my doorstep clapping for anything to be mawkish and undignified, both for me and the intended cause. I prefer to make my actions count by using my freedoms (the ones CT fought in the war to retain) to vote/donate/campaign and lobby. But that's what is comfortable for me. Others can express themselves differently and as long as they don't hijack the call for their own ends I see no harm.

The question to ask is how did one elderly man's fundraising efforts and subsequent death become politically debatable? Because other people's dubious agendas made it so.

The question to ask is how did one elderly man's fundraising efforts and subsequent death become politically debatable? Because other people's dubious agendas made it so.

I agree, NellG.

Alexa

Oh I can understand where that idea came from. It came from the same section of the British people who think if a white British man does something good the reason for his behaviour is that he is a white British male.

What?
If such a "section of the British people" were to exist, their views on this matter would be just as ridiculous as those who appear to think that if a white British man does something bad, the reason for his behaviour is that he is a white British male.
Daft; isn't it?

It wasn't patriotic to clap or unpatriotic not too, just as not clapping for the NHS didn't mean that you weren't just as thankful and supportive of them as those who did.

The question to ask is how did one elderly man's fundraising efforts and subsequent death become politically debatable? Because other people's dubious agendas made it so
Exactly, Nell

Janeainsworth:

"I think your thread title is quite misleading Alexa.
It’s not about patriotism or clapping or Captain Tom at all - is about perceptions of racism, homophobia, nationalism, and freedom of speech."

Patriotism is good but needs care not to be distorted into nationalism and other restricted feelings such as racism.

janeainsworth good post.

Whether you clapped or not at the death of someone in the news, what has patriotism got to do with it?

I found both the view of the curate and Johnson's idea of clapping unpalatable.
Captain Tom was an old school gentleman with the values of his generation which I agree with. I think things have gone a little over the top now and certainly not what the man himself would want.