Morning Ed

[ttfn]

Just a gentle reminder that tomorrow is in need of a logo change please for St George's Day. Ta muchly ;)

[Kiki-frog]

New logo is great. The association of the St George cross with EDL etc can only be challenged when ordinary English people start admitting to being proud of their nationality without linking it to any particular political affiliation

[Sharingan]

Yay great logo. I agree with you about our murky imperialist past, but we aren't doing anything wrong in our own country ( at least not at the moment) so I reckon a bit of morale boosting would actually help with promoting less friction with incoming ethnic groups. xx

[AB Editor]

"The association of the St George cross with EDL etc can only be challenged when ordinary English people start admitting to being proud of their nationality without linking it to any particular political affiliation"

Or it being directly linked to the hopes of the national football team...

I still think tatty St.G flags hanging from windows and stuck on cars isn't the way to go generally. We're not a nation of extroverts, in general so it seems wonky to do "display".

[AB Editor]

"I reckon a bit of morale boosting would actually help with promoting less friction with incoming ethnic groups"

Maybe, I don't think we're much into "morale boosting" as a nation - generally we're against "organized fun" and naturally wary of propaganda. It's a difficult position to hold.

Also, the idea that our imperial pastis "Murky" is fair funny. In the majority of places the British ruled we left a less violent place than when we arrived, and less violent that those of our "competitors" :) - if it was an inevitable thing that was going to happen, those under us had a marginally better deal than others.

Anyone who wants to feel a bit more English could do worse than this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lore-Land-Englands-Legends-Spring-heeled/dp/0141021039

It's good for dipping in and out of. Also fosters a nice feeling of our interconnectedness with the rest of the world.

[Baldric]

The one advantage of the Flag of St. George is that it's very difficult even for a dumbo to hang it the wrong way round.
;o)

[Sharingan]

I'm still fairly sure that those we invaded would have preferred it we'd paid more attention to our own little bit of rock rather than theirs and learned to enjoy a bit of ' morale boosting ' and 'display' that didn't involved occupation
Cheer up Ed, it could be a fun day xx

[DJHawkes]

my car was bedecked with English insignia when the team played in the 2010 world cup but I can remember dumping it all in the wheelie bin quite quickly, oh and yes it was tacky and chavvy, loved it!

[AB Editor]

"I'm still fairly sure that those we invaded would have preferred it we'd paid more attention to our own little bit of rock rather than theirs and learned to enjoy a bit of ' morale boosting ' and 'display' that didn't involved occupation"

Yeah, but if it's us or the Belgians I know who I'd prefer to be oppressed by! No excuses made really, but there's a good bit in "The Better Angels of Our Nature: A History of Violence and Humanity" which has a nice map of violence across the world today, you can, more or less, see the British Empire laid out as "the least violent".

"Cheer up Ed, it could be a fun day xx "

It will be - although it may look suspiciously like many others :)

[B00]

Ta Ed :-)

[mrs_overall]

The logo looks good

[pusskin]

its mr Puss's birthday tomorrow.
St Georges day, here we come. proud to be ENGLISH.

[anneasquith]

the english flag reminds me of towels hanging over hotel balconies abroad.

[AB Editor]

"the english flag reminds me of towels hanging over hotel balconies abroad."

I think that's part of the problem Anne - if you have a nation which divides itself on class you can't really come together behind a flag/object etc because if one class uses it some way the others will not.

[gness]

"An excuse for a drink!" Ed really!! We don't wait a year for an excuse for a drink... ;-)

Seriously...St. Pat's Day hasn't always been so huge...we started small just to celebrate our Irishness...often away from home. I think you look at our worldwide celebrations and think...we don't do that and you don't because most of you don't seem to do it even in a small way. Meeting in the pub for a pint under your flag won't do it.
Have a day of get togethers to enjoy your traditional music and dance...your bards..... your food and drink... celebrate your countryside...it's beautiful...
Now! The rest of you....what little acorn could you plant to start a growth of appreciation for this country?...A country which..says the Irish lass...is truly lovely. We can forget the "mistakes" of the past surely?
Its your day...start making it special. x

[Kiki-frog]

Awwww, gness, you are such a sweetheart! Bless your little Irish cotton socks. x

[tonyav]

Hey gness, I still want Guinness on St Georges day you know ;-)

[whiskeryron]

Does anyone think that we should stop flying the Union Flag, after all sadly with Scotland & Wales out on a limb we are anything but a Union.

WR.

[gness]

Hi Kiki...thank you....x

Tony...Guinness you shall have with pleasure.....xx

If you are flying your flag at home or on your car it's a start....now you need to start showing us WHY you are flying your flag.....It won't be difficult if you stop being negative about your country. x

[belrec]

It is also Shakespeare's birthday, another good reason to celebrate. How about a bit of the bard over a flagon of ale? :-)

In Spain it is a major holiday as George is their saint too. It is also the day that lover's give each other books and is almost as loved up as St Valentines Day!!

I love books so the idea of giving them as gifts is ace, unfortunately, the OH is not so keen.

Last time I bought him a book he was less than pleased. :-)

[Arksided]

I'm happy to fly the flag when the national team are competing (Used loosely) in Football tournaments but not today. I guess that does make me a Chav but not a football thug.

I like it, well in Ed.