Are we only allowed to be patriotic during 'The World Cup' ?

[anotheoldgit]

I paid a visit to my local supermarket today, only to see the car-park festooned with St George's flags, and on the road home, enormous similar ones were draped out of windows.

Nothing wrong with that one may say, but the trouble they wasn't the standard St George's flag, no these had been defaced (in my opinion) by the addition of Lions and Crowns, others by the word ENGLAND.

Are they purposely defaced in such a way, so that they won't offend?

It is strange that the Englishman has to wait before his beloved soccer team enters a 'World Cup' tournament before he flies his country's flag with pride.

It is also strange that he can say with pride "I am an English man, and my countries team is better than any other" yes he is allowed to say this without being branded a 'Racist', strange.

Yet when the tournament is over, the flags will disappear, certain councils will ban them being flown, and the word 'ENGLAND' will disappear to be replaced by 'British' or 'Brit', and then to get up and say "the English are better than any other" this is then construed to be racist.

So even if one hates soccer, take this short opportunity to fly your flag, stick your chest out, and tell everyone how great it is to be British, (ups can't get out the habit) ENGLISH.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ngland-World-Cup.html

It would seem even during the World Cup period, some are still not allowed to fly the flag.

[sandyRoe]

A flag is only a piece of cloth. It's how it's used that can cause offence. But in the context of the football I hope it's waved as Engerland receive the World Cup.

[Kromovaracun]

AOG,

Personally, I'm pretty sure all the stuff about flags being offensive etc is almost entirely myth, which in my opinion may explain the discrepancy you've observed.

[andy-hughes]

I take the opposite view OG.

As far as i aom concerned, I am British / English by an accident of birth, and nothing more.

This does not confer on me some god-given right to adopt either a superior attitude to other nations who were born elsewhere by a similar quirk of fate, and it absolutely does not confer on me any propriatorial rights about the piece of the planet I occupy, as though it is 'mine' by birthright.

Therefore, I feel no sense of 'patriotism' what ever. I have done nothing whatsoever to become 'British', and apart from being a law-abiding tax-payer, i cannot claim that my contribution to the culture or well-being of this section of the planet entitles me to get chippy about other individuals who may choose to occupy it with me.

I do, however feel a profound sense of relief that i am born in to an rea with freedoms and support systems that remain the envy of the world, but again, that is my luck and good fortune, to be appreciated.

That is not the same as picking fights, moral, religious, or otherwise, with anyone who doesn;t happen to agree with my viewpoints and lifestyle.

I will not be flying flags, and certainly not be 'sticking my chest out' - I would feel faintly ridiculous doing so - World Cop or not.

[Gromit]

Have you any evidence that any local council has banned the Union Jack or St George's flag?

[sherminator]

Andy-Hughes one fo the BEST ever posts i have ever seen on this site!

[dh001]

I know of a large Police Station that removed the Union Flag from the front of the station which was in public view, reason given by command staff is that they feared being seen to be politicized.

[Kromovaracun]

Actually, the case of the England flags in this years World Cup is quite a good example of why I find the stories about flags being considered offensive/banned/whatever a little hard to accept.

So, in this case, rumours seem to have started circulating that England flags/shirts/whatever would be cracked down upon - which the authorities then dismissed as nonsense. (See here: http://news.bbc.co.uk..._midlands/8697240.stm )

But if untrue rumours about World cup flags/shirts are circulated so easily, then surely it's equally easy for misrepresented chinese whispers about councils banning flags to circulate? It just seems too daft to take at face value to me.

[woofgang]

hear hear Andy. I do fly the flag of St George when I feel like it....not to support a ridiculous team of overpaid under educated idiots.
And yes Andy, to have been born English is to have won first prize in the lottery of life....luck not judgement.

[Kromovaracun]

dh001:

That's interesting, but surely understandable? If your case is true, then that hardly has the doom-laden implications that all the rumors about English flags being banned usually come attached with, does it?

The flag-banning thing has always seemed to me as something which could well have sprung from some relatively minor event and just snowballed...

[KARL]

I join in praise of Andy Hughes' post, wonderfully to the point.

[R1Geezer]

I know it's the mail but Canterbury council say they will suspend cabbies if they fly the flag so I guess that's an example Kromo, I don't think the Mail made that up.

[dh001]

Kromovaracun, yes it is true. I know its slightly off topic but thought I would mention it.

Not sure i agree with it being unstandable, especially as the police are politicized.

(sorry im going off topic AOG)

[jake-the-peg]

"I don't think the Mail made that up"

Famous last words

As for Police stationd flying the flag being politicised - That might be all to do with context.

Outside a police station in Northern Ireland might be seen as a bit provocative wouldn't you say?

[Gromit]

Geezer,

Canterbury City Council is strictly enforcing long established rules about what can be displayed on Public Service vehicles. They are not being unpatriotic or disrespectful of our flag. The rules ban any signs, letters, motifs, emblems, or marks from taxis. So any flags, not just the St. George's flag are not allowed.

[dh001]

One last one from me while on the subject of the police etc.

A station officer removed the Union Flag from the front of a station and replaced it with the flag of Gay Pride

[Greedyfly]

We generally only shout about our britishness when it comes to football - we don't seem to overly bothered any other time. I am not patriotic so I will also not be 'flying the flag'.

[rowanwitch]

On both cars in out household the eu flag on the numberplate has been covered by an english flag sticker, in my housemates case there is a Polish flag sticker as well as she is half and half as it were ,in the back window is an England rose and an english rugby supporters sticker and we fly the St George cross for major sporting events and St George's day when we both also wear red roses.
When in my nursing days I was told by student nurses the college had said there was no english culture so they didn't need to do anything for a 'cultural event' I put together a teaching session and helped them collect material for an English Culture display... It doesn't mean I don't like and respect others from differnt backgrounds it just means I value my own...I don't think it is better to be English just as good as being anything else

Oooh I'm all fired up now...

[jno]

"Taxi drivers in Kent have been warned by Canterbury City Council that they could have their licences suspended if they fly the St George’s Cross."

What's the betting the Mail has accidentally omitted the words 'on their cabs'? I would be quite surprised if they have been forbidden to fly flags at their homes.

[jake-the-peg]

and got in trouble for it dh!

Nice idea to show the police as more progressive but the thin end of the wedge before you know it they'd end up changing the flag every day for whatever the current commemoration is.