The English Flag

[Govangirl]

I'm wondering if anyone can answer this. Yesterday, at the Springsteen concert/festival there was a long line of flags flying - loads of different countries there: USA, Canada, France, etc. Scotland was there, the Union Flag was there BUT no flag of St George. I couldn't understand it but then realised . . .

Is it because the English see the Union Flag as their national flag?

Or has their flag been hijacked and now, to be pc they don't fly the Cross of St George?

I'd like to make sense of it

[ionnsaigh]

Handy for wiping your arse though

[Bobh]

Over the years i always felt that the 'English' sort of owned the Union Flag. Wrongly. A bit of ignorance on their part i always felt. Annoyance really. Although in this day and age i thought they may have tippled.

[ionnsaigh]

I don't know - about how UN PC the English people feel - about flying the Cross of St George - or to be more precise their national flag. I tend to think that there are more English flags on display at Ibrox park - than at a music festival at Glastonbury.
However back to the point, the Labour Party have denied the right for the Celtic peoples - of Ireland Wales and Scotland the right to self determination - not so much the lack of a vote - but more to do with their manifesto - and it's seemingly unbreakable attachment - to the old socialist romantic ( petite bourgeois ) vision of union. In effect nationalism is a dirty word - remembering that nationalism is central to Fascist philosophy. Steve Biko faced similar criticisms - in his drive for a positive black South African image. Of course English people should wave there flag - as we ours - the only flag that truly bonds the peoples of these lands - is Red. Feck the Union Jack - let the BNP keep it - as far as I'm concerned - to many crimes have been committed - under it's long dark shadow.
Hope nobody flags this.

[JAFFA]

Handy for wiping your arse though

I was born in King Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, England. I am 51 years old and I am proud of my birth place. I am not European, I am not British, I am not a resident of the UK, I am English. I was born here and I hold no fear in being proud of my birth place.

However!!!

My Father was born in Dundee, my Mother in Aberdeen, all of my family aside from, offsprings and brother and offsprings are Scotish. My Father in Law is Scotish(the mull....Southend) and all of his family are the same, yet his offsprings are all born south.

We visit the Mull every year and I spent most of my childhood there.

I am afrid I just dont get this north south devide??????

kind regards Jeff

[Govangirl]

Handy for wiping your arse though

I was born in King Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, England. I am 51 years old and I am proud of my birth place. I am not European, I am not British, I am not a resident of the UK, I am English. I was born here and I hold no fear in being proud of my birth place.

However!!!

My Father was born in Dundee, my Mother in Aberdeen, all of my family aside from, offsprings and brother and offsprings are Scotish. My Father in Law is Scotish(the mull....Southend) and all of his family are the same, yet his offsprings are all born south.

We visit the Mull every year and I spent most of my childhood there.

I am afrid I just dont get this north south devide??????

kind regards Jeff

Jeff, I was born and brought up in Scotland. I am not European, I am not British, I am not a resident of the UK, I am Scottish. I was born there and I hold no fear in being proud of my birth place.

However!!!

I have lived in England for 31 years and have the most wonderful and loyal friends and colleagues. My children were all born here and one is buried in English soil.

And like you, I just don't get this North South divide either and find it really sad. I certainly don't have to define my Scottishness by hating the English.

Good post!

[Tom B]

Handy for wiping your arse though

I am afrid I just dont get this north south devide??????

Apologies for the ignorant and offensive post above - even if it's accompanied by a 'humourous' winking smarticon it is still a shameful and embarrassing thing to post. And going by today's poll the majority of Scots don't see a divide and want to remain part of the UK. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8125041.stm Hopefully Scotland will have a referendum soon and can decide one way or the other, and if it's a "no" vote then it ('the question') can rest for a generation.

In response to the original question - perhaps whoever put up the flags felt that the Union Jack was sufficient to represent the British people, but thought that they'd better put up a flag for Scotland too, just in case. I don't think the English flag was missing.

I am European, I am British, I am a resident of the UK and I am Scottish.

[Jock Strap]

I am afrid I just dont get this north south devide??????

JAFFA,

Its called a border.

[Hume]

I am not British, I am not a resident of the UK, I am English.

I am afrid I just dont get this north south devide??????

Don't these two points contradict each other a bit Jeff?

I'm glad you feel proud of your birth country though, as the feeling I get is that English traditions are becoming less and less observed all the time, which is a shame.

By a devide, I assume you mean in peoples attitudes to those on the opposite side of the border? I cannot really get my head round the need for that either. However, politically speaking, yes I believe there should be a divide and that BOTH countries deserve the right to govern themselves.

I want Scotland and England (or what is left of GB&NI) to live side by side as friends and neighbours but as self governing countries.

I am Scottish. I am European.

To those who have said 'I am British', what does that mean?

[A Horse called Juan Face]

You all are British, cos thats what your passports say.

[Hume]

You forgot the wink at the end of your comment horse!

[ionnsaigh]

Apologies for the ignorant and offensive post above - even if it's accompanied by a 'humourous' winking smarticon it is still a shameful and embarrassing thing to post.

Shameful embarrassing ignorant offensive - Oh for God's sake - it was tongue in cheek - that should have been taken in the same vein - as the good natured rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh - or for that matter Campbeltown and Dalintober.
I'm Scots Irish or a Celt - I have never taken pride in something I had no control over ( place of birth).
Have you ever been to a music festival like Glastonbury - the wiping yer erse comment was a poor attempt at poking fun at the toilet facilities. If the worst came to the worst - I wouldn't have any hesitation wiping my rear end with the Saltire.

[ionnsaigh]

You all are British, cos thats what your passports say.

My shirt says Ben Sherman - however I'm Mick

[A Horse called Juan Face]

I have never taken pride in something I had no control over ( place of birth).

Id say thats the most sensible thing youve ever posted. Take a bow, my man.

[Ship called Dignity]

I have never taken pride in something I had no control over ( place of birth).

Id say thats the most sensible thing youve ever posted. Take a bow, my man.

Absolute pish! And you stop encouraging him my old friend Mr Juan Face.

So you have never taken pride in what others have achieved? Which you have no control over.

And lets get this straight? You take no pride in being Scottish because you had no control over your place of birth yet you take pride in your Irish roots which you never had any control over either! Doh!