Children asking about the current influx of England flags…

[aperolspritzbasicbitch]

How do you explain it?
children are 11 and 8, just walked through an area with a few houses that are all grouped together with a LOT of flags displayed, they asked what was happening, I said nothing is and they’ve asked why there are so many flags. I’ve tried to explain it but to be honest I don’t really understand it fully myself, and think I’ve just bumbled out a lot of rubbish that they don’t really get.
Any ideas on an age appropriate way? I’ve even looked at newsround for guidance 🤣 but nothing doing!

In a nutshell people are displaying the flag in what they feel is a rebellious act against a government which doesn't listen to them or, in fact, care about them in any way at all.

It is widely felt, because it's true, that the English flag is particularly abhorred by our Elites. Politicians and their footsoldiers in the media perceive it to be low class and indicative of a set of attitudes that they find, at best, old fashioned and, at worst, reprehensible.

The working classes know all this and the display of flags is how they stick their fingers up to the system.

Honestly @scatterolight, what a load of utterly nonsense.

At 8 and 11, I would presume that they have an understanding of racism?

I would just explain that there are sadly still a lot of racists around, and that some of them like to express this by flying the flag. I would also explain, of course, that there is nothing inherently racist about the flag itself, but that the racists were trying to claim it for their own cause.

They are also signalling their intolerance for brown and black immigrants. Because they blame these people for their situation.
Even though these immigrants have less than they do, and really they should be angry at the very rich people who are doing everything they can to keep both the flag flyers and the immigrants poor.
This makes most people feel sad for both groups.

Omg these comments 😳 you could tell your children that England is a wonderful country to live in and we should all be proud to live here and like many other countries there's nothing wrong with displaying a flag and that is simply what these people are doing

Age appropriate? I’ve got nothing. I explained it to DD 13 with sarcasm and disdain though.

Oh, you sweet summer child.

I'd just say "It's just a fashion at the moment to put up England flags" that's why there's loads about.
I wouldn't bother with going into much more detail.
Or say "Dunno.... might be for football" if I really didn't want to get into it.

You do realise that's not why they're doing it, don't you? Or have you been living under a rock for the last week?

I’m not going to lie to them - there really is only one reason that some are choosing to suddenly fly the flag.

I’ve said that if someone has always had a flag up, or if they are cheering on a sports team etc then it’s harmless - I think they are struggling to understand the different driving power behind the two scenario's.

You could take the perfectly reasonable line.. People are sick of the government making half hearted attempts to stop illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel, and would prefer to welcome people of any race through the proper channels

Because we live in England and should be proud of the flag we seem to be the only country in the world who isnt.

Surely you tell them that is the flag of our country, and those people clearly love it and want to display it and be proud of it?

DD has assumed it is the woman's rugby World Cup and is delighted that rugby is now getting as much attention as woman's football!

I'm not telling my 6 year old daughter, who is black, anything other than it's for sports. She's young enough to not notice much.

I’m really concerned about the graffiti on road safety signs tbh

I don't understand either and i"m 55. Unfortunately there is a legacy of the flag being used for racist intent. How we eradicate this, i don't know.

Sorry - but I don’t understand those of you that are saying it’s because they are proud of our country, when that clearly isn’t the reason.
if it was, they’d have had them up before now, wouldn’t they?
their intentions are clear.

I don’t think it’s a rock

Im sure you can explain what a knuckle dragger is @aperolspritzbasicbitch

Oh look. Another soap box flag thread for all the racists to jump on. Again.

We see you.

Why would she tell her children asylum seekers are illegal immigrants?

OP has said she doesn’t want to lie to her children.

I explained to my DS that some people think flying the flag is patriotism. Some think patriotism means no foreigners coming into our country.
I then explained to take it with a pinch of salt as St George - the patron saint who the flag is for - never stepped foot in the U.K. on account of being what is now Turkish!

And he has no issue with flying the flag for patriotic reasons - he’s competed for both England and Britain on the international stage. He thinks it’s a shame it’s being turned into a negative and hateful symbol though and he’s figured that out for himself!

Well, you could tell them that. But some of us don't like to lie to our kids.

I explained to my DS that some people think flying the flag is patriotism. Some think patriotism means no foreigners coming into our country.

@itsgettingweird I think that’s a good explanation.

OMG telling kids that flying the national flag is racist