Should I report this?

[Lookingforsomedirection]

Each week I drive my kids to an activity and we pass a house on a busy corner. They have a union jack flag proudly waiving and next to that they have a life sized gorilla (obviously a racist trope given the context of the flag and current affairs). It was initially dressed in a suit of armour like a knight but now wears a penguin onesie. I find it to be a really offensive and ignorant attempt at a racist joke - the suit of armour and penguin costume reference "Britishness". Is this something to report? It seems totally bizarre that someone can display something inciteful and intimidatory like this given the climate but also I'm aware its on private land so are they actually breaking any laws? Should mention the house is bordered by a tall hedge and these things are elevated and outward facing eg definitely can't be seen by the owner from their own property and clearly meant to be seen by the public.

Funny thing isn't it that no other countries in the world are called racist for displaying their flags. But England, we are not allowed to be proud of our country. This shit should have been nipped in the bud years ago. Either be proud of your country or go elsewhere.

Overthinking, OP.

That's a reach and a half.

I'm fed up of racists spray painting random stuff but a gorilla in a tux or a suit of armour wouldn't automatically shout English Nationalism to me. If anything the opposite?

Just someone with really shit taste in garden ornaments, perhaps.

Is there really only one other person who understands symbolism and context? Colourfully painted gorillas in an art installation to celebrate a zoo's anniversary and englishmen in tuxedos are not racist tropes.

Gorillas are used in centuries old racist imagery and language to dehumanise black people. Not every image of a gorilla is racist. The context of the gorilla next to the union jack flag, which has been misappropriated by white nationalist, racist movements, turns the gorilla into a racist trope. Dressed in a penguin onesie serves to exacerbate the motif.

I must have attracted replied from the aforementioned movements. No one I know would drive by unoffended, nor would they be fine to do nothing. In the words of Kate Garraway, I'm flabbergasted.

What's with all the quotes

Massive overthink going on.

The penguin onesie is probably a leftover Christmas present!

It sounds garish and ugly, but penguins do not represent English gentlemen or Britishness in popular culture. They just don't. Your negative reaction to the Union Jack has made you over-intepret. "Do not worry about it" - StripedVase

🎶 This is insania… 🎶

I’d always assumed it is only called a Union Jack when flown on a Royal Navy vessel?

I think unless it’s a very clear and blatant display of racism (as in signage or something) then it will be hard for the police to actually get someone to take this off their own property. While the connotations are there, I suppose they could feign ignorance and say it’s just a statue they have in their yard. People have all sorts of crap in their yards. As for flags, councils are not removing them from public spaces so there’s no chance of one in a private garden been removed.

Look at it this way, they are showing the world that they are childish, thick racists. Their house displays their views and probably looks like a complete chav fest.

For those saying contact police, which offence is being committed?

I'm very proud of this country for the art, literature, sense of humour, beautiful rolling countryside and inner city architecture, for the music and values...I could go on. It's an awful shame that the flag has been misappropriated by ill informed racists who spout utter rubbish like "be proud of your country or go elsewhere" - should I go elsewhere (where, I wonder?) because you believe in authoritarianism, you think our disagreement means I am disloyal? Do you believe only unconditional conformity deserves the right to stay in this country? Or that a democratic country is not founded on the central belief that we, the people, can make things better by challenging the status quo?

Do you truly believe that the recent rise of flags in public spaces is all to do with patriotism? We all know there are undertones of racism and ‘we don’t want you here’ vibes. The whole thing was incited by Tommy Robinson ffs!

People who have had flags up in their gardens for years in the true spirit of patriotism- crack on. A bunch of right wing thugs hanging them off lampposts - no thank you. That’s not pride it’s divisive and intimidating.

You phoned the police? 😂😂😂

Please tell me it wasn't 999 at least..

Fuck me

The OP is quoting the bible and Kate Garraway.

This should make us all sit up and think.

🤣🤣 my favourite reply so far!

OP I literally wouldnt have thought the gorilla in a penguin suit and a flag, was racist. At all. Its more odd to me that you looked at that and thought of people with different nationalities.

Also, just how big is this gorilla if its above a hedge so high that the homeowners cant see it? And how is it secured, did they use a crane to put it in position? Or is it inflatable (which is risky with a hedge up its backside) And what is the gorilla made out of so that 1. It isnt too heavy to sit on the hedge, and 2. That its able to be dressed. Does the gorilla have a name?

My boss drinks out of a Union Jack mug. He bought it when he finally gained UK citizenship, having moved to the UK from India. He uses it daily, with pride.

I don’t believe flying the Union Jack flag is necessarily a nod to racism, particularly when it has been flown for years by some people.

I do consider the recent use of the St George’s cross more inflammatory but again some people have regularly used it in support of our English sports teams.

As for the gorilla, our local city has a summer trail every year using large models of animals painted by local schools and charities to mark points of interest. Some far they’ve had elephants, giraffes and penguins. I doubt gorillas would raise an eyebrow. I think if you associate gorillas with racism then it reflects on your own attitude. I don’t think I’ve ever thought of other races when seeing a model of a gorilla or a penguin. I just associate with the animal. If I think of anything is Jane Goodall or David Attenborough or the amazing Scottish wildlife cameraman, Gordon Buchanan.

Phone 999 and tell them someone has a flag on their own house and King Kong is wearing a penguin onesie. I'm sure they'll be right round to sort it out.

😂😂

Fucking hell. I had to read it twice.

yep report it and when the police (waste their time) and visit and the owner says I’m British and I like gorillas, also a fan of a penguin and the officer struggles to maintain composure and work out whose more tapped.

you may have perceived it as racism but it’s a difficult one to prove.

think its a case of smile and wave boys, smile and wave. (Penguin reference)

OP I think you are overthinking this. I’ve tried to twist my brain into finding this offensive - and it’s just not.

Perhaps it’s one of those things that you have to see to get the feel of what you are saying.

Quite. I hope she posts a picture because the words alone were amusing. The picture would really make my week 😂😂

This isn't true - civic and Government buildings have flags and its been this way for years.

Oh yes, photo or it absolutely didn't happen! 🤣

In a week when you thought the world couldn't get any more bonkers...