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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think our neighbour is an arse?

91 replies

GreatGretzky · 03/06/2012 20:38

We put a union flag up in the window yesterday to celebrate the Jubilee. Today I bumped into our neighbour where we had the following conversation...

Him: I don't like your flag.
Me: Oh. Sorry. It's just up for the Jubilee so it'll come down in a few days.
Him: People will think this is a BNP street.
Me: Hmm I'm sure they won't, everyone knows it's Jubilee weekend...
Him: Well I think it makes you look like BNP supporters. It's disgraceful. I don't want to look at it.

He's made me a little bit worried now that people will think that! AIBU to leave the flag up and think he's being a bit of an arse?

OP posts:
GrahamTribe · 03/06/2012 21:19

And the more people put flag-displayers off with comments about racism and the BNP the less people are likely to fly the Union flag or cross of St George in pride of their country. Your negativity is counter-productive, Loopy.

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:21

I know. That's the clear outcome of my musing Graham. Keep up!

Ambrosius · 03/06/2012 21:22

But why should we have pride in our country? I just don't get it.

WorraLiberty · 03/06/2012 21:23

We've been trying (imo) to reclaim our flag from the knuckle draggers since the National Front 'claimed' it in the 1970s.

It's not the BNP or the NF that's stopping us reclaiming it now...it's people like the OP's neighbour and one or two people on this thread who seem to think we shouldn't fly it proudly and ignore the fascist twats.

GrahamTribe · 03/06/2012 21:24

Loopy, only you are speaking of "chanting", daily or otherwise, only you are speaking of "pledging allegiance". No-one else has.

Anyone who's been to a baseball match or similar in Canada and seen every human there, man, woman and child, stand and sing their heart out in pride to "O Canada" might find a tear in their eye. But that's by the by, here in the UK there's not just negativity about the flag there's snobbery too and it's very unpallatable.

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:24

No I don't really wither. We are a nation built on raping and pillaging other people. Of keeping the best for ourselves and subjugating others. I'm not proud of that.

The flag is pretty though. And the countryside is stunning. We have the best cheese and cider.

PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:24

Ambrosius would you rather be ashamed? Or ambivalent?

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:25

No, Graham, I wasn't the one to mention the US's fascination with their flag.

FashionEaster · 03/06/2012 21:25

The member of BNP who lives round the corner does not have bunting up. Hth

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/06/2012 21:26

I don't think it's good or bad to be proud of a country ... there are good ways to be proud and bad ways, surely?

PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:26

Loopy that is beyond ignorant. And I was born in a country that would give me an excuse to have a chip on my shoulder about the UK. If you can't think of anything the UK has done and continues to do to be proud of I suggest you brush up on your history.

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:29

Beyond ignorant? Maybe you want to brush up on your history. Tell me about the slave trade. Tell me about the empire. ad. infinitum.

PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:29

I reckon the BNP forums are filled right now with people fuming about the disgraceful non-racists flying the union flag Grin

Ambrosius · 03/06/2012 21:31

I am ambivalent. Its the place I happened to be born and where I live. Why should I be proud of that?

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:31

And maybe we'd get more out of our national anthem if it wasn't so, well, shit. Oh Canada is a fine tune. Anyone find the royal drudgery rousing?

GrahamTribe · 03/06/2012 21:33

"It's not the BNP or the NF that's stopping us reclaiming it now...it's people like the OP's neighbour and one or two people on this thread who seem to think we shouldn't fly it proudly and ignore the fascist twats."

Way to go! Worra and I agree yet again! Can someone please be a love and put on that mood music for us? Grin

PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:34

Every nation in the world has its history tarnished by slavery. Slavery effectively became illegal in England at the end of the 18th century - way before most parts of the world.

GrahamTribe · 03/06/2012 21:35

"No, Graham, I wasn't the one to mention the US's fascination with their flag."

Argh! And I wasn't the one to mention pledging allegiance or "chanting daily".

PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:35

Fine, if you're ambivalent, why can't you extend that ambivalence to people who are proud of their country?

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:37

Face it ladies, we British fucked up the world. Glad you're proud of that. Hmm

WorraLiberty · 03/06/2012 21:38

Can someone please be a love and put on that mood music for us? Grin

I'll stick two bob in the Jukebox and play the Sex Pistols

LoopyLoopsCorgiPoops · 03/06/2012 21:40
PandaWatch · 03/06/2012 21:41
WorraLiberty · 03/06/2012 21:41

LoopyLoops If you search back through the History of any country, you'll find wrong doing and something to be ashamed of.

I don't know about you, but I'm not about to beat myself with sticks every day due to what the Goverment/Royals/etc... long before I was a twinkle in my Great Great Grandad's eye.

If we were to follow your way of thinking, no-one in the world would be proud of their country or want to fly their flags.

WorraLiberty · 03/06/2012 21:41