being English to feel unconfortable when I see signs of English and British patriotism?

[knickernicker]

Im not keen when I see the English flag. It was always the Union Jack when I was little. Seeing it puts me in mind of EDL.
I'm also not keen on the faux British patriotism/ Cath Kidstonyness/ cupcakery that's used to sell things e.g. by Boden.
I feel clearly English but I'd feel a fraud indulging in patriotic behaviour. I don't feel uncomfortable when I see it in other countries e.g. lots of houses in countryside in Sweden have their flag on a pole outside. That,seems natural to me.
Can I feel legitimately patriotic and should I?

whomadeyougod I really don't think it does. It's great if you've never come across an incident in which a far right group has appropriated a national flag, but I think it's quite naive to claim there's no reason to make the association.

Meh

we fly the St George outside the window at footi time, rugby, cricket. We are a sporty family.

I grew up in Handsworth and loved to see the Pakistani flag outside houses at the cricket time, we flew our flag, it was fun you know just fun.

So bloody what. Fuss about nowt.

no it is not a fuss about 'nowt' the red cross has been appropriated by far right political organisations.

See, I think it's because the English have this terribly overinflated opinion of their importance., so as a collective we don't feel we "need" to show our patriotism. Plus, flag waving is a bit common, don't you know.

I live in the States and I LOVE the whole flag waving, bonkers patriotism! 4th of July? Bring it on! Pledging allegiance to the flag in cute little Kindergarten voices? Could listen to it all day. Truly TERRIBLE versions of the Star Spangled Banner even at the kids' Little League games?! Oh yes!

We found house hunting during the Olympics next to impossible because of this.

I think this is an interesting issue, and would love to be able to reclaim the flags from the far right, but have no clue how.

I was told that the reason so many flags are flown in Sweden is because of a national anti-racism campaign 20 or so years ago. Just like in England the flag had been hijacked by far right racists. The non-racists decided to take it back as part of the 'alla lika alla olika' (everyone's the same, everyone's different) campaign. Perhaps England should do likewise.

Swedish flags are only flown on a handful of days a year, they are known as flag days. To fly the Swedish flag on a non flag day is very very frowned upon, people I know have drunkenly tried to take the flag down after a boozy celebration rather than take it down in the morning because it would be very embarasing for the neighbors to see that you had left your flag out!

I like the union jack, the English flag is a bit dull in terms of design, but I guess we can't just change it ;)

I don't see it as a racist symbol, I have never seen it used as such.

Love the flag of St George but mainly fly it outside caruthers castle when England are playing in the Euros or World cup.

I don't associate it with racism at all.

I'm proud of my country, England. Others cross continents and persecution to experience my freedom and choice.

I'm proud of our union. I wish the others would quit trying to break us up.

I am proud of my flags and wear/fly both.

I feel distinctly sorry for those so narrow minded to think either flag is a symbol of hate. That's the man, or woman holding it. Different things entirely.

I think the Welsh have the best flag. Why can't we stick a dragon in the middle of the union jack, that would be awesome.

I don't think people are suggesting the flag itself is a symbol of hate, but that it unfortunately brings to mind the groups who are trying to commandeer it for the wrong reasons.

Nigella then it's time to snatch it back isn't it.

As long as people pussyfoot around things like this then idiots win.

I think the English flag should fly from English civic buildings and be seen as normal.

Personally I love flags as I was brought up, as I
Posted, in handsworth so it's not an issue for me. Lots of people fly flags for different events. No harm just fun.

"If you've just won the World Cup wave your flag" - I think this is the problem for those of us who are just quietly proud, its now associated with shouty footbally types Sports direct sent me flags to "hang on the car" as a freebie during the last world cup (shudder) they went straight to the charity shop.

We should have a dragon on it if you think about it

We have a flagpole. I also have a large and slightly random collection of flags. I fly them a bit. Not racist, not overtly patriotic. I just like flags!

It should indeed, BlueSky,or perhaps more in keeping the flag of St. David [https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=flag+of+st+david&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=W-ZCU5P-PIzs4wSY9oGQDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=651#facrc=&imgdii=&imgrc=-twfEInxp1rKZM%253A%3BGwdL6hy1ms3XlM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252Fa%252Fa2%252FFlag_of_Saint_David.svg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FFlag_of_Saint_David%3B1620%3B1080 here]]
I think it's one of the reasons we Welsh aren't quite as keen on the Union as are the English...

Link fail. I'll try again.
It should indeed, BlueSky, or perhaps more in keeping the flag of St. David [https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=flag+of+st+david&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=W-ZCU5P-PIzs4wSY9oGQDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=651#facrc=&imgdii=&imgrc=-twfEInxp1rKZM%253A%3BGwdL6hy1ms3XlM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252Fa%252Fa2%252FFlag_of_Saint_David.svg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FFlag_of_Saint_David%3B1620%3B1080 here]
I think it's one of the reasons we Welsh aren't quite as keen on the Union as are the English...

Gaaa!
It should indeed, BlueSky, or perhaps more in keeping the flag of St. David here
I think it's one of the reasons we Welsh aren't quite as keen on the Union as are the English...

Yay!

Living in Denmark where you can fly your flag for birthdays. christenings, confirmations, weddings, anniversaries, funerals (half mast then at the top after the funeral) I think Britain could embrace it a little more. Remember how proud we were at the Olympics? Although I think Danish flags on birthday cards, cakes and even the sodding Christmas tree is a bit much, dont care if it IS the oldest flag in the world.

I think it's sad that it's ok to be proud of being Scottish, Welsh, from Northern Ireland, but if youre English then that's a bit embarrassing. I really think there ought to be more cultural activities in schools. When I represented the UK through Guiding I realised that all the folk songs I knew were either Scottish or Irish, so if there were Girl Guides from Scotland or Ireland I was expected to do something english, and I couldn't. It was embarrassing.

When I was at primary and grammar school, we were taught English country dances and danced at fetes. Most children these days have never even known an English country dance. Yes, we have Morris dancing but country dancing is not the same, is it? Bring it back!

Same with folk songs as another poster has said. Lincolnshire Poacher, anyone?

I have a flagpole outside my house, I will be putting up the English Flag on St Georges Day

Currently I am flying a Help for Heroes one, before that I was flying an Isle of Wight one.

People can see my flag from a main road and I have never had a complaint but I did have someone knock on my door wanting to know where I got the HFH one.

But complaints? not a one

I had a mad Guider who built a maypole and taught us how to dance round it Happy.

Patriotism in extreme moderation is not so bad.

I lived in NYC during, and just after, 9.11. It was pretty grim. There wouldn't have been an Iraq war without hyper-patriotism in the USA.

We English don't need to make that kind of fuss.

Unlike the welsh where schools are required to teach 'welshness' in every aspect of the curriculum.