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?

Ok - from a sometimes flag waving Dane - when we put flags up its rarely a national pride kind of thing - except for football related- most often it is to honour the person for whom we raise a flag ie a celebration. It seems in Britain the far right has highjacked the flags here - don't let them! Claim them back! It was wonderful here during the olympics - the flags were a symbol of joy and celebration. It would be wonderful if it staid that way

It used to be the union jack that was racist, now it's the st georges cross. I really don't care. I am proud to be British and English.

Union Flag flown upside down is a distress symbol - maybe the people flying it that way were asking for help?

I knew the stars and stripes upside down is a distress signal. Is the UJ upside down really one as well? Because you'd have to be both knowledgable and eagle eyed to spot that it was upside down.

^ KissesBreakingWave Mon 07-Apr-14 16:04:41

Flag-waving nationalist boosterism (often confused with patriotism by the ignorant) is the business of other, and by definition lesser, nations than dear old blighty.^

This. As British people, we should be slightly more reserved & modest of our homeland!

I only fly flags at w

FUCKING PHONE.

I only fly flags at world cup time, Irish Scottish and Jamaican so my whole family is included :) England team have enough supporters in England anyway!

missmayhemsmum I teach in Wales and, with respect, you are talking crap! We do try to make the curriculum relevant to Wales where appropriate, but 'teach welshness'? (What do you mean by this?) 'In every aspect of the curriculum'? Where have you heard this? I teach English, and we use Welsh writers where appropriate, but there are none taught on the GCSE or A Level courses at the moment. DD has not done anything Welsh in maths, say, or Science. Or RE. Or Food. Nope, not in any area of the curriculum, really.

Seeing a Union Jack flying outside a shop or pinned in someone's window in Glasgow, where I live, makes me feel uneasy. Because here it's a very clear statement of where your loyalties lie. I'm Catholic, my DH is Protestant and neither of us feel comfortable seeing Union Jacks waving round here. No matter what your allegiance, if you have any, you should know it's a loaded symbol locally. That's why I despair when Waitrose flew Union Jacks all over the place and pictures of the Queen during the Olymics/Jubilee/any excuse. It's just not something many people in Glasgow are comfortable with and it's nothing to do with Yes/No etc, but with our desire not to let sectarian thugs run our city.

In Wales and Scotland people are actively and positively encouraged to be patriotic and fly their flag. In England, it is very much frowned upon and this makes me so bloody cross.

I can be very proud to be English without being racist or right-wing.

There are 2 groups responsible for the daft attitudes surrounding the Union flag and the George Cross - the far-right BNP and EDL, who try to claim these flags nod symbols for their own racist agenda and then the Union and government sponsored left-wing extremists (UAF) who will happily tell us all that we are racist if we fly a flag.

I am proud to live in such a democratic, multi-cultural, tolerant country - I love England and am proud to be English and I fly a small George Cross in my window (and will continue to do so).

I am sick to death of being made to feel embarrassed because I am proud of my country and will fly my flag with pride.

Unlike the welsh where schools are required to teach 'welshness' in every aspect of the curriculum
well that is ill-informed bollocks for a start.

I think Britain could embrace it a little more. Remember how proud we were at the Olympics?

The Olympics (with the exception of the odd token football match) was an event for London and the South of England. Here in Scotland, Olympic fever was somewhat muted.

This is part of the problem. The view that Britain = South of England. No wonder so many of us in Scotland want rid of you.

That's your view, Compos, but as a Southern Englander I will remain proud of Chris Hoy, Andy Murray and loads of other Scots who compete for Britain. Sorry.

So, are the Commonwealth Games just for Scots from the central belt? Again, sorry but I'm looking forward to them and expecting them to do Scotland (and the UK) proud.

Well yeah. Pretty much a central belt affair and pretty much a waste of rime too, but that's another debate.

I would love to see our flag more to be honest.
I go to a lot of places abroad and some countries are so patriotic.
In England it is almost like we are ashamed to be proud of our country.

I know people feel uncomfortable about EDL connections but maybe we should reclaim 'our flag' back!

You don't even like to waste rime? Golly, you must a laugh and a half. Haven't you got a freezer?

Very pedantic droll.