To ask my neighbour about England flag bunting?

[nuffinthemule]

My neighbour is outside on a ladder attaching England-flag bunting to the lampost outside his house (on the pavement). Is there a sport-related reason for hanging bunting this weekend that I have forgotten about or am I right to be slightly wtf? We live in a very multicultural area and I think it looks a bit aggressive and unwelcoming, although I accept it might not have been his intention. I know the neighbour to say hello to only and although he's always been reasonably friendly I have tbh been keeping a bit of distance as I know other neighbours have fallen out with him. Would you ask him why he is hanging it, do you think? Or am I being paranoid? And if you agree it is a bit dodgy how do I get him to take it down?

its the Union Jack thats linked with nationalist aggression
I believe it is actually St Georges' flag that is linked with agression due to the Crussades.

Crusades.

Hth

Waves flag.

Tim Berners-Lee is indeed English.

1 problem is - people who tend to decide whats racist and offensive, but ask them if they've ever posed that question to a non-white person: Nope. & even if they do ask, they've made up their mind that they know best for us thank you as regards what we should find offensive or not. So even if you say 'No', it slides off them anyway. They may be well-meaning but sorry, I find them really annoying as they cause more trouble than its worth. This is England. Its an English flag. If anyone knows of countries where its nationals are afeared of flying their own flag, Id be quite interested to hear about that...

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat was right then, I guess the spellings does have more importance than the actual content.

I'll give you the phone and electricity but wasn't Tim Berners-Lee a Brit? Besides, the best American invention is the cheese burger.

Well, America invented the internet with IPs and connectivity to other devices, Britain invented the world wide web which is the websites you're on now. Totally blowing smoke out my ass. I had no clue Britain was involved in the internet until just now

I dunno if the prize should go to the cheeseburger or the swivel chair.

You guys have the inventions of soda and chocolate bars. :)

In the 70s the national front used the union jack and the BNP carried it on in the 80s so that used to have more racist connotations then. When the edl started they obviously couldn't even cope with Celtic nations so used st Georges flag instead.

My husband goes off into a massive rant when he sees a house displaying a st George's flag with the word England written across the middle of it. He's all for flying the St George's flag, but doesn't like it defaced with unnecessary writing.

What is wrong with England?

Oh hang on. Don't actually care what your husband thinks.

When the edl started they obviously couldn't even cope with Celtic nations so used st Georges flag instead.

I thought EDL stands for English Defence League though?

Because if we don't, the terrorists have won.
Really?

It's one of those weird fad catch phrases we used sarcastically because of 9/11 news reports spouting the phrases ad nauseum like "We have to still go to school and keep the country running or the terrorists have won". It was a bunch of propaganda to fight the mental battle like we did with communism during the cold war.

It goes hand in hand with "We don't negotiate with terrorists" and "That's just unamerican". The point is to use it dramatically for ridiculous and trivial situations. So "Disliking chocolate is just unamerican" and "You have to do the dishes or the terrorists have won". It's died out though, so you can only really use it very sparingly or it's as obnoxious as using 80's slang too often.

Yes I meant that, being British was too much, they had to be English and the flags/logos followed suit.

I am a black British woman. I feel deeply uncomfortable, afraid even when when I see a st George flag flying outside of a sporting event. I am proud to say I am British, I am deeply sad that I cannot feel the same about my 'Englishness'. I wish as an English person I could feel proud to fly a st George cross, or at least not feel unwelcome in my own country when I see one.

I am sure most of you will ignore this as it is easier to believe that people don't actually feel this way in their own country. I can tell you that I and some others in my position also feel this way.

I don't ignore you, Sophie

Oh I see

But there's a Scottish Defence League and a Welsh Defence League too

Now determined to hang England flag bunting outside my house - am not UKIP, EDL and I embrace multicultural England .... I'm merely excited about the World Cup

Sophieelmer I'm sorry you feel that way.

However if the majority of English people flew their national flag, it would be such a common sight that it would not have the 'power' that some racists have given it.

And people like the OP wouldn't have thought the way she did.

Sorry you feel that way Soph.

What can I do to make you feel better?g

Sophie I'm not surprised you feel like that. Outside of sporting events if I see a St George's Cross hanging up in a house window for example I'd assume the owner was a bit EDL in their outlook.

Hopefully the flag will be gradually reclaimed.

I equate flying national flags on your house/car/head/whatever with having a tattoo of your kids/partner's name on your arm

it's in case you forget who/where you are

and doesn't say much of anything good about you

Le sigh

What has pressing clothes to do with this ?

I don't need to look out of my window to remember I live in the UK. If some of you do, I suggest you consult with your doctor.

ffs. why shouldn't he hang some bloody bunting. bet you wouldn't bat an eye lid if it was another countries bunting because ie there might be an italian football match. why do some people automatically assume somone is being racist if they ie whistle rule bloody britannia . this sort of bollocks REALLY pisses me off

Sophie. I'm not sure that your sentiments are related to your race .

I have heard almost no-one describe themselves as 'English' and I don't know why (genuinely).

I would always describe myself as British, or Yorkshire, in preference to being English.

Conversly, many Scottish, Northern Irish or Welsh people seem to identify with that nationality in preference to being British - especially when it comes to Wimbledon or the Commonweath Games, where people like Sir Chris Hoy or Andy Murray are obviously outside the common assumption that British = English.

I don't particularly follow football, so don't support any teams, and lets face it, supporting England is always going to be a let down sooner, rather than later isn't it?

Is all very confusing and lots of issues arise, me thinks.