Union Flag

[LowlandLucky]

For once i am shocked into silence, just read that there are calls for Morrisons supermarket to be boycotted because the have products in Union flag packaging. It would seem somewimps people are so pathetic that the feel "intimidated" by our countries flag. FFS what a bloody feeble nation Britain has become, it is not as though we wrap goods in a Swastika. If the Union flag is so scary bugger off and live somewhere else, just make sure their flag is not a naughty one.

I don’t really give a shit about flags or people upset by flags or people upset by people upset by flags.
It is a bizarre thing to get livid about, seeing as it’s apparently just someone’s opinion on social media.
Twitter is just like that. I could throw a dart at a dictionary and find someone offended by the word it lands on.
Opinions are like arseholes and all that.

Christ all mighty.

If you are going to venerate a flag because it defeated Nazi'ism, then you'd need to go find yourself a Hammer & Sickle.

Also, 'stood alone' only came about because of the good fortune of being an island. Go ask Poles, Norwegians, Danes, Dutchmen, Belgians, Luxembourgers, and French people if the UK 'stood alone' against Nazi'ism. Without the Channel and North Sea, the UK would have been utterly steamrolled before the end of 1940.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

I’ve lived for 13 years in other countries and am very well travelled, and I can’t think of any country whose citizens sneer at their own flag like Brits

I think this really encapsulates the difference.

I don't recognise anything along the lines of a 'British' identity and do not accept that the UK is either a 'country' or a 'nation' being as it is nothing more than a unitary political state, so the notion of a 'UK' or 'British' flag is just daft, I feel no affinity with it at all, and all it symbolises to me is everything horrible about Imperialism, subversion, British colonialism, and jingoistic political opportunism, hence why I provokes no feeling in me beyond mild contempt.

I don't recognise anything along the lines of a 'European' identity and do not accept that the EU is either a 'country' or a 'nation' being as it is nothing more than a unitary political state, so the notion of a 'EU' or 'European' flag is just daft, I feel no affinity with it at all, and all it symbolises to me is everything horrible about Imperialism, subversion, Napoleonism, and jingoistic political opportunism, hence why I provokes no feeling in me beyond mild contempt.

And yet there are loads of people on Twitter with twelve stars somewhere on their profile. Unlike you though, I let them get on with it without sneering.

The EU a 'unitary political state'? I bet this is also the poster that thinks the the UK stood alone against Nazism. Can't make this stuff up.

And yet there are loads of people on Twitter with twelve stars somewhere on their profile. Unlike you though, I let them get on with it without sneering

What on earth have Twitter profiles got to do with anything?

It's a cesspit best avoided completely.

This is all a little nutty, at least because it is not new! But particularly on food, you will see a lot more of the Union flag as it shows the origin of the produce. Now we are setting our own standards for food labeling and export, producers are labeling “British”.

Anyway, I think if you are in a British supermarket buying fresh produce, in reality it’s a tiny minority of fresh food (like banana, guava, mango, strawberries) that would not have that identifying marks.

It’s like getting incensed in a French supermarket when they have tricoluer over the country. It’s part of where you are.

@pourqouimoi

Many people, including myself, are ashamed of our imperialist past and the atrocities committed under the banner of the Union Jack. Perhaps other some countries feel more comfortable with their flags because they live in countries whose flag isn't synonymous with imperialism, racism, exploration and repression half the world over.

You clearly have no idea then of what the Belgians got up to in the Congo. Nor what the French did in Algeria and Vietnam, what the Spanish did in Morocco, or what the Italians did in Ethiopia.

pourqouimoi I was born and live in Scotland i have also live in the other 3 counties in our nation

@bongsuhan

The EU a 'unitary political state'? I bet this is also the poster that thinks the the UK stood alone against Nazism. Can't make this stuff up.

I've been up since five this morning, I can't check every clause in the quote that I adapted. And no, that wasn't me who said something about "standing alone".

What on earth have Twitter profiles got to do with anything?
Not just Twitter, other social medias are available. As are car bumpers and Holyrood.

@RampantIvy

Why is it called the butcher's apron in Wales?

It's not generally.

Exactly, @DdraigGoch, but unfortunately you can’t argue with ignorant, or with ‘don’t want to hear it - especially if it’s true.’

You clearly have no idea then of what the Belgians got up to in the Congo. Nor what the French did in Algeria and Vietnam, what the Spanish did in Morocco, or what the Italians did in Ethiopia

What on earth does being aware or otherwise of other nations' imperialist misadventures have to do with someone's view of the union flag?

Do you also have to dislike the Turkish flag because of the Ottoman Empire's genocidal behaviour in Armenia in order to have a valid opinion on British history?

This is an exercise in whataboutery. Probably worth noting though that several nations who do have a rather distasteful history at least had the sense to redesign their flags in the years since.

This is similar to when the papers were full of stories about how "snowflakes" wanted to ban the film Grease when it was about three tweets which has been sensationalised.

@pourqouimoi

Many people, including myself, are ashamed of our imperialist past and the atrocities committed under the banner of the Union Jack. Perhaps other some countries feel more comfortable with their flags because they live in countries whose flag isn't synonymous with imperialism, racism, exploration and repression half the world over.

So, do we constantly have to apologise for what our ancesters did? When can we stop?

You clearly have no idea then of what the Belgians got up to in the Congo. Nor what the French did in Algeria and Vietnam, what the Spanish did in Morocco, or what the Italians did in Ethiopia.

And the Spanish and Portuguese in South America, and the Dutch in Indonesia, the Persian empire, the Ottoman empire, the Roman empire, the Mongol empire? Where does this stop?

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

You clearly have no idea then of what the Belgians got up to in the Congo. Nor what the French did in Algeria and Vietnam, what the Spanish did in Morocco, or what the Italians did in Ethiopia

What on earth does being aware or otherwise of other nations' imperialist misadventures have to do with someone's view of the union flag?

Do you also have to dislike the Turkish flag because of the Ottoman Empire's genocidal behaviour in Armenia in order to have a valid opinion on British history?

This is an exercise in whataboutery. Probably worth noting though that several nations who do have a rather distasteful history at least had the sense to redesign their flags in the years since.

Did you even read the quoted post? I leave the relevant bit here: Perhaps other some countries feel more comfortable with their flags because they live in countries whose flag isn't synonymous with imperialism, racism, exploration and repression

The poster was clearly implying that no other nation has any cause to be ashamed. This is clearly false.

The Belgian and French tricolours have certainly remained unaltered since the various massacres in question so your last point has no relevance.

Since when did people start calling it the Union Flag?

I've always known it as the Union Jack.

lighthearted

The poster was clearly implying that no other nation has any cause to be ashamed. This is clearly false

The post you quote says 'some' other countries, not all. You are rebutting a claim that was never made in the first place.

The Belgian and French tricolours have certainly remained unaltered since the various massacres in question so your last point has no relevance

Again, I said 'some' other nations, not all. The Belgians or French may still use the same flag, but the Japanese dropped the rays from the Imperialist flag, Italy no longer uses the Fascist flag, and so on. 'No relevance' my foot

@TrickorTreacle

Since when did people start calling it the Union Flag?

I've always known it as the Union Jack.

lighthearted

Whenever they are not on board a ship

The term Union flag has been around since 1606, first use on Union Jack (on a ship, of course) was 1627

@DdraigGoch I didn't say Britain was the only imperial nation? Practically every western power has this kind of history in one form of another.

@DdraigGoch I was not implying that the UK is the only country with such a history - that's why I used the word 'some'

Maybe check the reliability of your news source?

It really depends on the association the flag has for you. I'm aware for many people it is a positive symbol, but in mainly reminds me of racists and our shameful colonial past.

The things I am proud of the UK for aren't really represented by that flag imo.

Not to mention the fact that Belgian atrocities in the Congo do not excuse Britain's colonial actions.

Thanks @RoseAndRose

I stand corrected!