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 started out reading this thread feeling quite protective of our Union flag, but then a PP brought to my attention that it doesn't include Wales

I struggle to understand how someone needs a PP on MN to bring this information to their attention, really

What about the people whose country you invaded and they have no choice but to look at that flag? To them it is a reminder of oppression

Who is the 'you' and 'them' and 'that' flag? Who are these people who have 'no choice' and where are they? Hard to understand this post

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

WW2 might have been a long time ago but there are still people alive today who have their number tattoos from the concentration camps. That serves as a reminder of what could well have happened.

As for us getting involved out of self interest, Hitler was an Anglophile who wanted an alliance with Britain. This country would have been fine and dandy if we had made friends with Hitler.

@mustlovegin how about half the population of Northern Ireland for one thing?

Unfortunately the British flag (union jack) and the English one (st George's cross) are viewed as frightening in many places outside England.

I'm Irish (Southern Irish, Republic) , not very political but I'd never buy a product with a union jack on it. I have become aware though that probably the marketing departments of Tesco and Marks and Spencer are oblivious to that. I then realised, perhaps the wider British population are oblivious to how their flags are perceived?

I associate those flags with racist, thuggy, British Empire types and I know most other Irish people do too. It's something that rings an alarm bell on your head when you see it. I equate it with trouble and danger.

By watching British tv shows I've come to realise it doesn't necessarily mean that in every context. I watch 'Escape to the Chateau' and see Dick and Angel have large union jacks in their hallway and one of their suites. I think it's there in that case as a sort of vintage accessory but I'd still never stay in that suite, no more that I would in a suite with a swastika or confederate flag.

I've also seen interiors shows where people would have union jack cushions and I'd internally wince. As well as the association when the far right and war it's very aggressively graphic, on your face, can't miss it.

So I suppose it's in the eye of the beholder, but it'll always be a scary symbol to me.

I bought British asparagus last week. And strawberries!!

Completely agree with everything you've said @AfterSchoolWorry. If i was on holidays and saw someone wearing a Union Jack T-shirt, for example, I'd stay away from them. I can't say the same for any other flag. I associate it with football hooliganism and trouble and aggression. So even if it's innocently on a block of cheese in the supermarket - i wouldn't buy it because of my gut reaction to the flag.

www.scotchkitchen.com/#:~:text=Scotch%20Lamb%20Scotch%20Lamb%20takes%20its%20quality%20and,resulting%20in%20the%20tastiest%20lamb%20in%20the%20world.
Buy Scotch Lamb

Given how many flags you see round and about these days, and on how many products, I imagine that the majority mumsnet view is probably the minority view in the country as a whole.

@LowlandLucky

Why am i angry ? I am angry that people living in this country are intimidated by our flag, i am saddened that British people have no respect for their own country.

I don't feel offended by the union Jack and don't mind buying products with the unio jack on them, however i am not British. I live In Northern Ireland and I am Irish. I feel the leave comment is not very helpful at all for any resident here...

@mustlovegin

What about the people whose country you invaded and they have no choice but to look at that flag? To them it is a reminder of oppression

Who is the 'you' and 'them' and 'that' flag? Who are these people who have 'no choice' and where are they? Hard to understand this post

What is hard to understand ? Britain invaded Ireland as an example...

@pedalbin

Completely agree with everything you've said *@AfterSchoolWorry*. If i was on holidays and saw someone wearing a Union Jack T-shirt, for example, I'd stay away from them. I can't say the same for any other flag. I associate it with football hooliganism and trouble and aggression. So even if it's innocently on a block of cheese in the supermarket - i wouldn't buy it because of my gut reaction to the flag.

You wouldn't buy some cheese if it had a flag of origin on it? That's just weird.

@pedalbin

Completely agree with everything you've said *@AfterSchoolWorry*. If i was on holidays and saw someone wearing a Union Jack T-shirt, for example, I'd stay away from them. I can't say the same for any other flag. I associate it with football hooliganism and trouble and aggression. So even if it's innocently on a block of cheese in the supermarket - i wouldn't buy it because of my gut reaction to the flag.

Agree Pedalbin. I particularly avoid people or places showing the St Georges flag, but am beginning to associate the Union flag with a similar cohort, sadly. That isn't because I don't love our beautiful land or dislike local produce. It's because of the increasing link to far right and the Tory government. We do have a Union flag flying at half mast at the moment on the village staff, but I accept that is about our older folk showing compassion for the Queen and marking the death of someone they have grown old with.

If i was on holidays and saw someone wearing a Union Jack T-shirt, for example, I'd stay away from them

And that's fine, you can stay away if you wish. They are within their rights to wear that T-shirt, though

Unfortunately the British flag (union jack) and the English one (st George's cross) are viewed as frightening in many places outside England

Correct. These flags long since hijacked by the EDL, BNP, Sectarian groups and now the Tory Government. Never a surprise to see a thug doing the Nazi salute draped in these flags. Shameful.
No idea how to recover the flags - maybe design another one? Maybe outlaw it being flown by certain groups or permitting it to be altered by inserting other emblems or associations.
It's as toxic as the Confederate Flag. (In fact right wing gangs often fly both together).
Thank goodness I don't claim either flag as 'mine'.

@StoneofDestiny

Unfortunately the British flag (union jack) and the English one (st George's cross) are viewed as frightening in many places outside England

Correct. These flags long since hijacked by the EDL, BNP, Sectarian groups and now the Tory Government. Never a surprise to see a thug doing the Nazi salute draped in these flags. Shameful.
No idea how to recover the flags - maybe design another one? Maybe outlaw it being flown by certain groups or permitting it to be altered by inserting other emblems or associations.
It's as toxic as the Confederate Flag. (In fact right wing gangs often fly both together).
Thank goodness I don't claim either flag as 'mine'.

Meanwhile Nicola's thugs have purloined the Saltire.

I really don't care about food packaging as it just goes straight in the recycling but I did buy a packet of Morrison's Union Jack emblazoned custard donuts last week and not one of them had any custard in them.......make of that what you will🤔

Amortentia I was born and live in the central belt. In the 1980's i attended a Protestant school, I was one of only 2 Roman Catholics in the school. There was no sectarianism, no being made to feel different. Myself and the other Catholic attended Assembly ever day, we attended church with the rest of the school, we didn't have too but we saw no reason not to. Sectarianism is fueled by football in Scotland, those making the most noise never step inside a church or Chapel, ask those that rant and rave the loudest what separate's their "religion" form the other one and they won't have a clue, they would probably tell you the main difference is the other "religion" wears a different colour. As i sit here on the S.W coast now in the far distance my neighbour as usual has a Union flag flying on the flag pole in her garden, sadly it is flying at half mast today. She has never had any abuse and the flag has been flying for decades.

afterschoolworry Of course nobody would ever connect your flag with the I.R.A and murder

@LowlandLucky

If you are angry at seeing a flag associated with murder, maybe direct your rage at some of the activities of the British Army?

Meanwhile Nicola's thugs have purloined the Saltire

The Saltire is flown across Scotland by people of many persuasions. Not sure which 'thugs' you have in mind exactly. It's certainly not flown in neighbourhoods to inspire fear and to hallmark it as 'whites only'.
Sadly the same cannot be said about the Union Flag or St George's Flag. There are enough articles of concern about it in the broadsheets.

It's certainly not flown in neighbourhoods to inspire fear and to hallmark it as 'whites only'

Why so much prejudice?

@StoneofDestiny

Meanwhile Nicola's thugs have purloined the Saltire

The Saltire is flown across Scotland by people of many persuasions. Not sure which 'thugs' you have in mind exactly. It's certainly not flown in neighbourhoods to inspire fear and to hallmark it as 'whites only'.
Sadly the same cannot be said about the Union Flag or St George's Flag. There are enough articles of concern about it in the broadsheets.

So according to you, just because some people have misappropriated the Union Flag or St George's Cross for their own extremist beliefs, no one else should fly it, lest they be associated with extremists.

Yet you also believe that it's completely fine to fly the Saltire, even though some of those who fly it include the likes of Adam Busby.

What a contradictory world some people inhabit.

So according to you, just because some people have misappropriated the Union Flag or St George's Cross for their own extremist beliefs, no one else should fly it, lest they be associated with extremists

I did not say people shouldn't fly it. That's up to them. I did suggest it has such connotations in several parts of the UK that it is very far from seen as a 'neutral' flag - waved about as it is by National Front, BNP, EDL and the Orange Order.

I'm fully aware there are people flying these flags from their poles in villages across England particularly, with no other intention than to show they are proud Brits, but in certain towns across the UK the intent in quite different.