Why are we embarrassed to fly the English flag?

[Dannyandsandy]

Just that really. I’m English but grew up in Ireland and everyone Irish is delighted to fly their flag with pride. I’ve travelled extensively around the world and have seen the same in other countries. To do so in England? Well you’re utter scum. Why?

@blameitonthecaffeine

It's a pretty unique Americanism, the sheer amount of flags everywhere. And the pledging allegiance and what have you in schools and that. Off the top of my head (and I'm happy to be corrected) I can't think of any other country where you see so many flags in so many places all year round

Brazil. To a much greater extent that America in my experience. Flags, and Brazil colours and Brazil pride are everywhere. Even at just normal times of the year with nothing happening. I did some work at a shelter for street children in Brazil many years ago. Got paper and colouring things out and they all grabbed for the green, yellow and blue pens and started drawing flags and Brazil football shirts and patterns in Brazil colours.
It would have been sweet except there was something chilling about children showing such love for a country where (at the time) if a rich person paid a corrupt policeman enough the policeman would shoot a street child to clear the streets for them.

I do feel a certain amount of pride and loyalty to the UK. Not so much nationalism, I don't think but I am competitive. So when international sport is happening, I very much want the UK to win. And I will support the UK with flags etc. I feel like being British is a part of my identity and I wouldn't want to be from anywhere else.

Hmm. Not my experience at all. And I've lived here for 14 years. Outside of football tournaments, flags aren't particularly common. Driving around I rarely see flags on cars or outside houses/in windows/anything like that really.

Maybe the kids drew flags because of the presence of a foreigner?

@IdblowJonSnow

I find it very cringe if I'm honest. Makes me think of over the top football fans and idiots in general. And if I was abroad I'd never flaunt the fact that I'm british/from England. Who wants the association with Brexit/Boris etc?

It’s your country of origin ffs.

What have you done that’s adding to society?

What country?

Flag waving by any former Imperialist power makes me wince tbh, once a symbol has been that misused, it is hard to reuse it in a positive way, without all that baggage. For example, I saw a hippy dude at the weekend with a whopping big swastika tattoo on his chest. Now, objectively, I know they sign has all sorts of positive (Hindu) connotations. But really, who would choose to use that sign now, knowing how badly it was misused? I think symbols can just get too tainted.

I'd be happy to fly the English flag at sports events. I really hope we can beat the Scottish team tomorrow, we have so many good players but need a bit of luck to win the competition.

I can understand why anthems/flags could be problematic for the many countries we've invaded/ruled through history. Our famous Edward I was "the hammer of the scots", the words to (one version of) our anthem mentioned them too. OF course the Scots can sign whatever they want too!