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?

Someone in my small town has literally covered the place in England flags. Roundabouts/bridges etc they are absolutely everywhere. I think it's great-the football is on.
The local FB pages are all fully supportive, I think it was a nice thing to do but I am waiting for someone to say the need to come down, or take them down themselves.

@Cazzamoomoo

Because it has become associated with football hooligans and various far right groups.

And politicians

"If I were non-white I'd give these people a very wide berth."

I am white and I'd give these people a very wide berth. I'm not interested in associating with EDL types just because I'm white.
People who fly the England flag epitomise little Ingerland mentality, narrow-mindedness, racism, Brexit, thuggery.
They're the ones complaining about political correctness gone mad because it puts paid to some of their racist language.

So knowing that even if you wanted to fly it for a different reason you might think again as you wouldn't want to be associated with the widely-accepted stereotype.

People who fly the England flag epitomise little Ingerland mentality, narrow-mindedness, racism, Brexit, thuggery

That's such absolute bullshit.

@Crankley

I'm not, I'm proud of my country and anyone who doesn't like it can fuck right off.

And there we have it really

People who fly the England flag epitomise little Ingerland mentality, narrow-mindedness, racism, Brexit, thuggery.

Confirmed by Crankley:

I'm not, I'm proud of my country and anyone who doesn't like it can fuck right off.

Oh no it's like Emily whatsername from the labour party again.

I’m not in the slightest bit embarrassed to fly the English flag. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m very patriotic and proud of my country.

It’s also great to know that flying the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 annoys the hell out of pathetic self-loathing guilt-ridden snowflakes.

Ironic really, the England flag - the symbol of an early Greek saint, whose day is celebrated in a number of countries in Europe and further afield; and is (in some texts) a Muslim prophet.

Makes me wonder why some people are so offended when they see it.

@Crankley

I'm not, I'm proud of my country and anyone who doesn't like it can fuck right off.

Yawn.

Mines out and I went to the shops wearing my England shirt today.
Obviously I’m trashy and racist.

Because of people like Emily fucking Thornberry.

Yes it's very much a symbol drawn from a common continental culture. 🤷

It's all a bit nationalistic celebrating the country where you ended up being born, I like England but it's just a big rock essentially

Thornberry! Thankyou!

It's about supporting a football team this week.
Maybe they could allocate random players to teams which coyld them be known by a colour of the rainbow. We could all pick a colour to wave!

I'm half British and much more patriotic about being British than any of my full English family and friends. They can't see the good stuff!

@Justjoinedforthis

I think patriotism ‘works’ better in countries that have a history of being oppressed, or have had a revolution - for example Ireland, France. America (regardless of what the reality is now) was founded on a written set of principles that are supposedly represented by their flag. England/UK I feel doesn’t quite have the same impact. Also as the previous poster said, to a lot of us sadly the England flag is connected to the national front. I am not at all saying that anyone who flies one is right wing, but there is that connection for lots of people, rightly or wrongly.

Didn’t the Romans and the Vikings have a go at the UK? And the Normans.

Flown for the football, fine. But any other time and it pretty much signifies the far right and racism.
It's a shame, but that's the reality.

Because it is tied up with connotations of racism due to parties like the English Defence League etc., who use it as their emblem.

This basically. I also associate England football fans with general thuggery as much of the world does. I think they’re an embarrassment in all honesty. My DH is watching the game and they boo every time the opposition has the ball. No wonder a lot of the world thinks we’re idiots.

@LucilleTheVampireBat

Loads of England flags on our street today and it looks great. Ours is going out shortly.

No accounting for taste. shudder

All teams boo when the opposition has the ball. It's at Wembley, full of England fans and pretty much devoid of Croatian.

It's not as predominant in other sports - you get the Union flag sometimes during Wimbledon for example as our players represent GB on the boards, not England/Scotland (Andy Murray might say he is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses!).

@Susie477

I’m not in the slightest bit embarrassed to fly the English flag. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m very patriotic and proud of my country.

It’s also great to know that flying the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 annoys the hell out of pathetic self-loathing guilt-ridden snowflakes.

Because I don’t want to be lumped in with people like this.

I don’t feel any sort of nationalism - do other English people? I don’t really feel any tie to England, there’s no cultural importance to me, I would be quite happy to move elsewhere but not possible due to complex circumstances. I don’t think there’s anything specific to being English that matters to me, and much of the stuff I am proud of (NHS, decent welfare system etc) has been gradually eroded anyway.

Maybe I’m weird but I can’t say anyone I know is particularly proud to be English, especially as those who are vocally proud tend to have very different views to me.