To ask those who are not white brittish how they feel about the flags?

[PicaK]

Birmingham and Tower Hamlets are having St George England flags put up by privately funded groups.
I'm horrified by the implicit racism. I've seen a lot of white people applauding this and "time we took back the country" comments.
I haven't seen many non white people commenting. My feel is that they are too intimidated to do so. Am I right? Or is it indifference or is it that you're dealing with racism on a daily level and this is just one more thing.
Please don't post if you're white.whatever you feel about the flags. I want to hear on white viewd

When I lived in the UK I did find it to be quite a racist country.

I left in 2004.

So you haven’t been racially abused by people who proudly fly the flag

well that’s good for you but many people have hence why there is this very strong association between the two and people should be able to discuss this openly

the problem is the racists they have created this association no one else

Why, because I refuse to slag off my own country's flag? I leave that to weak people.

I don't recall anybody saying that people shouldn't fly flags at any of the events that you mentioned?

Weak people? Resorting to insults now? Lol

As I've said, throughout the thread, racists are in every country. I don't see those countries attracting the same level of criticism. Funny that. Their flags represent their people.

Appeasers and apologists are weak. What's that about trying to shut down conversation?

I don't see those countries attracting the same level of criticism

How do you know this? Have you visited every country?

It's quite clear the object of this thread.

@Dangermoo do you understand how the Confederate flag is problematic in the US?

Are you saying there are numerous MN threads about other countries flags?

No all other countries ignore racists only in England do we criticise them and their use of flags they choose to fly 🙄

Why would people post about issues of flag flying in Serbia?

I am quite sure , outside of England, there are very few Belgians or Vietnamese discussing our feelings about our flags.

What I am saying is that we are not the only country in the world that debates the ambiguity of and ambivalence towards national symbolism and its usage by groups.

The flag of St George is the official flag of England. Whether it's been 'hijacked' is neither here nor there. It will be housed over royal and parliamentary buildings. Interesting how many tourists come to see those buildings - I guess a piece of cloth is insignificant, compared to England's tourist attractions.

I think you should read the original post again. Where i live in Birmingham, an unauthorised group has attached St George flags and Union Jacks to every lamppost across several districts. They have also reported to painting the St George cross on roundabouts. That is the issue that she was talking about, not flying the flag on special occasions, in official locations, or even on private properties

The object of this thread was actually to discuss the requistioning of public lampposts by certain groups to display St George's flags (and Union Flags as it goes) , not the flying of the flag at events, on church rooftops , at town halls, even in people's gardens (I've just seen one).

But you know that.

Like minds , shoreham!

I'm from Birmingham - I know exactly what goes on. Glad to see you acknowledged that unauthorised use of Palestinian flags is also occurring.

Resorting to insults is shutting down conversation.

It really grinds my gears (pun intended) that hard up councils now need to send workers to repaint mini roundabouts. I mean , that's not even a flag. Every time they see something white, are they going to daub a red cross on it? White dogs better watch out.

You mean like gammon and white supremists. I don't recall you saying anything on those posts.

Are you saying white supremacists don't exist?

I've not seen the post using this term but if it was in reference to the co opting of the flag by white supremacists that has definitely happened. They're quite open about this and bang on about the Crusades when they have a moment.

I have put up the St George flag during football tournaments myself, and the Union Jack during the Olympics. I do not want these flags attached to a lamppost outside my home on a permanent basis, particularly not in the name of 'getting our country back' I don't think I'm being unreasonable

@Dangermoo since you're avoiding my question about the Confederate flag I'll explain it to you. The Confederate flag is problematic in the US since it was the flag of the Confederate states who seceded in the 1860s in order to preserve slavery. It was appropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and used to show opposition to the Civil Rights movement and integration. It is linked to racism, hate, and extremist ideology. It's regarded as threatening and racist by African Americans (and anyone else who despises those negative sentiments).

Now, do you understand that slavery is bad? Racism and incitement to violence are bad? That something that symbolises these sentiments ie a flag - can then represent these things?

If you can understand this explanation maybe you can understand that the St Georges cross is not an innocent patriotic symbol to many, both in the UK and those who have witnessed the violence caused by so-called English patriots.