What do you think of the flags?

[Latesummersunset]

Apologies if this has been done already.

I live in one of the areas where the flags were started. We couldn’t understand what they were for until it popped up in the news. Apparently the councils are going to be taking them down.

I don’t really have much of an opinion either way but my concern is that they’ll soon become tatty, fall down and leave a mess everywhere. But it seems lots of people are loving them. They do look quite cheery at the moment.

What do people think?

Yabu - they are a mess/racist/health and safety hazard

Yanbu - they are cheerful and patriotic. Keep them

No, it isn't really all that odd.

And many things are part of people's cultural identity without them knowing where it came from. That's probably more common worldwide than not.

Well that juvenile image, just about sums up why it's the left, who embarrasses themselves. I'm cringing for you.

You're raising a glass to Lucy Connolly, a convicted racist who pleaded guilty to incitement to violence. I'm cringing for you.

The poster who said they can't believe how the thread has voted. The next time you bang on about Reform, you might want to use those critical thinking skills lefties reckon they've got in abundance. What's evident, as usual, is the intolerance the left show for views that are in discord with their own. Who normally leads the pile ons? The piss taking and childish memes, really are a screen for the inability to engage, without personal attacks, when posts don't read how you expect them to. Biggest laugh is your end of the political spectrum has seen itself nicely planted on a terrorist list. Then in true intolerant form, the pushing for that to be overturned has ensued. I mean, if you're going to call the right, thick, have a good think about that one.

Cringe on. She's going to have the last laugh.

If you Google Combat 18 flag you will clearly see Nazi imagery on the St George cross and that's why some associate it with the extreme far right.
Apologies don't know how to upload pic.

What's with the bingo card full comment after I spoke about Tommy Robinson?
I'm not advocating a free for all to come to the UK undocumented etc but stoking up racism will filter down and people who were born here or legit immigrants will bear the brunt of it.

I think although the English flag is a great one and we should view it with pride you should really look into the motivations of those that are starting mass flag display a and their locations. In a diverse city like Birmingham we have flags displayed in mainly white suburbs but not in areas with high proportions of BAME residents or immigrants. Unfortunately I can see why some would see the flag displays as a way to inflame tensions within a city. The flags act as a way of contrasting areas showing where residents aren't willing to display them.

That was me. I'm not a leftie. I'm a non white person with non white children who feels threatened.

I'm sorry that you're experiencing that must be a worry having children.
I'm white and don't like the language and Rhetoric being bandied about and not all of it but some of it definitely crosses a line.
The Division's being created is so disappointing to witness.

The problem is that it’s the racist types who are desperate to fly the flags. The MN regular ones and the ones in real life. I wish we could claim the flag back and it be a symbol of national pride. But many of us don’t like the racist connotations. I do like the union flag though, I think it’s a nice looking one and I wish we could have pride in it again.

Currently touring the US and Canada. There are national flags everywhere. I also found some beautiful apartment blocks being built for armed forces veterans to live in. There is a lot of national pride,in Canada especially as a big Fuck You to Trump over his comments about Canada.

Perhaps it is time for a new flag? St George flag is very plain. Can we have one with biscuits on?

The England flag, Palestinian flag, pride flag, Ukrainian flag and EU flag all appear quite a lot in London depending on the particular cause being promoted.

I think it is fine for the Union Jack to be flown on state buildings and flags from other countries to be flown for official events but otherwise government and local authorities should not use public money to fund the flying of flags or painting of flags on roads. Once you allow one, you can’t really object to others and then they get themselves into a right hypocritical mess.

I couldn’t care less what flags individuals fly on their own property or carry on a march.

Sorry you feel threatened; you have a legitimate concern. Many others do not. I'm not going to say anymore on your situation, because I'm not in your shoes. I'm talking about people who actually keep the divide going.

In the BAME areas, you will find the Palestinian flags - many of them. This is one of the reasons St George will appear, elsewhere. I hope the council are going to get their elf n safety clipboards out in Bordesley Green, as well as the 'mainly white' suburbs.

I’m fed up of it.

These people dont actually care about their communities. They won’t be out at the weekend working with local initiatives to litter pick, or to make things look better. They just do shit like this for attention.

I am sick to the back teeth of ALL flags.
Pride, palestine, england, america whatever.
Apart from the olympics they are pointless.
Too much tribalism.

100%

I always find it a bit of a worry when people get excited about a flag, from any angle. The intent behind the flag is important. For pride in your country is ok, but not to intimidate people.

Historically, if I ever saw a house covered in England flags, my mind would instantly think that a big racist probably lives there. That's my own prejudice though, because I might not know for a fact that they're racist.

But there are so so many like me, in fact most of my friends. My Dad is English and my brother-in-law. That's all. Will that be enough for my kids (who are all born in this country)? What about me? I wasn't born here, my parents were living abroad when I was born. Saying I have 'a legitimate concern' makes me more scared. My husband (an immigrant in 1990 so not born here either) pays 40% tax on a good income. My kids just excelled in their GCSEs and I hope they will be contributing a lot to this country in the future - but not if they're not welcome because of their skin colour.

I acknowledge the very many problems in this country and the very real concerns people have, but they have been going on for years under the Conservatives (because they are real issues in employment and economy, which are not easy to solve) - but all of a sudden it is easy to blame 'Lefties' or 'immigrants'. I don't think Lefties or immigrants caused those problems or stirred it up in the last year or so. I also haven't heard any real ways of solving the real deep issues so I'm currently politically homeless.

Everyone I’ve ever known who flew a flag on their property was a nut job.
A couple a few streets away flew a Trump campaign flag. In NW England. What the hell was that about?!

Not really surprising in a constituency with a conservative MP.

Acknowledging you have a legitimate concern is a respectful thing. If I had ignored it, that would have been wrong and pointed out to me by other posters. I know how this forum operates. There's a circular problem with the flags, which is representative of something bigger. If rules and laws were applied consistently, it would lead to more social cohesion. I disagree with you on lefties not causing problems. There are many, who have a saviour complex and all they end up doing is making the divide greater. Then there comes the fight back and so on. If it's true that Birmingham City Council employees are needing police protection to remove Palestinian flags, I see that as very much a legitimate concern.

Time for a fresh bingo card.

Why? Absolutely true. They also had an “hilarious” sign by the front door saying “Treapassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again”. If that doesn’t declare nut jobs, what does?