I took down some flags and DH wasn’t happy

[LittleChopper]

On my commute today, I noticed someone had hung three large St George flags on a bridge coming out of our village. They have been popping up everywhere but this particular instance I thought “I’m not having that”. On the way home I pulled over and took them down.

when I got home and DH asked why I was binning three large flags I told him and he.. had some interesting opinions. He told me I shouldn’t be pissing off people in the village, that they have every right to hang an England flag in England, and that I’m being too political.

For a start, I would argue that I’ve always been quite strongly opinionated so he shouldn’t be surprised I did it.

Just as others have the right to their opinion I have mine. We have people in the village who are migrants… why should they have to look at that. It’s clear why they were hanging there given what’s going on at the moment and I’ve never see a flag hanging in the village in the decade we’ve been here so why else would they be there now.

I’m just so disappointed with it all. With the UK, with DH.

Next time maybe I’ll add to the collection instead. 🇬🇷🇮🇪🇮🇳🇦🇫🇧🇸🇵🇰🇪🇸🇸🇩🇿🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Trying to delete as posted twice

Why should migrants have to look at 'that' - 'that' being the flag of the country they currently live in? Would you go to Spain or Greece or anywhere else and complain about having to look at their flag?

I love seeing the flags. If people don't like them they can move elsewhere. But try asking them how they feel about it, you may be surprised at their answers. It seems to me most people who object are middle class virtue signallers.

Well done.

You were absolutely correct to take them down as they were put up in a. public place without proper authorisation and could present a safety hazard. YABU to bin them, though - you're supposed to either burn them or cut them into little pieces so that they are unrecognizable AS a flag.

I love seeing the flags. If people don't like them they can move elsewhere.

Like Scotland? That seems a little drastic.

Are you happy for people to fly the nation flag in your homeland?

National flag I mean.

Why is it so hard for people to understand. The flag isn't offensive on its own, it is the motive behind the sudden increase in flags.

It’s like a child giving you the finger and saying “but it’s just my finger” 🤣

I love the idea of adding other flags!!

Good for you, OP. I have nothing (apart from an aesthetic objection) about people erecting shiny new flagpoles on their own property and flying whatever flags they choose up there. It's a world away from buying some cheap flags off eBay and slinging them over bridges and from streetlamp with crappy cable ties (and who is going to take them down again?and when?). Street furniture is public property. Nobody gets to claim it to make a point (ok, lots of people do attach small posters to lampposts, telegraph poles etc for school fetes, exhibitions, local talks etc!). The street lamps 'belong' to everyone, they're not for being hijacked like this. National and county flags should only be flown privately, and from municipal buildings like town halls according to agreed policy. What's happening at the moment is just vigilantism.

Our lovely local market town, which always felt fairly progressive and harmonious, now has lines of flags marching away from the crossroads. I honestly didn't think it would happen here, but that's obviously my arrogance and complacency. There's been two weeks of utterly toxic shite on the local FB groups about the flags - lots of bickering between the flag-lickers and the people who say they'll take them down again. I'm utterly fed up with it all. It feels like our town has been torn apart. There was a meeting the other day to try and get people to talk, rather than shout, but I don't think many people came.

As far as I'm concerned, OP, removing illegally stuck up flags and disposing of them is the same as getting a litter-collecting grabber and clearing the verges for an hour or two - public-spirited and clearing up litter.

What a shame you don’t like the flag of the county you chose to come and live in.

What gives you that right? Would you go to any other country and see fit to dictate how or where their flags are flown? As an immigrant I would have thought it the height of rudeness and ingratitude to think like you do.

This sounds like a post designed simply to have everyone tell you 'well done, aren't you daring for tearing down the nasty flags'... cringe

Billy Bragg has designed some stickers using the English flag that say "no to hate, it's our flag too" on it. I would be keen to buy some flags with "Fuck Reform" written across it.
Still blows my mind that people are going to vote for the company set up by the man who caused Brexit, which resulted in the boats starting to come here (for those not in the know, migrants didn't bother trying to come here so much pre Brexit as we had deals that would return them). Also wants to dismantle and privatise the NHS but all little Englanders care about is the migrants.

I’m a migrant myself but my partner and my children are English and I always tell them they have to Love their country be proud of their from and wave their English flags high it’s very important.
Patriotism is not racism!

That’s exactly what I’m saying. Instead of fact driven calm and reasoned debate everyone is busy shouting at each other online. sorry if it wasn’t clear I am a bit tired.

I suspect he doesn’t want to run the risk of you being seen and followed home by someone that’s taken issue with you (either solo, or with a gang of similarly minded mates).

They do understand. They're just pretending to play dumb.

I think just adding more is a great idea . . .

Lots of flags in Wales , ones by me are on the road that Geraint Thomas took in the tour of Britain.
I love to see our flag and would hate for it to become divisive.

Yes OP! 👏👏👏👏

Well done op, we won’t let the racist cunts win. Nor the faux ‘but why would they not want to gaze upon our flag having worked hard to get here?’ people on this thread. Be clear with your views if you stand behind them.

@SlieveMiskish I assume they’re half mast because the people putting them up can’t reach any higher. These flags aren’t on proper pulleys, they’re just held up with plastic straps as far as I can see. I assume put in place using ladders.

Good for you. We all know the undertones of hanging the flags in the current environment.

Driving round several towns in the New Forest this week and high street shop and cafe fronts are festooned with Union jacks.

Good for you, I took some down last week but DH won’t let me take the ladders out to get the ones on the lamposts 😂