Is a St George cross an underlying sign of passive racism?

[ThatCyanJoker]

Walked past the house of a relatively new friend today and was surprised to see they’ve put up a huge flagpole, complete with St George cross flag flying high. I am generally patriotic , and put out the bunting for notable occasions without a second thought. I would probably be pleased had it been a Union Jack, but the St George has an undertone of racism to me, unless it’s flown for the football World Cup or something.
AIBU to reconsider friendship?

Even if they’re not racists (unlikely), the flag has become entrenched as racist symbol, so you’d have to be pretty dim to fly one outside your home.

Why is it racist? I'm Scottish and come the WC there will be Scottish flags everywhere here!

Hang on, if I put a St George flag up I’m automatically racist, but if I put up a St Andrew or St Patrick or a Union Jack flag I’m not, as that certainly appears what you are inferring.

FFS.

How do you know it wasn't for St. George's day? It was only last week.

Why?

Why should racists and Reform voters be allowed to appropriate the English flag? Take it back, decent English people. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Why don't you ask them why

People are allowed to put up flags and people are allowed to have an opinion on it.

It would be unreasonable to knock on the flag bearer’s door and give that opinion, but no one is doing that.

The flag is not racist in itself but it has been highjacked by racists.

Exactly! I dont get it. As I said I'm Scottish and the saltire will be everywhere soon I don't get why it's different for the England flag??

Where did i say she cant put her flag up?
Ive said its unfair that english people are unable to put their flag up without being called racist...

Eh? St George’s flag is everywhere during World Cup. No one has an issue with that.

The flag itself is not a racist symbol. It's about intent.

If it was an England football match, then fine. But if you have a flagpole and fly an England flag then what is your intention? Presumably to make some kind of point. Otherwise, why bother?

It was St George's day on the 23rd and England women are playing in the Six Nations - they gave us quite a drubbing on Saturday! Why does it automatically have to be a racist expression when there are plenty of reasons why English people might want to show their support of English culture and/or sport?

I say that as a Welsh person, who is allowed to fly either the dragon or the St David's flag any day of the week without anyone remotely insinuating either action is racist. I think it's very unfair on the English to be honest. Do you remember Emily Thornberry getting very much told off for insinuating the whole white van man/flag flying stereotype?

This .
We are just such a divided country now .

As European living in UK, I totally don’t understand why flying St George’s flag is considered racist. In my native country we proudly fly our national flag on many occasions and without occasion. There’s Ukrainian flag flying in the market square in the town I live it. So flying other country’s flag is fine, but flying your own flag is racist? Why??

No it isn’t! It can be, of course it can. But it is not a 100% thing. That’s a really silly and shortsighted thing to say.

I know of two people who fly a St George flag at their house. One is so left wing it’s ridiculous and she does it in response to flags going up on lamp posts. Reclaiming it. She sticks ‘it’s our flag too’ stickers all over the place. The other is just very patriotic. She treats everyone with respect and I’ve never heard her say anything that could even be considered as questionable, let alone racist. We’ve talked politics before and both would rather set fire to their ballot paper than vote reform.

Do you think the same when other countries fly their flags?

No. Next.

The point being that you feel patriotic about England? The exact same point that the Welsh make. I’ve never been to Scotland or Ireland, but you can’t go 100 yards in Wales without seeing a flag or image of a flag.

I dont associate it with racism at all. I do associate racists with racism though.

I certainly wouldnt rethink a friendship based on a flag, huge overreaction

You said ‘Bit unfair all english people cant be patriotic and fly their flag...’

Anyone can fly their flag.

This is very true and head to Pembrokeshire and you'll see the county flag there flying all over the place!

We're not so fond of the union flag however - mainly because we are not represented on it! But hey, we have plenty of other choices, so no big deal!

I'm currently having a little drink in the pub on my way home... I can see four flags from where I am sitting - including a massive one behind the bar and three in the street (Draig Goch - Red Dragon this is).

Oh you have misread the tone. Were on the same page. If i reword it as- its unfair to think english people cant put their own flag up but everyone else in the uk can.

We are the only country that people question why we fly our own flag! I flew one on St. George’s day, he is the patron saint of England don’t you know and St.Georges day is the same date every year - shame on those that haven’t a clue. And no, I’m not a reform voter but English and proud of it