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Original poster

Would you fly the union jack?

152 replies

cloudtree · 19/04/2018 07:48

So after almost a decade of living in our house and wondering what on earth the large concrete post with two manacle type things hanging from it is for, we've realised it's not to hold down a dragon but to hold a flag pole.

DH is now toying with the idea of putting up a union jack. He is really keen and says it makes him think of village greens, the military, sporting events and sunshine. The problem is that I'm worried that the union jack has been appropriated by the far right. Perhaps not to the same extent as the George's cross, but I am worried it now has negative connotations (unless its a Royal wedding week).

House is not in a normal location in that we're rural and the house and a flag would not be able to be seen from the roadside, but neighbours and visitors to the house would see it. The house is big with large grounds. For context, there are a couple of big houses in the nearest village that frequently have the union jack flying.

Would you assume someone was probably racist (or a UKIP supporter - or both!) if they had a union jack flying? I'm concerned, DH says that if the union jack has been appropriated by the far right then its about time we re-appropriated it!

OP posts:
spacestranger · 19/04/2018 08:19

What about your county flag?

Quite a few round here fly the a Worcestershire or Herefordshire one.

Brokenbiscuit · 19/04/2018 08:21

No, I wouldn't. Sorry.

Theworldisfullofgs · 19/04/2018 08:22

Nope. The union Jack has been appropriated. It's a shame and we should find a way to reclaim it but that's much more difficult than it sounds.

Original poster
cloudtree · 19/04/2018 08:24

Just checked out the flag for our county and for various reasons it would be quite appropriate.

I shall suggest that if he really must then we should have a few different interchangeable flags. I think he'll like that idea (although just checked out the price of flags Shock!)

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/04/2018 08:25

Where my dad lives, people fly all sorts of flags: cute, festive, national, state, local, teddy bear, patriotic, foreign. They are all positive messages folk enjoy sharing, not exclusive. I don't assume anything bad from a Union Jack flyer.

A great big VOTE UKIP banner -- that tells me something.

reddressblueshoes · 19/04/2018 08:27

Honestly, I think only in America is it 'normal' to fly a flag like that- in that many people of all backgrounds and political persuasions would do it, and nobody would think anything of it. in Ireland, unless there's recently been a football match I would assume republican/SF supporter (depending a bit on part of the country) in England I felt actually nervous places where a George's cross was flown and certainly made assumptions about a Union Jack- basically, Union Jack velvet couch/cushions= a bit naff, Union Jack flag= a bit UKIP. Particularly at the moment, I might think it was an assumption about Brexit.

Again, at certain times of the year- say, the olympics- I don't think it applies the same way.

But I don't know why people think it's sad- I've never felt British patriotism was about flags and symbols the way it is in the US. Most people don't seem to feel the need for it, which is why unfortunately people notice when those who do tend to share certain characteristics.

Branleuse · 19/04/2018 08:28

id assume you were probably a biffer or a kipper

VickieCherry · 19/04/2018 08:29

Absolutely bloody not. I'm not in the slightest bit patriotic and find all flag-flying/waving bizarre. We have a couple of Union Jack flyers around here and they both had huge Vote Leave posters during the referendum, so there's that too.

ScreenQueen · 19/04/2018 08:31

Unfortunately appropriated as a ukip label of far right, racism etc these days. And that really upsets me as i love uk and the union jack, but there we are. Horrible Sad

Original poster
cloudtree · 19/04/2018 08:32

What if we are chippers though bran Grin hopes that Oxford reading tree pun doesn't have some weird modern meaning that I don't know about

OP posts:
phoenix1973 · 19/04/2018 08:33

It's disgusting that people think racist to fly the flag of the country you live in.

TheRattleBag · 19/04/2018 08:37

My dad has a flagpole in the garden and absolutely loves it.

He has a collection of flags for various national days, and takes delight in changing them regularly.

They're not that expensive either:

www.nwflags.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=884_434

It has the union flag on for quite a bit of the time, but also our county flag. And occasionally a "Happy Birthday" or other party flag Grin

MrsJayy · 19/04/2018 08:38

I would get going with the family flag and you can pretend you are lord and lady ofthe manor Grin

Strugglingtodomybest · 19/04/2018 08:40

I'd fly the St Piran flag if any, definitely not the St George. I might fly the Union Jack during the Olympics etc but would be worried about looking like a Ukipper or brexiteer.

Original poster
cloudtree · 19/04/2018 08:42

I can see DH amassing a collection.. Would at least make birthday and christmas presents easy

OP posts:
Ginger1982 · 19/04/2018 08:43

I'd think it was a bit weird though other countries seem to do it with no problems, like America (unless it's the confederate flag!)

Lettherebelight · 19/04/2018 08:44

Pre-Brexit I would have thought kind of retro funny. Now unfortunately I'd think kippers trying to send a message to the awful foreigners (us). A house near us has a range and I quite like walking past wondering what has triggered the change.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 19/04/2018 08:45

Would you assume someone was probably racist (or a UKIP supporter - or both!) if they had a union jack flying?

Yes.

Corneliusmurphy · 19/04/2018 08:45

Neighbours opposite have a flag pole and they regularly fly St. George's Cross, help for heroes flag and a couple of others and she does vote ukip as she had the posters up (although so did next door to annoy the Tory councillor opposite - he actually votes labour - such japes)

Another flag pole near us has a variety, custom made with pics of their dogs on, xmas flag, rememberance day flag, Middlesex county flag (though we're in Surrey) all sorts. Thinking about it there's a few flags round here when did it become a 'thing'?

MillStone · 19/04/2018 08:49

Big Brexity person contained within.

supercalifragilisticexpiali · 19/04/2018 08:49

Personally I wouldn’t have a flagpole (naff) but DH would! I love the idea of different flags. Make your own! Put the mumsnet logo on your quarter!

tortelliniforever · 19/04/2018 08:50

My aunt used to fly the Danish flag which I liked. I probably wouldn't fly any flag now - although we did fly our local football team's flag when they were promoted!You could always fly the Union flag and the EU flag just to confuse things!

TERFragetteCity · 19/04/2018 08:50

There is a dickhead in our road who has a flagpole in his tiny garden. Also when he got an allotment he put a flag up. Both union jacks. He flies it half mast when someone 'significant' dies. He changes it for other flags for 'significant' days. He is ex military.

Everyone and I mean everyone, even people not from the village, calls him the dickhead with the flagpole.

Knobber.

Ifailed · 19/04/2018 08:51

There's only one reason for flying a flag up a tall pole - so it can be seen by passers-by, it's not some sort of garden decoration.

So the question becomes, what message do you want to send to passers-by?

CuntPuffin · 19/04/2018 08:53

Where we lived before (large multinational community) a lot of people had flags outside their house to show their home country. It was lovely.

My father has a flagpole. He is a Kipper and flies a Kipper flag. I don't visit as I don't want my kids to be exposed to his racist, bigoted views.

There is nothing wrong with flying national flags. But, I would agree with those who say to mix it up, to remove any risk of it being perceived as a political statement. Maybe get an EU flag and fly it at the same time as the Union flag (or at half mast Sad)