Would you fly the union jack?

[cloudtree]

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!

I would find it offensive, as a European living here, in the wake of Brexit.

Also, fyi: nationalism/patriotism is inherently racist.

@gryffen as an aside, whenever I hear “The Sash” and it goes “oh my father was an Orangeman” in my head the next line is “and my mother was a funny colour too”.

I’ve no idea what the real words are, I’d rather not have poison dripped in my ears.

Opt for the Welsh or Scottish flags. Both those countries seem to be able to celebrate their national identity without offending anyone else.

Probably because the Welsh and Scottish flags haven’t been taken over by the far right/EDL/BNP types.

I see flags flown from all sorts of building in continental Europe and don't find them racist or unwelcoming. I disagree that patriotism is inherently racist.

Sad times when flying your national flag is seen as racist.
What a fucked up country we’ve created.

Thankfully my area hasn’t succumbed to this left wing bollocks. Plenty of flag flyers around my way and it’s middleclass suburbia.

I would assume you lacked taste and education. But I wouldn't assume t had you were racists.

I wouldn't fly the Union Jack or the St George's - but I'd fly the flag of my county though

@Ricebaby

I would find it offensive, as a European living here, in the wake of Brexit.

Well that’s firmly your problem and no one else’s. There’s nothing racist about the national flag.

Of course there is nothing inherently racist about the Union Flag. I'd still wager that the majority of the people who want to go as far as flying one on a flagpole outside their non-castle home are, if not actually racist, then certainly hold views I might be a bit uncomfortable with.

Well that’s firmly your problem and no one else’s. There’s nothing racist about the national flag

Careful, there’s a definite shade of “well if you don’t like it....” in that comment. Which is entirely the bloody problem in this shitshow of a country.

It gladdens my heart to see a union jack flying. I live in Scotland, and the SNP have practically eradicated them, and tried to take over the saltire as a party emblem too. They were so damn rude, they wouldn't even fly a union jack for Theresa May's visit - yet they do fly the flag of all other visiting heads of state.
I see it as a symbol of British unity, against the separatists who want to break up our country. Go ahead and fly yours with pride, OP!

Does it gladden your heart when it’s on a Lodge? With the red hand of Ulster and an Orangeman’s flag? Or just when it’s sticking two fingers up to the SNP?

I’d assume Ukiper and if I’m honest probably Britain First types living there.

^This

I wouldn’t necessarily think UKIP, but it is slightly naff. Sorry!

And ironically, I find your comments quite divisive Babdoc

American fly theirs everywhere, fly it with pride

There is definitely a shade of ‘if you don’t like it’ in my comment. It’s entirely justified in this case.

It’s never justified. Someone who lives here from another country explained why in the current climate the union flag makes her feel unwelcome and you might as well have said “well if you don’t like it why don’t you go back to your own country then?”

I think an immigrant, given the current state of affairs, has every right to explain that they’re feeling unwelcome or unwanted. I wish more were heard, maybe then people would stop being so ludicrously xenophobic and instead welcome different nationalities/cultures in our society!

Actually, I think its very unbritish to fly a flag outside a house.

And yes, most people who do are probably bigots, racists, skinheads or if not prejudiced in any way, simply weirdos.

As for those who can't see why a St Georges flag or union jack may be perceived as that...

But there is nothing intrinsically offensive about the Union Jack, it’s the motivations of the person flying it which should offend you. To see a flag and be offended is illogical.

I would have thought it acceptable to fly the national flag on St George's day (this Monday).
It's a shame that the flag is now seen as a political statement rather than simply patriotic, but I agree those are the connotations of having it up permanently.

I actually think any flag will look crap after a few months; it'll be filthy dirty, wet and tangled round the pole.

But there is nothing intrinsically offensive about the Union Jack

In YOUR opinion.