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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:
SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 19/04/2018 18:51

Bold fail above Blush

KT63 · 19/04/2018 18:52

@AsAProfessionalFekko I do love a “rampant lion” as my bairns call it Grin

My granny knickers are probably flag sized (not really)

AsAProfessionalFekko · 19/04/2018 18:54

I thought it was 'rampant' for years!

KT63 · 19/04/2018 18:55

Grin there’s a very very funny football song about our wee rampant lion. I can’t find it on YouTube any more but it gave me a chuckle a few years ago Grin

dotdotdotmustdash · 19/04/2018 19:07

I do why people choose to fly their home flag outside their house. Is it in case they forget what country they're in or what nationality they are?

I guess I'm just lucky that my memory is good enough and I've never had to had a visual reminder.

You can only fly a Union Jack if you live on a ship, on land it's called the Union Flag.

SpartacusTheCat · 19/04/2018 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SomeKnobend · 19/04/2018 20:35

I'm with your dh, I love a flag though. You can put it up or change it for different sports events, Eurovision, whatever. It's fun, I'd go for it.

SwedishEdith · 19/04/2018 20:48

It's completely naff and I would wonder why?

I'm not remotely patriotic.

gryffen · 19/04/2018 20:48

@kt63

I worked in football as a SIA licence steward and coming from the east coast originally it really woke me up to the crap Glasgow has to put up.

This year the Orange walk is same weekend as Transmt festival - how the hell is that gonna work??

I'm pro SNP and have no flags in our house (ok Irish one for hubby at footy) but our family is a total mix of football fans and can't abide by this sectarian shit.

And I agree.

Unless you live in Glasgow you don't know our problems with the lodge (had fags thrown at me and baby during marches in Nitshill area!)

Grrrrr!

Pps- least it was dry today!! 🤣🤣

ClaudiaWankleman · 19/04/2018 22:07

I think there’s a really big leap between displaying a Union Jack and espousing racist ideology, as I’ve already said upthread. If you make that jump, that’s your fault not anyone else’s.

Also, patriotism isn’t automatically a bad thing, although it might be. There are plenty of posters on here who are fiercely (and correctly) proud of the NHS compared to the rest of the world’s. Their defence of it is quite patriotic. I think we would all agree that’s a good thing.

Expand that feeling to our political system, our traditions, supposed ‘British values’, tolerant stance on LGBT/ women’s rights etc and you can see why patriotism might not be harmful but a positive force.

TheRattleBag · 19/04/2018 22:35

Incidentally the Union Jack vs Union Flag debate is discussed here:

www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/

"It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that “the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag”."

Waspsarewankers · 19/04/2018 22:36

Perhaps you might not 9ffend quite so many people if you fly it on the day of the Royal Wedding?

Except that maybe you might offend those who disagree with the Royal family.

Fuck me - it's easy to offend most people with something these days it seems!

MrsDilber · 19/04/2018 23:23

Tom Hardy has a Union Jack tattooed over his heart. Let's brand him as an uneducated, racist, ukipper.

There is a massive, gorgeous house I drive past and it flies the Polish flag and the Union Jack. Love it

SenecaFalls · 19/04/2018 23:46

Yeah, and then they vote for Trump...

Actually, a majority of people who voted in the 2016 election did not vote for him.

Ifailed · 20/04/2018 06:23

I'm curious at the support for flying a Pirate flag - why would you want to celebrate murder, rape and robbery at sea?

Echo2 · 20/04/2018 06:36

Because celebrating rape murder & robbery is better than appearing racist.

Checkedwoolblanket · 20/04/2018 06:53

We used to have a flagpole - it remained empty until DD wanted to fly a Jolly Roger which we replaced a few times so it must have been up four years.

I wouldn’t fly a union flag. I would fly a county flag here or I would make my own flag - family name and/or some other design I liked.

Checkedwoolblanket · 20/04/2018 06:56

Why a Jolly Roger? Because a kid loved Arthur Ransome books, had a canoe with one that was moved to the flagpole for a party. She then moved on to things like Pirates of the Caribbean.

Because it was a bit of fun !!

Awks · 20/04/2018 06:58

A house near me hoists their flag for charity! If it's your granny's birthday or your wedding anniversary or something you message on Facebook, donate £10 and the flag flies in your honour that day.

Do it it sounds lovely!

Liaoyang · 20/04/2018 07:32

I would have a flag with a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background and it would be at half mast from 11pm on Friday 29th March 2019. 🇪🇺

Theworldisfullofgs · 20/04/2018 07:34

liaoyang Wink

LemonysSnicket · 20/04/2018 09:28

The Union Jack is our flag. I know plenty of people in Yorkshire fly the white rose?

LemonysSnicket · 20/04/2018 09:32

I’d assume Union Jack was Racist if it was on a 1930s semi but not a large estate actually .... hmm

Dumbledoreswarrier · 20/04/2018 21:25

How about one of those half EU-half Union Jack flags? Pretty clear you’re not a UKIPer then. Although personally I’m with @Liaoyang

falang · 20/04/2018 21:32

You live in Britain. Fly the flag if you want to. Who cares what people think. I wouldn't think for one moment anyone was racist who was flying it.

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