Comments on: Flying the Flag for the British

By: Albie

Albie — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 15:03:14 +0000

Well said, Kevin T! The BNP, football hooligans in Europe and similarly inadequate yobbos who have been allowed to hijack the Union Jack and English flag should be charged with bringing our nation into disrepute and punished accordingly. Then, perhaps, those of us who happen to love Britain – and England – will be allowed to say so without being considered dangerously right-wing.

As has been pointed out already, most countries’ history does not bear close scrutiny, but no other nation seems to wallow in self-loathing like the English do. As a people, were we warmongers? Yes. Empire-builders? Certainly. Arrogant? Without question. That doesn’t mean we still are. We’ve acknowledged our wrongs, expressed regret and accepted with pretty good grace and tolerance changes in our society that were unimaginable 40 years ago.
But still we can’t forgive ourselves. Indeed, a hideous, guilt-ridden masochism has seeped into our culture: e.g., the BBC’s ludicrously biased “discussion” programme, the Guardian newspaper employing an apologist for Muslim extremists – and as for every topical comedian and commentator under 40, you get the impression they’d rather rip out their own tongues than admit to being proud to be British/English. Are they terrified of being laughed at by other cynics? Pitiful, really, and a lousy way to repay those who died in the Second World War to preserve our freedom.

If there’s one thing Ronald Reagan did, it was to restore America’s sense of national pride after Vietnam.

Who’s going to do the same for us?

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By: JackT

JackT — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 13:10:46 +0000

I would agree that attempting to instill some traditionally british ideals, some faith and pride in a constitutional monarchy, and some trust in our leaders and representatives would be a highly desireable thing.
I can however see how the people involved in these bombings hold their allegience to an abstract religious ideal as opposed to a tangible political one. As a christian, god has my first allegience, he created me and redeemed me, and has done far more for me than the state has; only out of gratitude if not love I have to follow what he says. It strengthens my faith to know that he commands me to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” -Luke 6:27,28. It is the same root cause though.
We have to accept the fact that two of the facets of “britishness” that we are espousing, are freedom of belief, and freedom of speech. And to protect these ideals we might have to endure the extreme elements (only a thought…). I wonder if perhaps the only way for us to advance the cause of freedom is to live by example, not to sacrifice our own values in an attempt to protect them.

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By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 23:49:19 +0000

So what indeed David – at least he speaks his mind – and very eloquently too.

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By: David

David — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:48:58 +0000

Boris is refreshingly marvellous as usual. He appears to have provoked more adverse responses than usual with last two articles. So what?

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By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:48:51 +0000

Fly the flag.

(I couldn’t paste the picture, unfortunately but please go to BBC website Amir Khan to see the flag.)

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By: Nora

Nora — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:04:39 +0000

I thought you went into Iraq to “defend” the USA (which has the most powerful military in the world with bases in 135 countries, an ocean on either side, and wants absolute nuclear supremacy) from the “terrible threat” of Saddam’s WMD.

Get real. Bush went in there for geopolitical reasons and now it’s a total mess. And a training ground for terrorists.

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By: Nigel Heywood

Nigel Heywood — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 23:29:09 +0000

I am a proud American. We fly the flag because we are proud of the history and sacrifice that it represents. That flag stood between you and a future filled with goose stepping. Tear it down all you like, I still live in the greatest country GOD has created. I live in a country that values liberty and is not willing to sacrifice that to the “alter” of secularism and poltical correctness. I would rather be called a racist and live than be blown up on a bus because I cant point out the obvious, that it is MUSLIMS, that are slaughtering innocents.

I find it amusing how much selective Europeans are. You condemn the US for Iraq. You claim we created terrorism. When it comes to Iraq, the left seems to place no value on the liberty on that nation. Yet you launched headlong against Milosovich ? You turned away in Rawanda. The only difference is the color of the skin.

The sad reality is that my country will be ready when you need us, and by God, you will need us, unless of course you want a future that looks like a Mad Max movie.

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By: Macarnie

Macarnie — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 22:37:58 +0000

Kevin T: As to the craven negative attitude displayed ,in some areas , about flag waving , it is clear that other National flags are allowed to be waved ; to the detriment of the Union Flag: purely in the mistaken belief that the Union Flag will , figuratively speaking, get up someone’s nose.

London’s mayor for example, amongst many others , is said to have allowed the flag of The Republic of Ireland to be flown, but not our own. I fail to see the logic therein.

The Union Flag is a symbol of Nationhood, not a challenge to the World, for goodness sake. This is Britain, and the British flag ought never be denied the opportunity to being given a good wave: I would say , that is what it lacks just now. Britain, at one time , did in fact rule the waves.

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By: Kevin T

Kevin T — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 18:29:30 +0000

Fair play to you Boris. As the son of Catholic Irish immigrants, I’m apparently one of the people who should be offended by people waving the Union Jack and saying they’re proud to be British. Weirdly I’m not and I’d be delighted to see this country become just as proudly patriotic as the Irish are. I don’t know any Irish people who will be offended and I’d imagine that’s true of most ethnic communities. How often do you see actual minority members claiming that the flag is offensive to them, as opposed to white British liberals being offended on their behalf?

To those people who inevitably drag the BNP into it, I say that shower has been allowed to hijack Britain and the flag. Every time someone says the Union Jack / St George’s cross is a racist symbol, the BNP comes closer to calling it their own. The BNP is a pitiful party whose only two trump cards are that (1) they’re the only party that waves the flag and says they’re proud to be British and that (2) they’re the only party who’s willing to be critical of the negative sides of immigration and multiculturalism – both victories given to them by the cravenness of the other parties.

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By: Andrew Duffin

Andrew Duffin — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:38:50 +0000

Boris wrote:

“they … learnt about Britain from British teachers”

Aye right.

More likely they learned from British teachers, that all faiths and viewpoints are equivalent, and suicide bombing is just another lifestyle choice, equally valid with decadent Western values.

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