What do you think about the flag movement?

[Hollow]

Seems orchestrated like the "protests" outside hotels. This kind of stuff is only going to accelerate until Reform "wins" the next election.

[Pain]

I'm not sure that your sense of humour will be appreciated, Pain?

Maybe if I'd intended it as humour, that could be the case....

‘“Whatever the intentions of the people who started this off it’s actually not a campaign that should worry anybody else,” said former Labour Minister John Denham, now a professor in English identity and politics. Flags are not seen as overtly political by the British public, he added.

“If you put a MAGA [Make America Great Again] hat on, you are clearly declaring your support for [U.S. President Donald] Trump. If you fly a St. George’s Cross or a union flag, for somebody like me, that’s my flag and whatever the intentions of the person who put the flag up, I’m entitled to see it in the way that I want.”

“I think we should be quite relaxed about this,” he said.’ (My bold type)

... https://www.politico.eu/article/operation-raise-the-colours-st-georges-cross-union-jack-flags-britain-immigration-far-right-protests/


PS: I think I read the room well enough, Ms Pu. I saw worried folks reinforcing and amplifying each other’s fears.

PPS: Welcome back, by the way.

[BlueIris]

If you really believe these flags are a celebration of Englishness, Pain, you're deluded.

I have so many friends who've been the victims of an uptick in racist behaviour, and this is the sort of nonsense that encourages people to think it's okay. I normally try to avoid being political on here, but I'm seeing my friends and colleagues and students being harassed and made to feel unwelcome, and I'm disgusted by it.

[Pain]

If you really believe these flags are a celebration of Englishness, Pain, you're deluded...

Define “Englishness”, Ms Iris and, while you’re doing that, I’ll go away and ponder on whether the bloke (Prof of English Identity & Politics, John Denham) who wrote that quoted opinion is deluded or not.

[BlueIris]

James, I'm sorry for derailing your thread.

[WiredIncorrectly]

It's ok BlueIris I hope you are doing well. Just got my laptop charger today so I'm back online. Bloody macbook chargers break so often.

I'm sorry if the post got on some people nerves. I too am concerned about the recent protests. It feels like a boiling pot that's about to spill over. I fear civil war, but maybe that's just anxiety.

Thankfully now the 6 weeks holidays are over it seems to have calmed down.

I was thinking the other day, every 6 weeks holiday there seems to be some uproar over something. LBGTQ, BLM, last year people were marching the streets against Muslims. This year it's about immigration.

I just want to live in peace. I don't care for color, race, gender, religion etc. If you're a good person, I like you. If you're a bad person I don't want to know you.

Hope you're all well

[Scissel]

...I just want to live in peace. I don't care for color, race, gender, religion etc. If you're a good person, I like you. If you're a bad person I don't want to know you...

I feel the same way.