For all you fake Paddys

[Filo]

Happy St Georges day

[hoolahoop]

Nice one

[Bentley Bullet]

Go on then Hoola, I'll bite, why is it a nice one?

[hoolahoop]

Go on then Hoola, I'll bite, why is it a nice one?

Because everybody takes the time out to celebrate St. Paddy's Day and ignore our own patron saint and national day of celebration.
Filo is pointing out that the pubs have bought into it as well as the stores and Englishmen forget their own day . 
What do you think BB about that ?

Perhaps you think that  committed Remainers can't be patriots too ? Why didn't you challenge Filo to explain his post for you it was obvious enough !

[RedJ]

Aye. There's a difference between patriotism and nationalism. You can think your own country's the dog's b*llocks without thinking any or all others are what the dog's dinner turns into...

[Bentley Bullet]

Hoola, I didn't realise it was a show of patriotism, I thought Filo was doing the opposite by insinuating that everyone who celebrates St George's day was a fake Paddy.

If that wasn't the case I apologise.

[Filo]

Hoola, I didn't realise it was a show of patriotism, I thought Filo was doing the opposite by insinuating that everyone who celebrates St George's day was a fake Paddy.

If that wasn't the case I apologise.

Hoola's explanation is correct

[Bentley Bullet]

"Perhaps you think that  committed Remainers can't be patriots too ? Why didn't you challenge Filo to explain his post for you it was obvious enough !"

It wasn't obvious enough to me, obviously.

By the way, what's a 'committed Remainer'?

[Donnywolf]

Someone like me who thinks Rovers are safe 

[hoolahoop]

Someone like me who thinks Rovers are safe 

Yep no demotion for us this year big John eh

[roversdude]

Can never understand why it is not widely celebrated
I always do

[hoolahoop]

Can never understand why it is not widely celebrated
I always do

I think it's because there's this confusion between being English and being British . It does seem that there is a greater bond formed out of being part of a minority. However there is no reason at all that the English as a nation shouldn't be seen as more patriotic than they are. It seems to be the " in " thing to massacre our successful people/ teams given half a chance  - just look at the general perception people have about our footy team ?

[Bentley Bullet]

I'm European and proud. I'm British and proud. I'm English and proud. I'm Yorkshire and proud. I'm South Yorkshire and proud. I'm Doncaster and proud. I'm Bentley and proud.

At which of those points does my racism start?

[selby]

 Well said BB, that's my take on things as well, although I do have more of an liking for the prettiest village in England ASKERN.

[Bentley Bullet]

Askern's rubbish!

Oops, apologies for the racist remark! 

[selby]

  BB, ever wondered why our buses only stop on request in Bentley?

[Bentley Bullet]

I always assumed they were holiday buses dropping off Askern folk who go to Bentley for their annual vacation.

[hoolahoop]

I'm European and proud. I'm British and proud. I'm English and proud. I'm Yorkshire and proud. I'm South Yorkshire and proud. I'm Doncaster and proud. I'm Bentley and proud.

At which of those points does my racism start?

None of those apart from the Bentleyism - now that's a tad strange . Must admit that I think of myself as a Yorkshireman first and foremost.

It's only when you make sweeping statements about foreigners or disparage or demean  them for no reason do you  become a racist.

[Bentley Bullet]

So why is waving an English flag in celebration of St George's day considered by some to be disparaging or demeaning to foreigners to the point of being racist?

[RedJ]

The flag just seems to have been hijacked by people who actually ARE racist.

[Bentley Bullet]

so we should just stop using our flag and let the racists steal its identity?

[Glyn_Wigley]

So why is waving an English flag in celebration of St George's day considered by some to be disparaging or demeaning to foreigners to the point of being racist?

Who are these 'some'?

[MachoMadness]

I'd imagine as long as you're not waving it around at brown people with a pint of bitter while singing about two world wars and one world cup you'll be alright. Don't be such a sensitive shandy BB!

[Bentley Bullet]

Machomadness, why shouldn't Brown people wave it too?

[Bentley Bullet]

So why is waving an English flag in celebration of St George's day considered by some to be disparaging or demeaning to foreigners to the point of being racist?

Who are these 'some'?

I get the impression that you would be one for a start.

[MachoMadness]

Machomadness, why shouldn't Brown people wave it too?

Did I say they shouldn't?

Given how we seem to be quite fond of deporting a lot of them and saying they're not proper British, I don't see why many would want to though.

[Bentley Bullet]

We deport a lot of brown people who wave the English flag, saying they're not proper British?

Do you have proof of this?

[MachoMadness]

We deport a lot of brown people who wave the English flag, saying they're not proper British?

Do you have proof of this?

Are you feeling ok BB? I know you like to be deliberately obtuse and answer questions with questions, but that one's an extreme reach even for you. Maybe you're confused.

To spell it out:

The English flag is sometimes used in an antagonistic fashion to intimidate people who aren't seen as proper British folk. Commonly the targets of this antagonism have brown skin, oddly enough.

You expressed nervousness that waving the cross of St George makes you racist. I wanted to put your mind at ease by saying that as long as you aren't using it in an antagonistic fashion (see above), nobody would have an issue. That applies whether you're black, brown, white, green - any colour really.

However, yes we are currently deporting a lot of people who may have emigrated from the Caribbean, but in many cases have been here longer than you or I and are patriotic British and English folk. We're also denying them basic things like passports and healthcare. I imagine some of them have at one point or another waved an English flag, however I doubt they'd want to any more after the way they've been treated by this country.

As a patriotic sort I'm sure seeing your fellow Englishmen and women treated this way is quite upsetting. The flag's a symbol of our country. Maybe the fact that some people are less than proud of the flag indicates that we as a country - both our government and some of our citizens - are doing some very unpleasant things, and acknowledging that you want your country to do better is actually the most patriotic thing you can do? Just some food for thought. I eagerly await your next question.

[RedJ]

so we should just stop using our flag and let the racists steal its identity?

No, we should use it to show we aren't all Kitsons. Can you show me where I said what you're making out I've said? cos I'm not sure how you could read that into my post.

[Bentley Bullet]

Machomadness, do you think the longer the essay you write the more convincing you come across?

No doubt many people in this country think that everyone who displays an English flag is racist, just like there are many who think everyone who voted Brexit is racist also. But why is it only the English flag that is considered as a symbol of racism, and the Scottish and Irish, for instance, not? Don't they have similar idiots using their flags in a similar racist way?

Regarding the (different!) subject of the treatment and deportation of people who are wrongly sent packing, I have the utmost sympathy.