I'll be the first to admit that I really don't completely understand the troubles between England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland. I also sometimes have trouble myself with remembering that the UK is not The United States, and there are serious differences.
Such as flag wavin' patriotism. Royal once told me that flag waving patriotism to the UK was more for the sporting world, like the World Cup, and that nationalism was more like our flag waving pride for our country. And that England, and the rest of Britain lack that pride.
I'm always jolted back into America by articles like this: 10 uses for an unwanted England flag. Wha.... ?! They include recycling the flag and trying to get your money back. Now, granted, this is mostly because of the World Cup, but as an American I simply cannot comprehend giving your flag up for any reason! On another note: Britain has obviously had difficulty with assimilating their immigrants, so much so that many businesses are not allowed to display their own English flag as it might offend Muslims. Any. Reason.
New BBC article today says that national allegiance is the "in" thing to do. The government is chucking their crazy can't-fly-the-nation's-flag-without-a-vertical pole, and seemingly more people than ever are buying the different nation's flags.
-- "When and why did flags become fashionable?
"People are becoming more adventurous - they want to be display their sense of identity," says Charles Ashburner, owner of mrflag.com, by way of explanation.
"It is a lot more acceptable now to fly the St George's Cross and Union Jack. It is part of a greater trend towards people wanting to have a flag identity that wasn't the case five years ago.
"Flying a national flag is common in the US and Scandinavian countries, but we've only started seeing it here recently," he says, adding that changes to the law are likely to make their use more widespread - a point that is made by a number of retailers. Mr Ashburner points out that county flags - such as ones for Devon and Cornwall - are increasingly popular, adding that there are plans for new flags to represent Somerset and Lincolnshire."
Really, as Mr. Ashburner (cool name) and another guy points out later in the article, it's not so much that Britain is becoming more aware of their national identity, like the U.S., it's that they're trying to be unique - making up new flags for regions or counties, or whatever image floats their boat.
-- "As a country we're quite new to showing our national allegiance. Other nations are used to wearing their hearts on their sleeves - but we're heading towards that point."
He says our habits are changing rapidly, pointing out that draping an image from a window is not commonplace and flying a flag on a car, for example, is a relatively new phenomenon.
"In the around two or three years there will be a greater proportion of people with poles they can put outside their front door so that they can raise their flag whenever there is a sporting event or some other occasion they wish to celebrate."
I have to admit, it cracks me up that a country that old, with that much history, is that new at showing their national pride. Still even, in his last sentence - the last sentence in the article, nothing seems to be fitting together. I would love nothing more than to have Britain stand up and shove their loving-their-country-ness in the world's face. We're Britain and we're proud of what we used to be, what we are. Why just fly your flag during a sporting event?
I can't even begin to tell you, as all my American readers already know, how many American flags fly every day! How many holidays throughout the year that the local clubs (note: not the government) put out American flags lining the town square and the streets leading up to it. Veteran's Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, Memorial Weekend, and that's just to name a few!
I say the following with the utmost respect: It's a huge difference between this patriotic world that I'm leaving and the semi-confused one I'm going to. I like Britain, I really do! I want to love Britain, but it's hard to love someone who doesn't seem to love herself.
