Long May She Wave

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. 

Comments

[charlie]

Some great thoughts there, very amusing to hear from your point of view.
You see over here (and i may upset a few people now by being a snob) but flag flying (as in hanging from your house window, car etc) is seen as a somewhat yobbish behaviour. Mainly due to the world cup/ association with footie fighting lads and the BNP. Where it is often used in aggression to intimidate.

I live with one of the most patriotic people i've ever met who is constantly cross at the apathy of most brits.

True patriotism runs much deeper than an iconic flag. I believe it's about pride in your past, present and future. Where England lost that is for the history buffs to debate.
Sorry ended up ranting!

[Kath]

No apologizing - I like to hear what my "over the sea" readers think!

I've heard that people think it's yobbish as you say - and I most certainly understand about the football & BNP connection, but that's what I think is so sad. How it ever became so linked with those I'll never understand (add it to the list of things!)

I fully agree with you that true patriotism is much more than a symbol. You can never forget what you stand for, and that's what our flag means to us. It's not about power, or intimidation to us, (though I know you didn't say that, I'm just thinking out loud) it's about love and freedom. Our love of our country and our freedom, and what it took to get here. We can never forget that, so we don't!

My future hubby and his family are very much upset with their fellow Brits as well, and constantly praise America (even when we first met) for our love of country and love and support of our military, and its allies.

[BB]

To add a further confusing twist to things.
Much of Scotland, particularly the Glasgow area, is affected by a strain of the same kind of Catholic/Protestant sectarianism that is seen in Northern Ireland.
In this context, the British flag is seen as a Loyalist (protestant) symbol and rejected by a significant percentage of the Catholic population, many of whome would rather fly the flag of a whole other country - Eire.
This all crystallises round the Glasgow football teams Rangers and Celtic and results in stupid levels of violence on match days.

[charlie]

Very true of scotland/NI i'd never thought about it like that.
From what you say the american flag does resemble more of a united country which the union jack has not embraced.

At school we were actually taught very little history past 1066 for the UK, (i don't know what the NC is now) but perhaps there would be more patriotism/pride if there was a better understanding of the history of the country as a whole.
From meeting american's they seem to have a better grasp of thier own countries development than brits.

[Kath]

BB: I had read something about that, I remember thinking "wow." It's all very complicated to me, but I do try to keep up. I know I've written that I'm a little worried about moving over there -- not so much anymore. I'm just going to have to try very hard to keep my mouth shut and my ears open!

Charlie: I think you hit the nail on the head - education is key. I don't actually remember even learning anything past WWI in school - the rest I've had to learn on my own (though it helps having lived with a military history genius). I think that's the other key, somehow through that education, people have to actually CARE about what's going on in the world - which all goes back to the apathy of many in both our countries.