St George Cross offensive & racist

[Kleos]

As Gordon Brown continues to promote his concepts of "Britishness" (having removed regulations earlier this month concerning when the Union Flag could be flown) and cultural intergration; it seems that the flag of England, the St George cross continues to be viewed with animosity.

From the Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle2112868.ece

A Barbados-born dustman from Lancarshire has been told by the Borough Council to stop using a St George's cross bandanna to tie up his Rastafarian locks. The man was told that it could be considered offensive and racist. He has changed to a skull and crossbonbes design.

And link for Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../ncross121.xml

Anyone living in Britain will be familiar with similar actions undertaken by authourities in the past, from fines for flying the flag, bans in some places to local police and fire stations being told to remove the flag, lest it cause offense.

The usual reason repeated for such attitudes concerning the flag is that it is associated with right wing extremists, hooligans and so forth. A poor excuse, it ignores the fact that applying such a stigma to the flag further adds to its appeal to those groups; while promoting its use would help remove such an association. But it seems the low chances of possibly causing offense to a very small minority of foreigners it too great in the ever political correct society we live in.

Such reasoning is not applied to the flags of Wales or Scotland which proudly -and rightly- flies from many buildings in those countries. For those Americans reading, imagine if you were told to take down your stars and stripes because it may offend me, an Englishmen, by reminidng me of the Revolution. What makes this even worse is that it doesn't apply bothways - people living in this country can burn the flags of my nation, preach hatred against Western civilisation with little risk of punishment. And people wonder why our society is eroding. I am not a little-Englander, neither am I racist or a bigot; but if I and people like me wish display my own nations flag I want to do it without being seen as a thug or being told to remove it.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Um, I am almost positive this must have been misinterpretated because there is no way in hell that it would be legal for a council to order anybody to do such a thing.

[The Super Pope]

It wouldn't shock me if it is true though

[removeduser_487563287433]

It can't be. The government, let alone some ****** provincial council does not have the power to order people how to dress. I mean, a state institution may take down the flag for reasons of sensitivity but you can't tell somebody not to hang it from their window and you most certainly can't tell someone not to wear one.

[LoZz]

It can't be. The government, let alone some ****** provincial council does not have the power to order people how to dress. I mean, a state institution may take down the flag for reasons of sensitivity but you can't tell somebody not to hang it from their window and you most certainly can't tell someone not to wear one.

ive heared many horror stories of this sort of thing happening over the years. but yet again, these where stories in the sun and daily mail

[Hunter Makoy]

It can't be. The government, let alone some ****** provincial council does not have the power to order people how to dress. I mean, a state institution may take down the flag for reasons of sensitivity but you can't tell somebody not to hang it from their window and you most certainly can't tell someone not to wear one.

well now they could tell someone to quit wearing the flag, if it was the flag itself, because that alot of times is illegal. but no they sholdn't be able to tell someone that they cant display a certain flag. of course im an american and im going off of wat i know about our laws here, so there's no telling wat they r in england. and from my time spent on these boards, england seems to be pretty wierd these days.

[Death Merchant]

Yeh ive seen stuff like this where i live in the north of england

Shocking isnt it, The government of our own country is trying to stop english citizens being patrotic 50 years ago this would be absurd now the actions by local councils is not just seen as acceptable it is prefferable in the eyes of the central UK government

[VALIS]

It can't be. The government, let alone some ****** provincial council does not have the power to order people how to dress. I mean, a state institution may take down the flag for reasons of sensitivity but you can't tell somebody not to hang it from their window and you most certainly can't tell someone not to wear one.

Thats not true, it was well publicized that a man wearing a 'Bollocks to Blair' t-shirt was arrested.
There have also been many cases when police men have gone to peoples houses and ordered them to take down a flag.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Thats not true, it was well publicized that a man wearing a 'Bollocks to Blair' t-shirt was arrested.
There have also been many cases when police men have gone to peoples houses and ordered them to take down a flag.

Not true. That is highly illegal.

[Shaun]

Thats not true, it was well publicized that a man wearing a 'Bollocks to Blair' t-shirt was arrested.

For what crimes exactly?

There have also been many cases when police men have gone to peoples houses and ordered them to take down a flag.

Any links?

[Lord Condormanius]

I must say that after reading this, I am flabbergasted. How on Earth is flying the St. George's Cross offensive? To whom is it offensive? Maybe I just don't get it. It really doesn't seem to make any sense.

[Chaigidel]

/agree with condormanius-- how is this offensive?

[The Sundance Kid]

Maybe non-Christians find it offensive, because our flag is a Christian Symbol?

Maybe colourblind people find it offensive, because they can't see the colour red and think they're being mocked?

Maybe people who've had car accidents at crossroads find it offensive because the cross looks like a crossroad, and they yadda yadda yadda...

See? I am technically a Government. I can create ******** reasons in 10 seconds.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Ah, now with the edit we see that he is an employee of the council. Right. Well although it's obviously silly and certainly not racist we all know employers have the right to set the dress code of their employees. End of thread.

[Kleos]

Ah, now with the edit we see that he is an employee of the council. Right. Well although it's obviously silly and certainly not racist we all know employers have the right to set the dress code of their employees. End of thread.

No, the whole point goes beyond this one case - the way which the St.George cross is viewed. Even though he was an employee it was the reason they gave; saying its its offensive and racist. Yet it seems a symbol of piracy is fine.

[removeduser_487563287433]

No, the whole point goes beyond this one case - the way which the St.George cross is viewed. Even though he was an employee it was the reason they gave; saying its its offensive and racist. Yet it seems a symbol of piracy is fine.

Funny innit.

[Saxon Huscarl]

I guess the council said something like this:

Hey Mr black binman, please take that St George bandana off your head in case you offend black and asian people

Basically what I'm saying is, if a black man is proud to wear the St George flag and not find it racist, then how can it be racist?, this sounds like PC bull-**** to be honest.

[The Sundance Kid]

Well, the skull and crossbones could be a symbol of piracy....

*OR*, it could be a secret message to those wishing to kill undead skeleton warriors...
See, the councils actually helping people out.

[The Super Pope]

I think we can assume this feller is black? And he's racist for wearing the flag of his adopted country?
I wish more immigrants would bear our flag, instead of preaching our destruction

[Tabell]

it is because Burnley is a Labour constituency, and Labour views english nationalism as its greatest threat to remaining in power. Its obvious that if England votes alone without Scotland Labour is definitely on their way out. Labour would rather no-one knew that england existed at all.