Football Flag Waving.

[padi56]

I see that now the international football season is on us once again England sees fit to display it's patriotism. I find it sad that the flag of St George fluttering on the roofs of hundreds of people carriers, and countless flags draped out of windows signals not an event of historic or national importance, but merely a bleeding football tournament.

Don't misunderstand me, I believe the reclamation of the national English flag from the racists and the bigots is a very good thing. I just don't understand why this national pride extends only to eleven overpaid morons kicking a ball around a field. It's almost as if the English have nothing else to be proud about apart from a team who last tasted victory forty years ago.

To me there national flag should be a symbol of everything good about there country, not a fashion accessory to be waved once every four years. The Cross of St George should stand for the strong, diverse nation that England has become and should represent the mass of cultures and lifestyles that modern England consists of. It should not belong solely to the football fans.

The exclusive use of the national flag by football fans, excludes many who wish to proclaim their nationality, without being thought of as a want to be hooligan or a football worshipping Sun reader. The football fans use of the flag serves as a divisive activity, it is brandished in a way which is at best competitive and is often downright hostile. This should not be, the developed among us grew out of using our flags as mere battlefield banners and into civilisation a long time ago.

Instead of being an international sign of sometimes mindless thuggery, there flag should represent the positive things about there country. The irony being that the famous English traditions of tolerance, civility and gentlemanly conduct are the antithesis of what the red and white cross stands for, in the hands of quite a few football mobs.

The other, sweeter, irony about the football flag is that what could be less English, and more continental European, than driving around with flags flying and painting the body with national colours?
Myself not a huge football fan but prefer rugby.I am Welsh and proud of it,so we don't need any flag waving.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by padi56

less English, and more continental European, than driving around with flags flying and painting the body with national colours?
Myself not a huge football fan but prefer rugby.I am Welsh and proud of it,so we don't need any flag waving.

You mean like this?

[Uncle-AJ]

What do you wave Peter, sheep?

To be honest, most of todays youth won't even realise the flag of St George is the English flag. How many Englishmen know that the 23rd April is St George's day. Not too many I think. I've got to hold my hand up to the Irish, Welsh and Scots because they seem to be a lot more patriotic than the bunch I'm saddled with.

I'm also a rugby fan but the proper rugby, league.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

What do you wave Peter, sheep?

To be honest, most of todays youth won't even realise the flag of St George is the English flag. How many Englishmen know that the 23rd April is St George's day. Not too many I think. I've got to hold my hand up to the Irish, Welsh and Scots because they seem to be a lot more patriotic than the bunch I'm saddled with.

I'm also a rugby fan but the proper rugby, league.

Could not agree with you more Adrian,yes I am a big fan of rugby league a faster and more exciting game.As for being patriotic its the celtic blood and we are proud of our flag and country.