Private Eye Eye Crossword 794 Wednesday...
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England is the least patriotic country in Europe
Only one-in-three people know when St George's Day is and just ten per cent said they would feel comfortable to fly the flag of England, according to the report.
English people rated their overall level of national pride as 5.8 out of 10, compared to 7.1 out of 10 for Scots, 7.06 for the Welsh and 6.72 for the Irish.
The most patriotic nation in Europe was the Netherlands, with a rating of 7.18.
One-in-five English people blamed a 'broken society' for a lack of pride, while one-in-four said political correctness made them feel ashamed about their Englishness.
Stephen Garnett, the editor of This England magazine, which commissioned the study, told The Daily Telegraph: "We're incredibly disappointed that English people are afraid of displaying the St George's Cross on our patron saint's day.
"It was quite shocking to see some of the results, particularly the amount of people who don't fly the flag because of fear of being judged."
Should anything be done to improve our level of patriotism and if so what ?
What more should the English do to celebrate St. Georges Day and if so what do you suggest ?
English people rated their overall level of national pride as 5.8 out of 10, compared to 7.1 out of 10 for Scots, 7.06 for the Welsh and 6.72 for the Irish.
The most patriotic nation in Europe was the Netherlands, with a rating of 7.18.
One-in-five English people blamed a 'broken society' for a lack of pride, while one-in-four said political correctness made them feel ashamed about their Englishness.
Stephen Garnett, the editor of This England magazine, which commissioned the study, told The Daily Telegraph: "We're incredibly disappointed that English people are afraid of displaying the St George's Cross on our patron saint's day.
"It was quite shocking to see some of the results, particularly the amount of people who don't fly the flag because of fear of being judged."
Should anything be done to improve our level of patriotism and if so what ?
What more should the English do to celebrate St. Georges Day and if so what do you suggest ?
Answers
R1 - I don't know why you feel like you do.
I can only tell you facts (ie it is not racist to display St Georges Flag) and I can tell you my own feelings. If you don't feel comfortable flying the St Georges Flag, then I am afraid that is down to you.
I can only tell you facts (ie it is not racist to display St Georges Flag) and I can tell you my own feelings. If you don't feel comfortable flying the St Georges Flag, then I am afraid that is down to you.
11:11 Wed 21st Apr 2010
It is easy to get results to surveys like this by asking leading questions, which I believe has occurred here. I do not believe the results are genuine.
I cannot imagine a single person saying they are unpatriotic because of our "broken society". But apparently 20% of respondents said this was there reason.
If you asked English fans will the be supporting the England football team in the World Cup, then I would expect to find we are one of the most patriotic nations in Europe.
Wikipedia describes "This England" thus
// The magazine maintains a strongly anti-European stance and is seen by its critics as arch-conservative and reactionary. It features articles against metrication, the European Union, multiculturalism and other issues which the readership may consider threats to English identity. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain, a very small right-wing political group, which it praised as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country". //
So little surprise that its survey result blames political correctness and immigrants for our so called unpatrioticness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_England
I cannot imagine a single person saying they are unpatriotic because of our "broken society". But apparently 20% of respondents said this was there reason.
If you asked English fans will the be supporting the England football team in the World Cup, then I would expect to find we are one of the most patriotic nations in Europe.
Wikipedia describes "This England" thus
// The magazine maintains a strongly anti-European stance and is seen by its critics as arch-conservative and reactionary. It features articles against metrication, the European Union, multiculturalism and other issues which the readership may consider threats to English identity. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain, a very small right-wing political group, which it praised as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country". //
So little surprise that its survey result blames political correctness and immigrants for our so called unpatrioticness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_England
-- answer removed --
Why on earth is patriotism a good thing? it's just tribalism by another name!
Mind you lets look at what "This England Magazine" from which you quote is about
The magazine maintains a strongly anti-European stance and is seen by its critics as arch-conservative and reactionary. It features articles against metrication, the European Union, multiculturalism and other issues which the readership may consider threats to English identity. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain, a very small right-wing political group, which it praised as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country".
Why are people afraid to fly the flag Stephen Garnett?
Perhaps it because it's been so comprehensively stolen as a political statement by people like you!
Mind you lets look at what "This England Magazine" from which you quote is about
The magazine maintains a strongly anti-European stance and is seen by its critics as arch-conservative and reactionary. It features articles against metrication, the European Union, multiculturalism and other issues which the readership may consider threats to English identity. In the 1990s, it lent its support to New Britain, a very small right-wing political group, which it praised as "the organisation which is campaigning for a complete revival of our country".
Why are people afraid to fly the flag Stephen Garnett?
Perhaps it because it's been so comprehensively stolen as a political statement by people like you!
Birdie
http://www.telegraph....atriotic-country.html
beyond the Telegraph link I have no further detail on how the survey was conducted but It would still be nice to have your answers to my questions and your thoughts on patriotism and St Georges Day celebrations
http://www.telegraph....atriotic-country.html
beyond the Telegraph link I have no further detail on how the survey was conducted but It would still be nice to have your answers to my questions and your thoughts on patriotism and St Georges Day celebrations
Was there not a similar thread to this very recently ?
Not knowing when some associated saint's day is doesn't make someone less patriotic. Merely means you don't see any reason for getting caught up in the fervour that some, more excitable nations feel obliged to show.
That goes for flying flags too. Seen as excessive exuberance. Except with the St. George cross flag there is also the unfortunate established connection with racist/xenophobic groups too.
I don't believe one needs to throw away our controlled reserve just to please those who wrongly equate patriotism with symbols and emotional displays. We have decorum which many others fail to achieve.
Not knowing when some associated saint's day is doesn't make someone less patriotic. Merely means you don't see any reason for getting caught up in the fervour that some, more excitable nations feel obliged to show.
That goes for flying flags too. Seen as excessive exuberance. Except with the St. George cross flag there is also the unfortunate established connection with racist/xenophobic groups too.
I don't believe one needs to throw away our controlled reserve just to please those who wrongly equate patriotism with symbols and emotional displays. We have decorum which many others fail to achieve.
Practising Christianity is a very minority activity in the UK. Of the 61.5million population, only 1.5million go to church once a month.
If there isn't much interest in Christianity, if follows that there won't be much interest in the patron Saint.
Is his memory worth celebrating? Well, he got himself executed 18 centuries ago, a rather futile act, as most martyrs tend to be. In short, he doesn't really have much relevance to the modern English people.
It you wanted to popularise the day, you would have to make it a holiday - and give away lots of beer, and get the breweries give away silly hats, and possibly execute a few Morris Men in his honour.
If there isn't much interest in Christianity, if follows that there won't be much interest in the patron Saint.
Is his memory worth celebrating? Well, he got himself executed 18 centuries ago, a rather futile act, as most martyrs tend to be. In short, he doesn't really have much relevance to the modern English people.
It you wanted to popularise the day, you would have to make it a holiday - and give away lots of beer, and get the breweries give away silly hats, and possibly execute a few Morris Men in his honour.
Gromit, good research as always
Would You personally celebrate pride in being English and in what way ? and would you do away with St George as a focal point for pride in being English and what if anything would you replace him with ?
Geezer,
How are we not allowed to be patriotic and what needs to be done to allow it ?
Would You personally celebrate pride in being English and in what way ? and would you do away with St George as a focal point for pride in being English and what if anything would you replace him with ?
Geezer,
How are we not allowed to be patriotic and what needs to be done to allow it ?
I always say that anyone who has a problem with the idea of St. George being a fictitious foreign character, could always take the opportunity to mark 23rd April as being a celebration of Shakespeare.........being both his birthday and the day that he died (I just hope he managed to pe his presents first !).
There are two people within 200 yards of my house whoh ave flag poles with St Georges Flags on them. Neither of them (to my knowledge) are racist.
The park where I live (called St Georges Park) used to have a St Georges Flag flying, however it was changed to a Green Flag when it won this award. I have no doubt that if it ever loses this award, it will go back to St Georges Flag.
A lot of shops currently have St Georges Cross window displays and there are also a lot of flags for sales (probably in anticipation of the World Cup).
I often wear an England rugby top, but I also have some British & Irish Lions ones to.
The park where I live (called St Georges Park) used to have a St Georges Flag flying, however it was changed to a Green Flag when it won this award. I have no doubt that if it ever loses this award, it will go back to St Georges Flag.
A lot of shops currently have St Georges Cross window displays and there are also a lot of flags for sales (probably in anticipation of the World Cup).
I often wear an England rugby top, but I also have some British & Irish Lions ones to.
OK vic then what is your explanation? I can't point to a specific cause as to why I feel like this, it's a cumalitive effect. Just a lot of little things, if an English sports team does badly it's ecause we are sh1te, if they do well it's because we have somehow een assisted by curcumstances. Whenever history is discussed it's always England that are the bad guys etc etc. Why would my perception be like this? Go on vic you're something of a psychologist, I welcome your views.
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