I think if I did a survey close to where I live, there'd be more Cornish flags
than English or British being displayed. We have our own language and rugby team - the Pirates.
Aargh me hearties. Shiver me timbers. Pieces of eight.
Flags are fascinating, like national anthems and, in my opinion, intrinsically performative. I look at a flag from an artistic point of view and I blogged about this a few years ago. And from that point of view the Cornish flag is simply awful - just four black blobs; what's that about?*
But the recent explosion (if that's what it is) of flag flying by English households (there has been no reporting of similar outbreaks in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as far as I can tell) seems to be driven by (a) it's August (or at least it was) and the media have very little to report on (Trump hasn't threatened to annex Cuba) (b) Reform UK and its leader have been ramping up nationalistic fervour and (c) people are dusting off their flags after the Womens' Euros and in anticipation of an England World Cup victory next summer.
In some ways it's anti-British. We see flag fetishes in other countries, notably the USA, where it seems to be seen as a test of national virility and comes close to a statement of weakness, implying a kind of bunker mentality: the old Millwall chant of "No one likes us, we don't care!". Traditionally we Brits are more reserved, keeping our patriotism to ourselves. We feel it but don't feel the need to say so and therefore you might see flag-waving (other than in military or sporting victories) as a sense of desperation that "fings ain't what they used to be".
Because of flag displays seemingly connecting with anti-immigrant sentiment, flags can perhaps be seen as relatively (as opposed to say bows and arrows) inoffensive challenges to foreigners: "you're not welcome here" and we're going to wave our flags at you (but less so physically drive you out). A statement of weakness and frustration.
The conscription of the flag of St George as if it (and it's adherents) represent the whole of our four nation union is of course pretty offensive. Maybe for some it's a deliberate anti-union statement: "our" borders are Hadrian's Wall and Offa's Dyke.
The biggest problem for me is the tribal nature. If you don't fly or acknowledge the flag, you're not of our tribe and we don't want you - or maybe even want to vote for you. Hence a great rush of politicians draped in the flag, proud to say they have an England flag in their living room, etc. Grow up!
Of course we all remember Emily Thornberry who sneered at a terraced house draped in three England flags and resigned as Shadow Attorney General. So no sneering please - but don't keep your thoughts to yourself! If possible don't do so Anonymously.
* CORNISH NOTE: our flag is NOT four black blobs, it's a white cross on a black background, perhaps the black background signifying the rich mineral deposits from its tin mines and the white cross representing the purity of St. Piran. Obviously.
If I thought all sorts of people, for all sorts of reasons, were suddenly and completely coincidentally putting up the St George’s flag then fine. But it’s not. It’s performative as you said, people (mostly) trying to make a point about England. Let’s not beat around the bush. To them it’s a zero sum game. We boost our nation, to others’ cost. Their view of what our ‘national identity’ is. And also for some it is a sort of depressing ‘we’ve lost our way, let’s make UK great again’ crap.
ReplyDeleteIt’s bullshit. No sneering from me, just dislike of it all. I don’t care who is doing it, and I don’t make the mistake of assuming it is just one segment of society. For me, if those are their reasons for putting it up, then I am not a fan. They’re entitled to do it though (outside their house, but why across towns or on bridges? Can I use those spaces to promote my own views on things?).
Fwiw, I don’t mind a bit of light hearted nationwide celebration if someone achieves something marvellous. That is a different scenario.