fujiyama
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Thu Jul-07-05 05:50 PM
Original message |
A question to British DUers - Are Britains putting up flags everywhere? |
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Here after 9/11 there was a huge frenzy to buy flags.
How is the reaction there? Are people doing the same thing - putting up Union Jacks everywhere?
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Lorien
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Thu Jul-07-05 06:02 PM
Response to Original message |
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my next door neighbor was born and raised in London, and only recently moved here with his wife. He called me this morning to help him give a pill to his cat. When I walked into his home, I asked if his friends and family were fine. He smiled and said "oh yes, yes-everyone is fine and accounted for. Now let's find the kitty..." He's a reporter working for Fox news through an international contractor, and his wife works for PBS-so it's not as if he's not fully aware of what's going on in the world (and yes, he is appalled by the way Fox tries to get him to "spin" the news-his group WON'T play along). Londoners know how to deal with terrorists; don't let them win by allowing them to change the way you feel or conduct your life.
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JimmyJazz
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Sat Jul-09-05 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
11. I had the same reaction from a friend of mine. I sent her an e-mail |
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asking if her family was all accounted for. She wrote back "I haven't been able to get through to anyone on the phone and, btw, we are having a picnic at the end of July, would you care to join us?"
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mwb970
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Sun Jul-10-05 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
15. Americans are obsessed with the flag. |
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It's a case of confusing the symbol with the reality. And the wronger our government's policies are, the more flags you see everywhere. We're nuts!
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Karenina
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Thu Jul-07-05 06:13 PM
Response to Original message |
2. They're at the pubs, debriefing with friends. |
Taxloss
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Thu Jul-07-05 06:29 PM
Response to Original message |
3. There is no jingoistic reaction. |
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There will be no jingoistic reaction.
we have to face the fact that the people who did this were, very probably, Londoners.
The bastards.
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baby_mouse
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Thu Jul-07-05 07:05 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Thu Jul-07-05 07:05 PM by baby_mouse
:eyes:
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T_i_B
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Sat Jul-09-05 04:29 AM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Sat Jul-09-05 04:45 AM by Thankfully_in_Britai
When I have seen flags of late they have been at half mast.
We get the flags out when the World Cup and the European Championships are on.
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julianer
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Sat Jul-09-05 05:08 AM
Response to Original message |
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Our 'patriotism' isn't regularly questioned, so we don't need to wave flags.
Patriotism doesn't have a wholly positive image here - the only readily accepted form is the mass display of St George crosses whenever England are involved in a football tournament; a bit of self-conscious irony at 'the Last Night of the Proms', perhaps.
No pledges and not much national anthem singing or any sort of public obeissance to the state or queen in the UK, really.
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ikri
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Sat Jul-09-05 05:36 AM
Response to Original message |
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I've just checked by looking out of the window here, and at least on my street there are no flags of any kind flying.
If people over here have any flags they're usually the local national flags (English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish) rather than the British flag. The flags that people do have are generally only used when there's some kind of sporting event, usually football, happening.
I'd not expect to see many flags flying much until next summer's World Cup in Germany.
I'll have to check when I do some shopping, but I'd expect that the only flags flying around here will be on the town hall (they're probably the only people around here with a British flag).
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BooScout
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Sat Jul-09-05 06:09 AM
Response to Original message |
8. Brits don't "do the flag thing" |
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....Unless a sporting even is on and then it won't be the Union Jack. Flag waving is associated with Nationalism across the pond.........with good reason......his name was Hitler and he loved to fly the swastika.
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mr blur
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Sat Jul-09-05 07:51 AM
Response to Original message |
9. No, we know who we are, |
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We don't go in for flag-waving, really. What's the point?
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ist rad
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Sat Jul-09-05 09:28 AM
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10. haven't seen any, apart from in the local UKIP-nut butcher's window |
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And that's always there. A couple of bricks have gone through the window of the local mosque, though- but then again that's a pretty regular occurence, too.
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T_i_B
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #10 |
12. I'm worried for our Muslim friends |
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The Muslims I have come across since the attack are as outraged as anyone else about it, but there are always the nasties about who will go after them for this.
In particular an Islamic centre has opened up in a very Conservative town near where I live (didn't even know they had any Muslims in that town before the place opened on the site of the old Labour hall) and I do worry that that place will be targeted.
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mrfrapp
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:56 AM
Response to Original message |
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Adoration of the national flag is peculiar to the USA. Also, the concept of patriotism (which the display of the American flag is meant to represent) is largely meaningless in the UK.
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Tom Yossarian Joad
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:58 AM
Response to Original message |
14. Shit. Anyone want a good deal on 10,000 magnetic Union Jacks? |
muriel_volestrangler
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Sun Jul-10-05 06:58 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
16. Is that you, Brit Hume? |
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Looks like it was a lousy time to buy, after all. :evilgrin:
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ole_evil_eye
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:05 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
17. are they actually made in Britain |
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or are they like our yellow ribbons and made by children in Taiwan?
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Taxloss
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:19 PM
Response to Original message |
18. No, I've noticed no ostentatious displays. |
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People put up more George's Crosses during football tournaments.
Of course, the flag issue is a little troubled here; not only has the Union flag only recently been reclaimed from the far right, the countries of the Union have their own flags - the George's Cross for England, the Welsh Dragon, and the Saltire, plus the various flags for NI, Manx, Jersey and so on.
Maybe this will change.
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JimmyJazz
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #18 |
20. Am I being offensive with my flag? Please tell me if I am. |
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I would not want to offend ANYONE and am just trying to be respectful.
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Taxloss
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:41 PM
Response to Reply #20 |
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Edited on Sun Jul-10-05 07:43 PM by Taxloss
On Edit: I like seeing the George's Cross.
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JimmyJazz
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:43 PM
Response to Reply #21 |
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I've seen a lot of Union Jacks flying and I was just wondering.
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Taxloss
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:46 PM
Response to Reply #23 |
24. As I say, it was a little controversial about 10 years ago, |
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but now we've reclaimed the flag from the Nazi nutjobs.
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JimmyJazz
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:51 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
25. Meh - I was just trying to show that some of us know the |
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difference between the two flags even though we aren't British :)
You know I love you.
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Taxloss
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:54 PM
Response to Reply #25 |
26. Believe me, that wasn't lost on me. |
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I love you right back, sweetie.
:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
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wovenpaint
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:35 PM
Response to Original message |
19. I live in New England-I've seen British flags here |
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I saw them today - flying under the the US flag. Some are a variation with the word "friendship" on them (IIRC) and the Union Jack in the corner.
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expatriate
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Sun Jul-10-05 07:43 PM
Response to Original message |
22. I may be wrong, but the flag flying thing |
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seems to be pretty much American - and it wasn't even a big thing in America until the Reagan years. When I was a pup, the only places you saw an American flag flying were the post office, outside of schools, on military bases and outside of government office buildings. Then the great flag waving began during the Reagan years and has grown ever since, boosted by 9/11.
I spent some time in Britain in the late 70's, early 80's, and never saw the sort of flag display that is seen in the US. I've lived in Australia for seven years and it's the same story.
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sweetheart
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Sun Jul-10-05 08:03 PM
Response to Original message |
27. I have a union jack and a st. andrews cross up |
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They've been up for months, and the wind has eaten away the tattered edge... so nothing special for some attack or any other.
They're pretty flags, and they tell the wind direction as they flutter in the breeze. There are mink whales sounding in the water offshore from the flags.... they must be british mink! :-)
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