On Flags - a thread
As a German, I was raised to be shy & a little bit suspicious about symbols of nationhood & patriotism (flags, anthems, pledges, etc.). I remember travelling to the UK in the 80s & 90s, & noticing the difference. But while the same display of flags,
As a German, I was raised to be shy & a little bit suspicious about symbols of nationhood & patriotism (flags, anthems, pledges, etc.). I remember travelling to the UK in the 80s & 90s, & noticing the difference. But while the same display of flags,
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buntings & colours would have astonished me at home, in the UK (England, I should say) it seemed a bit quirky (but then that was deemed part of Englishness), but on the whole 'normal' - part of an attitude confident, undamaged, uncurbed by disastrous history.
buntings & colours would have astonished me at home, in the UK (England, I should say) it seemed a bit quirky (but then that was deemed part of Englishness), but on the whole 'normal' - part of an attitude confident, undamaged, uncurbed by disastrous history.
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Since then, in Germany, things have changed a bit, with unification, the World Cup, etc. We've become a little less shy about our colours. (I wonder whether my German/-based readers feel the same). But we still feel rather uncomfortable about displaying them most of the time.
Since then, in Germany, things have changed a bit, with unification, the World Cup, etc. We've become a little less shy about our colours. (I wonder whether my German/-based readers feel the same). But we still feel rather uncomfortable about displaying them most of the time.
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In the UK, I have watched & struggled with the Brexit-connected, Tory-fuelled new patriotic cheer for a while. Some of it, the WWII celebrations in people's front yards, the clapping for NHS staff, I would have expected to see in the past.
In the UK, I have watched & struggled with the Brexit-connected, Tory-fuelled new patriotic cheer for a while. Some of it, the WWII celebrations in people's front yards, the clapping for NHS staff, I would have expected to see in the past.
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But open patriotism has been steadily increased, and it has tipped into nationalism (as far as public personae & campaigns go) with (I would say) the last general election. The new government turned patriotism, previously a strategic campaign tool to achieve Brexit & win
But open patriotism has been steadily increased, and it has tipped into nationalism (as far as public personae & campaigns go) with (I would say) the last general election. The new government turned patriotism, previously a strategic campaign tool to achieve Brexit & win
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the elections) into part of their program, pushing the borders further & further. So while I, too, poked fun at the display of flags in zoom meetings & BBC reports, these are, in fact, worrying signs of streamlining, peer pressure, and unchecked, uncritical national bias.
the elections) into part of their program, pushing the borders further & further. So while I, too, poked fun at the display of flags in zoom meetings & BBC reports, these are, in fact, worrying signs of streamlining, peer pressure, and unchecked, uncritical national bias.
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Please, think of my country's history. Allow opinions, allow difference, allow individualism. You can be proud of your country and still be yourself. You can be critical & still not a traitor.
END
Please, think of my country's history. Allow opinions, allow difference, allow individualism. You can be proud of your country and still be yourself. You can be critical & still not a traitor.
END
Thank you all for listening & your thoughtful, kind & measured replies. It is reassuring that there's room still for complicated, sensitive topics, & that they can be voiced w/o being shouted down or ridiculed. I've not received a single abusive reply to this thread. Thank you.🙏
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