Tuesday, June 08, 2004
HERE'S YOUR FLAG
The more I thought about that post I wrote last night, on the headshaking and disapproval directed by "the powers that be" -- especially the taxpayer-funded, broadcasting behemoth -- at English people for their having the unmitigated nerve to want to wave an England flag, the more I realized I was REALLY annoyed by that and had more to say . . .
In the final analysis, if you want to, you wave your flag -- and proudly. You pay the BBC's salaries, and the salaries of many of those who tell you you shouldn't. And if some pub chain publicly makes an issue of NOT displaying it. . .
Most critically at this time, do not let "the powers that be" tell you that flag is about football/soccer hooliganism. It is the national flag. Just because now and then a bunch of drunks and slugs who get all worked up over a football/soccer game happen to wave it and then can't control themselves, THAT is NO excuse for you to feel that YOUR FLAG is the problem -- although, "the powers that be", of course, want you to THINK THAT. Remember, those "powers" are searching desperately for ANY excuse to keep it from being waved and displayed. So, it is football/soccer hooligans today. And tomorrow's excuse will be, what?
Perhaps it is helpful, my not being English in this situation. Since you aren't supposed to wave it yourselves, and because you have a beautiful country, are decent people, and above all you have a damn right to be proud of your flag and your country, please allow me to wave it here on behalf of you all -- as so many of you waved mine, nearly three years ago, after the most awful, single event in my country's history:
And, to make this even worse, presumably, how about my including the words to this:
The more I thought about that post I wrote last night, on the headshaking and disapproval directed by "the powers that be" -- especially the taxpayer-funded, broadcasting behemoth -- at English people for their having the unmitigated nerve to want to wave an England flag, the more I realized I was REALLY annoyed by that and had more to say . . .
In the final analysis, if you want to, you wave your flag -- and proudly. You pay the BBC's salaries, and the salaries of many of those who tell you you shouldn't. And if some pub chain publicly makes an issue of NOT displaying it. . .
. . .Arena company executive Jeremy Skingley sent a memo to managers expressing the fear that pubs in the chain could develop a "male-dominated, highly charged, terrace-style football atmosphere" during the tournament, which starts on 12 June.. . .you are free to decide for yourselves whether you are willing to part with some of your hard-earned money in such an establishment.
He wrote "To this effect, it is strict company policy that no St George's flags should be displayed during Euro 2004.
"Unfortunately, the St George's flag has negative connotations of football violence.". . .
Most critically at this time, do not let "the powers that be" tell you that flag is about football/soccer hooliganism. It is the national flag. Just because now and then a bunch of drunks and slugs who get all worked up over a football/soccer game happen to wave it and then can't control themselves, THAT is NO excuse for you to feel that YOUR FLAG is the problem -- although, "the powers that be", of course, want you to THINK THAT. Remember, those "powers" are searching desperately for ANY excuse to keep it from being waved and displayed. So, it is football/soccer hooligans today. And tomorrow's excuse will be, what?
Perhaps it is helpful, my not being English in this situation. Since you aren't supposed to wave it yourselves, and because you have a beautiful country, are decent people, and above all you have a damn right to be proud of your flag and your country, please allow me to wave it here on behalf of you all -- as so many of you waved mine, nearly three years ago, after the most awful, single event in my country's history:
And, to make this even worse, presumably, how about my including the words to this:
Land of Hope and Glory,That's just one song. You apparently aren't sure which you might prefer, for England. Be that as it may, be proud of yourselves and your country -- and above all don't sit still meekly and allow anyone else to lecture you pompously about how you should display such pride, or not display such pride. ¶ by Robert, 6/08/2004 08:40:00 AM
Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee,
Who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider
Shall thy bounds be set,
God who made thee mighty,
Make thee mightier yet.
