Last week in my small rural town, St George’s flags were erected from lamp-posts and crudely daubed on roundabouts and zebra crossings, while residents were subjected to “Sieg Heil” as a mob walked along the streets. Downing Street has put out a statement that patriotism is important, while Joanne Monk, the Reform UK leader of Worcestershire city council, also emphasised pride in the flag.
I have nothing against the flag per se, but when Nazi thugs use it to demonstrate and catcall, it morphs into something else entirely. As a Black person, I have been subject to abuse three times in the past fortnight. My 12-year-old child and his friend were called “paedos” at school – they are the only Black children in the class – and a friend’s child was called the N-word on the bus (this was before the summer recess). To be Black in the countryside at the moment is to have a target on your back.
There are real-world consequences of constantly demonising Black and Brown people in the media, racialising crimes and acting as if the most vulnerable people in our society – asylum seekers – are the reasons your energy bills are too high or you can’t afford your food shop.
Nigel Farage and his acolytes know what they are doing with their disinformation and division campaign, and the media should be ashamed of giving them so much airtime. As Rafael Behr notes (There’s an obvious way to challenge Nigel Farage. But Keir Starmer won’t do it, 27 August), the distraction technique is a well-worn part of Farage’s playbook. A strong prime minister would call him out, not mimic him. If he gets into Downing Street in 2029, as some pollsters predict, we will only have ourselves to blame.
Name and address supplied
• I am surprised that someone who asked their neighbour to take down an England flag is astonished by their refusal to do so (Letters, 26 August). But why would they comply? The flag is not obscene, offensive or inappropriate; it is the flag of England being flown in England.
I do not recall similar objections when Ukrainian flags appeared in windows in a display of solidarity. Nor do such debates arise when the England men’s football team enjoys success, prompting a surge of flags in cars, pubs and homes. And the union jacks along the Mall in London rarely attract controversy.
To equate the St George’s cross with extremism is a mistake. Suppressing its display does not challenge intolerance, it merely silences legitimate expressions of national identity. Surely the more constructive approach is to foster open discussion rather than to remove symbols.
If one chooses to live in England, one should reasonably expect to see England’s flag flown with pride. There is nothing inherently wrong in expressing affection for one’s own country.
Name and address supplied
• I live on a terrace of 16 houses. A couple of years ago, one of our neighbours put up a St George’s cross. At first, the flag seemed football-related, but they left it flying indefinitely. As such a powerful signifier of patriotism, many of us felt it gave our terrace a distorted and unwanted image.
It then occurred to us that we could drown out that cultural noise by us all flying flags. Ten houses participated. We made poles from fishing rods and bamboo. I chose the flag of Jamaica to represent my partly Caribbean family. There were flags from the Philippines, Scotland, Spain, rainbows and doves, and we raised them as high as possible above the union flag. On breezy, sunny days they made our terrace seem like a festival of difference.
Many people asked residents what we were celebrating. Our answer was that “we are from everywhere”. The St George’s cross couple soon left and our community settled back into its peaceful ways.
Jane Ryan
Woodbridge, Suffolk
• Further to the very interesting letters about the current rash of flags, has anyone noticed that nearly all the ones on tall lamp-posts are flying at half mast? Is it just that flag-flyers don’t have cherry pickers, or are we unconsciously in mourning for the decline of compassion and decency?
Michael Pyke
Lichfield, Staffordshire
• It’s heartening to see so many lads supporting the England women’s team in the Rugby World Cup with their street flags.
Hugh Coolican
Broughton Astley, Leicestershire
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