Vexillophobia

JohnJo points out another outbreak of stupid at the Beeb:

They are everywhere. It seems you cannot go down any street at the moment without seeing cars, shops, houses and pubs festooned with St George's flags.

But are these patriotic displays just an indication of support for the England squad in Euro 2004 or do they represent something else?

Actually, the Beeb's stealth editors have been at it. The unedited version (as preserved by JohnJo) made the Beeb's agenda a little too clear:

But are these patriotic displays just an indication of support for the England squad in Euro 2004 or do they represent something else, perhaps something more sinister?

Ah ha - the flags are actually thought transmitters used by the Greys to control their slaves from a cloaked saucer, locked in geosynchronous orbit over Huddersfield. It's totally true.

Well, is that any more ridiculous than the Beeb trying to put a evil cast over Englishmen in England owning English flags ? And what exactly is with the implication that, if you fly your nation's flag for any reason other than footy, your reasons must be sinister. But, annoying as the Beeb's Nazi spotting is, what also grates is that - as ever - they don't have the courage to come out and say it, instead trying to phrase it as a question.

Similar spinelessness is on show in the next paragraph:

In some quarters concerns have been raised that the recent surge in the number of the flags on show on England's streets, has little to do with supporting the national football team and is more a statement of discontent with the state of the nation.

Ah yes, 'some quarters'. Not the Beeb you understand. They'd never waste public money on screechy Hate Britannia garbage but, y'know, the points been raised by...somebody.

Shopkeepers have reported their biggest ever sales of the pennants this year which have coincided with increasing calls from civic groups to be proud of our nation and football team.

But is that the only reason for such outward displays of patriotism?

No, it's the Greys I tell you. They're tied of giving people anal probes individually, now they're plotting to take over the Earth using zombies to cause chaos while they seize our planet.

One pub chain recently attempted to ban the flag because of its links to hooliganism, and a flag manufacturer is looking to produce a "softer design".

And I sincerely hope that real Englishman have treated the chain in question the way Liberals hope they would treat any organisation which adopted an unwelcoming attitude to a particular racial group.

Geoff Marlow, owner of Kings Heath Photo Centre, said he will be hoisting a huge flag above his shop in the build up to Euro 2004.

"I'm all for it, it's our flag so why shouldn't we be entitled to fly it, you wouldn't go up to Scotland or Wales and tell them not to fly theirs.

"The reason is football, there is no need at other times.

"I had it up during the World Cup and had no bad reactions."

That's because he's in the real world, rather than the Moonbat Dimension where the Beeb lives.

Kings Heath builder Gary Timmins, 34, an England fan who is following the team to Portugal, admitted he thought the flag was being used by many to declare their annoyance against immigration issues.

'Admitted': no bias there.

"It is about patriotism and I think it is a big statement from people because they think they are getting pushed about and hear about people who are coming into our country and within two or three weeks getting everything.

"I think 99% of those flying flags won't be going to Euro 2004, they are putting on a show."

True, but only in the opposite sense, that if you think England is the worst country in the entire world, then you won't be worried by the government giving a passport to Sheikh Khal'al Dujoos.

Non flag-bearers Tina Chauhan, 22, an administration clerk from Moseley, and Ali Azam, 22, a security worker from Moor Green, said they feared it could be used by some to incite racism.

"There can be problems with it and that needs to be pointed out," Tina said.

They might hate the flag, but I bet they can manage to stomach holding a British passport and all associated rights. They probably think England would be a great country, if only it wasn't for all those natives running round the place. Savages, everyone of them, and probably racist too.

But Lorraine Reeves, 42, an assembler from West Heath, said her only excuse for not flying a flag was that she was about to trade her car in for a new one.

"I'm proud to be English and it's a pity we don't show it more often, we always have to wait for it to be football, it should be all the time," she said.

"If you go to a lot of Asian shops they are the ones who are selling them."

Noooooo...the flag is a symbol of hate. Mere contact with an England flag causes acid burns to any skin darker than Casper the Ghost. As for England shirts, they can turn even the strongest of Black men into a useless physical wreck. Look at Emile Heskey.


Dan Steel, 27, a church worker from Stirchley, said: "I find it quite bizarre and couldn't work out what it was about although I noticed it started more after St George's Day.

"I think it is over emphasised patriotism. I love football but I wouldn't put one on my own car.

"I expect the BNP are happy about it."

Ah yes - a Nazi slur. Like greeting an old friend. Indeed, of those who fly the flag, some may be Nazis. But wait - he says he's a church worker. We know paedophiles have infiltrated the church, now here's a self-confessed 'church worker' who suddenly introduces a slur on millions of patriotic Englishmen. Sounds like he's trying to change the subject. Has he got something to hide, mmmmmmmmmmmm ?

Theresa Price, 55, a cleaner from Kings Norton, said: "I have put it up because I am English, I put it up for anything, the cricket, the rugby and the football. It is pride in our English teams.

"I think people banning it is stupid, I work in a pub which has got all the flags up and not one woman in there says anything about them being up."

See above: this is reality we're talking, not the Metropolitan Moonbat Reserve aka the Beeb.

Shopkeeper Patricia Sandford, owner of Ace Party in Northfield, said she had sold more flags this year than ever before and expected to sell out.

"We have sold them to women and to non-white people, there is no fear attached to them," she said.

Good job it wasn't a Conservative organisation that tried to imply Nasser Hussain couldn't be a real patriot.

And Tim Tansley, marketing manager for House of Flags who make the flags, said demand had increased 100% on last year and individual orders were becoming more common, especially for middle class homes.

"Flying a flag is definitely becoming more popular, the football is emphasising the St George's flag because England are the only home team but when the rugby was on we had lots of business from supporters of the French, Italian and Irish teams.

Yes, but at least there's no history of violence associated with Irish Nationalism.

Ahem.

"Our typical customer is definitely not the stereotypical football fan of five or 10 years ago."

Despite this he said the firm was just about to sign a deal to produce a new style of St Georges cross which would remove it from negative connotations.

Lemme guess: white cross on a white background. Give it that touch of Gallic style.

Andrew Houseley, director of the Commission for Racial Equality Midlands, said he was concerned that some people felt threatened by the increase in flags on display in public.

Some people feel threatened by a Black guy walking within ten foot of them. We call these people bigots. What's the diff exactly ?


"We understand how the flag could instil fear as it has been hijacked by racists in the past," he said.

"But, the only way to remove this fear is to reclaim the flag from the racists who wrongly claim to be the only keepers of the flame of Englishness."

Or alternatively, fire all the race-hustling deadbeats who try to justify their grossly inflated salaries by claiming that any interruption in English, British or general Western self-flagellation proves the Fourth Reich is just around the corner. After all, who except one of these parasites or their brain-dead acolytes would see a six-inch piece of plastic as threatening ?

UPDATE:

Well, actually there is one group that can always be relied upon to be offended. Blowing people up they're this way and that about, but flying flags - now that's evil.