Archive
By Mike Newman
This is the Cross of St. George, the National Flag of England:
For some reason, it has become associated over the years with the extremist right, with racial superiority and frankly, with little to do with the modern, multicultural England in which I live.
It is therefore, encouraging to see it rise again (albeit due to a football tournament) as a symbol of Englishness. I think most English people are big enough to shoulder the burden of history, and to be aware that the actions of our government or armed forces have not always been pristine. The simple fact is, I'm English. Its taken me an awfully long time to be proud of that - and before they are levelled I must point out that the accusations of racism I have weathered have more than tested me - they've cost me a career and several years of my sanity after all!
The point of this rant? Well - I was moved to write to the BBC about this today too. Why do people adorn their car, desk or home with the Cross of St George augmented with the word "England" emblazoned across it? Its like writing the word "Car" on the side of your Volvo estate, or shaving "Haircut" into the back of your "Hoxton Fin! Let the flag quietly make its own statement, its almost indecent to turn it into a sports club emblem. I'm not asking for this kind of treatment or anything nearly like it!
There is, after all, nothing wrong with being English. Now, about that National Anthem...
For some reason, it has become associated over the years with the extremist right, with racial superiority and frankly, with little to do with the modern, multicultural England in which I live.
It is therefore, encouraging to see it rise again (albeit due to a football tournament) as a symbol of Englishness. I think most English people are big enough to shoulder the burden of history, and to be aware that the actions of our government or armed forces have not always been pristine. The simple fact is, I'm English. Its taken me an awfully long time to be proud of that - and before they are levelled I must point out that the accusations of racism I have weathered have more than tested me - they've cost me a career and several years of my sanity after all!
The point of this rant? Well - I was moved to write to the BBC about this today too. Why do people adorn their car, desk or home with the Cross of St George augmented with the word "England" emblazoned across it? Its like writing the word "Car" on the side of your Volvo estate, or shaving "Haircut" into the back of your "Hoxton Fin! Let the flag quietly make its own statement, its almost indecent to turn it into a sports club emblem. I'm not asking for this kind of treatment or anything nearly like it!
There is, after all, nothing wrong with being English. Now, about that National Anthem...
