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Hardly groups promoting English ‘culture’ but certainly fostering a “batten down the hatches” against ‘foreigners’ attitude. In English terms, we have witnessed the rise of a “Far Right” English nationalism: BNP, Britain First, EDL, UKIP etc. When, even in Wales, the BBC‘s Not the Nine O’Clock News team ran the insensitive but funny sketch, “Come home to a real fire, but a cottage in Wales”, owing to the Welsh nationalist arson campaign against English second homes in Wales. I remember the 1980s when Irish terrorism or freedom fighters, depending upon your definition, was still rife. The debate over English votes for English laws is the trade-off for giving more power to Scotland to avoid secession from the Union. In the UK – Scottish, Welsh, and Irish independence are looked upon favourably in cultural and political terms but, somehow, English nationalism is seen as far right extremism – and many times, it is. Sometimes, going so far as to create a virtual or real barrier to keep people separate, outsiders out, spewing xenophobic bile about non-locals, inciting hatred and violence against immigrants, migrant communities, or those who are markedly different. Flags unite, they are a banner under which to stand and draw people together – or symbolise rebellion against the establishment and regional pride as with Confederate flag adorned General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard:īut they can attract opposition too, and be used for aggression. Even for a personal identity, rainbow flags and now many others, e.g., trans, non-binary, etc, are flown and worn at LGBT Pride events across the world.
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Being proud of your place of origin, wanting autonomy, independence, freedom, and asserting these things is not wrong. Nationalism is not a negative concept in itself, nor indeed are regionalism and localism. It was this flag that was removed by protestor Bree Newsome on 27 June, this year. Even more, around 44%, viewed the flag as a symbol associated with racism, rather than just 20% seeing it as symbolic of Southern pride.īack in 1961, in the middle of civil rights and race activism, the South Carolina State Senate raised the Confederate flag on top of the Senate dome, where it remained until removed in 2000 when an alternate flag was instead flown from a flagpole in the grounds. Two years, later and a 2013 YouGov poll revealed 38% public disapproval of flying the flag in public places. In 2011, a Pew Research Center poll demonstrated that the majority of Americans don’t react to the “Southern Flag” and that 9% view it with positive pride, however, some 30% have a “negative reaction” when they see the Confederate flag. In the Scottish independence vote the “ Saltire Flag” was flown for both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns and nobody objected to a strong sense of Scottish identity, so why not the American South? Current Reactions to the Southern US Flag In the UK, the “ Union Jack” or more often the “ St George’s Flag” of England has been hijacked for nationalist ends too. The last fortnight has seen people simultaneously complaining about the flying of the “ Rainbow Flag” and the “ Confederate Flag” in the USA. The Confederate Flag – a stained or Stainless Banner?