It's also been marred by association. Given the fact that St George, and "English-ness-ness" has been hijacked by grade A t***ers such as Farage, Robinson, Griffin, similarly the same concept of the manji or swastika. People automatically associate it with Nazism, and then shy away from, when in fact it's a Hindu and Buddhist symbol, referencing Prosperity, Luck, Security and Good.
It doesn't really upset anyone though. There are a few jobsworths who think it might that's all. What would be the focal point though? The Irish have Guinness, Boiled bacon and cabbage, we've got haggis, poetry and single malt and anyone can, and does, join in. So, what aspect of Englishness would unite the Cornish, Yorkshiremen, the Geordies et al?
I get very tired of "we can't celebrate St Georges day" I have never been told I can't or that I am a raciest, I wish people who complain about not being able to celebrate it would let me know who is stopping them. If you want a drink, have one, no one cares
There is no doubt whatsoever that this country has gone backwards in many, many ways since the start of uncontrolled immigration. My blood boils when I am forced to sit on a packed commuter train next to someone having a loud mobile phone conversation in Polish. To my mind there has been a complete collapse in civic civility since we let 10 backward Communist nations have uncontrolled access to our borders. Each morning I walk through the City from Liverpool St....the sheer amount of East European beggars now littering our streets is staggering.
Cricket on village greens. Men who wear a tie and have a shave every day. Shops that don't open on Sundays. Bus conductors on London double dockers, where you were allowed to smoke upstairs. Fox hunting. Smoking. Football. Conservative values. Acting in a civilised way in public spaces, including not sharing your phone conversations in public places in Lithuanian or Polish.
Can we stick to the topic of St George's day, and not turn the convo to one about immigration in the UK. General chat is there for trivial topics. Thanks. Now let's all enjoy our Friday and look forward to the last away game of the season
Worth mentioning a few great Englishmen you should all be proud of.............. Charles Darwin; Isaac Newton; George Stephenson;, William Shakespeare; Stephen Hawking; Sir Bobby Robson;.....name your own.
Winston Churchill, George Orwell, The Queen, Joanna Lumley. I know I have a couple of Women in there but there is no reason why it has to be all men.
My next door neighbour's kids go to a catholic school - this year there are lots of disgruntled parents whose kids didn't get a place at the school as the council have told all Catholic schools to set aside 10% of spaces for immigrants kids as they are all catholic - This could only happen in this country - kids of honest tax-paying folk are being put to one side to make way for a foreign benefit scrounger's - unbelievable!!
I don't see most people complaining about this to be honest. Besides, it was the English themselves who let St.George drop for decades, and then got sulky when the Irish, Scots and Welsh made a big party out of their Saints. I live in Catalunya, so we had St George here too, and EVERYONE goes out buying books and roses. As an aside, and following up on the Burns section of the thread, I read somewhere that the reson for buying your loved one a book in Catalunya is connected with two famous writers who were born and/or died on this day, Cervantes and Shakespeare (is'nt it the 'world day of the book' for the same reason?)
Had a great day on HMS Charlton yesterday for a beer or two or 6 and back to the Liberal club to continue celebrating, as well as laying flowers on the Lee Rigby stone at the Valley early that morning. Great day great people
There is a place in this country for the likes of Nigel Farage. He is an answer to a problem that Tony Blair created.
Enoch Powell, Alf Garnett (even though he supports them), Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer - well worth a read up on him if you get a spare few minutes)