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Flag-waving at the Last Night of the Proms
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
While watching the Last Night of the BBC Proms on the TV this evening, I was struck by the flag-waving -- or, more accurately, by the flags that were being waved. Union Flags, crosses of Saint George, saltaires of Saint Andrew, Welsh dragons... I even spotted a Royal Standard in the mix!
My point is this: what better example could there be for the fact that the United Kingdom is one nation made out of many, in which tolerance is practised?
Without doubt, the Last Night of the Proms is an event of stong nationalist feeling (at least, stong by UK standards). I honestly can't a similarly nationalist event in Saddam-era Iraq, Iran, North Korea going ahead with more than once flag on show. For that matter, I can't even imagine there being multiple flags on show in the USA -- although I'd be happy to be corrected if the individual states' flags do get a lot of show.
Do people here agree that this is a laudable thing, and that the UK is unique in this respect? Or am I reading a bit much into it all? :-)
Mac
My point is this: what better example could there be for the fact that the United Kingdom is one nation made out of many, in which tolerance is practised?
Without doubt, the Last Night of the Proms is an event of stong nationalist feeling (at least, stong by UK standards). I honestly can't a similarly nationalist event in Saddam-era Iraq, Iran, North Korea going ahead with more than once flag on show. For that matter, I can't even imagine there being multiple flags on show in the USA -- although I'd be happy to be corrected if the individual states' flags do get a lot of show.
Do people here agree that this is a laudable thing, and that the UK is unique in this respect? Or am I reading a bit much into it all? :-)
Mac
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Comments
Totally agree with you. I don't know of any other country (if you can consider the UK a country where different flags would be so welcome at a national event.
Unless others can prove me wrong,...
On another note, and not completely off-topic, does anyone know where you can buy Union Jacks?
I want one for myself now though.
Nor do I. In fact, I think it's a shame that Britons aren't more patriotic more often. It seems to me that we in the UK are almost afraid to be seen to be proud of our national heritage, which is why the Last Night is a good thing. Towards the other extreme one gets American gung-ho and eventually extreme nationalism of the Nazi or other totalitarian variety. Have we fled from that extreme too much, lost our sense of balance?
I know! *sigh* Britons eh? Quite happy to moan that national identity is going to go down the drain because of things like the Euro, but won't even fly the Union Jack!
I wonder how much of this is because we are told that we should be ashamed of much of our history.
Certainly I don't think that we behaved well in the past, but that is because I am using current standards as a guide.
Personally I am all for showing some national pride...
Well, it's starting to clear up since I got the cream
Try http://www.flytheflag.net/
Oh and state/regional flags are frequently seen in the US, Germany and Spain.
Paul.
I have travelled in all three of those countries and I can recall seeing the 'regional' flags on display, but usually outside local municipal buildings and suchlike. What I was really thinking about is whether those flags get a showing at national events.