Hmm. Clearly St George's Day will require a bit more work in England, contrary to my sense that patriotism in these lands was on the rise. Check out this veritable tale of pathos and bathos.
Pamela Ealham, 75, from Chingford, who was dressed in a tall felt hat and cape bearing the Cross of St George, believed that she knew what the event needed: more flags. “It’s disgusting,” she said. “There are no English flags anywhere in Trafalgar Square. We come to all the events up here, and they have all their flags. The people organising this probably think they might offend the immigrants. On St Patrick’s Day the water in the fountains is green. Today there’s nothing.”And, of course:
In Manchester, nine people were arrested in the city centre in connection with public order offences. Earlier, about 40 people paraded through the streets wearing red roses and chanting patriotic anthems. Police said that the nine had been arrested after a group began singing racist songs in a pub. Passers-by said that racist gestures had been made towards them.
6 comments:
If the St Patrick's Day green water in Trafalgar Sq. thing were to be repeated, what colour would the water be? Red?
It can be said safely that red coloured water may frighten some English people too. 'Perhaps there has been a murder' may be their first thought and given London's crimes, who can fault them?
Identity is as much about claiming it in absolute terms as it is patently NOT about defining it relative to other people and their reactions. Why do English people have to bring up the Welsh and the Irish always, when talking about themselves?
And who says the flag offends anyone? I have never been asked my views on St George's flag and nor has any of the numerous desis I know.
They need to celebrate, then they should go ahead instead of whining about it every year. Or may be the whining _is_ the celebration of Englishness. What do I know? I is a stupid immigrant, innit? ;-)
Why do English people have to bring up the Welsh and the Irish always, when talking about themselves?
I suspect that it's because they've so long been dominant and synonymous with British that now if they want to distinguish themselves, they can only do so via comparison against the other nations.
What I like to see, though, is that St George's Cross appears - wait for it - on the Indian Navy's ensign!
That Indian Navy ensign reminds me of this Hindi saying: ghar ka jogi jogda, aan gaon ka siddh :-)
I guess you can parse that, Feanor.
I say, I'm totally at a loss with that muhavra (or is it a lokokti?) Was never any good at them even when I was studying Hindi, and that was ages ago. Translation, pliss!
Uh-huh... Lokokti and means roughly that a saint is not appreciated in his own town, whereas a rogue from elsewhere is worshipped. A bit hard to translate but sort of in the ball-park.. :-/
Thanks! I'd never have figured that one out. 'Aan gaon ka siddh' is what threw me.
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