National flags have started lining our streets. They may say something more

[Gonnagle]

Dear Prof,

Subtle subversion or just making fun? Well Prof this is just me chuntering out loud but I can't help but see a similar pattern emerging, one I have witnessed and so has every other poster on this forum, in fact we have a thread running all about a certain individual, Donald Trump, wonderful man saviour of the nation

I honestly thought at the time, no, most definitely not, how can they elect that man a second time, apart from everything else the man is a convicted criminal but guess what!

So now we come to dear old blighty, surely not you cry, us British, well we are more savvy, we would never ever elect someone like Donald, would we, well would we Prof!

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box and I am still wondering how that man became head of one of the most powerful nations in the world but one theory I have, the good people of America just decided, enough is enough

I did read in one news outlet that he who must not be named is actually thinking of forming a government we certainly do live in interesting times

Gonnagle.

[ProfessorDavey]

Dear Prof,

Subtle subversion or just making fun? Well Prof this is just me chuntering out loud but I can't help but see a similar pattern emerging, one I have witnessed and so has every other poster on this forum, in fact we have a thread running all about a certain individual, Donald Trump, wonderful man saviour of the nation

I honestly thought at the time, no, most definitely not, how can they elect that man a second time, apart from everything else the man is a convicted criminal but guess what!

So now we come to dear old blighty, surely not you cry, us British, well we are more savvy, we would never ever elect someone like Donald, would we, well would we Prof!

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box and I am still wondering how that man became head of one of the most powerful nations in the world but one theory I have, the good people of America just decided, enough is enough

I did read in one news outlet that he who must not be named is actually thinking of forming a government we certainly do live in interesting times

Gonnagle.

America thought that 'enough is enough'. Well that's a view. But there are other views, most notably that the USA has a deep rooted misogynostic and racist streak running through it. So Trump stands against a (white) woman - Trump wins (albeit not on popular vote). Trump stands against a white man - Trump loses. Trump stands against a black woman - Trump wins.

So how much of this is about 'enough is enough' and how much is that the USA isn't prepared for a woman president, let alone a black woman president.

And remember that this is Trump's second term, so 'enough is enough' doesn't really apply as he is part of the establishment that this 'enough is enough' should be railing against given that he was president from 2017 to 2021.

Not that this provides particular comfort as Farage doesn't have the baggage that Trump has when running for a further term. That said I am far from convinced that Farage is a shoe-in at the next election. My view (certainly my hope) is that he has a low ceiling and that (as we've seen in other countries) supporters of other parties with coalesce around the 'keep Farage out' options. It is also unlikely that there will be an election until 2029 (certainly not if Farage looks like winning) - that's an awful long time for the currently bright Farage flame to keep burning. He has a long track record of getting board and/or falling out with his supporters.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Prof,

Subtle subversion or just making fun? Well Prof this is just me chuntering out loud but I can't help but see a similar pattern emerging, one I have witnessed and so has every other poster on this forum, in fact we have a thread running all about a certain individual, Donald Trump, wonderful man saviour of the nation

I honestly thought at the time, no, most definitely not, how can they elect that man a second time, apart from everything else the man is a convicted criminal but guess what!

So now we come to dear old blighty, surely not you cry, us British, well we are more savvy, we would never ever elect someone like Donald, would we, well would we Prof!

I am not the sharpest pencil in the box and I am still wondering how that man became head of one of the most powerful nations in the world but one theory I have, the good people of America just decided, enough is enough

I did read in one news outlet that he who must not be named is actually thinking of forming a government we certainly do live in interesting times

Gonnagle.

Not sure what your point is here, not sure you know either

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sane,

My point, the flag wavers and hotel shouters have genuine grievance's but the people in power are not listening, this is not rocket science, I understand their frustration so should the people in power.

One side is branded haters/racist/uneducated and the other side is goody goody but unpatriotic, both sides should be listened to instead of trying for political point scoring.

The Farages of this world are loving this, watching the ordinary man and woman at each others throats and the Tories being Tories will try and out do Farage.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Sane,

My point, the flag wavers and hotel shouters have genuine grievance's but the people in power are not listening, this is not rocket science, I understand their frustration so should the people in power.

One side is branded haters/racist/uneducated and the other side is goody goody but unpatriotic, both sides should be listened to instead of trying for political point scoring.

The Farages of this world are loving this, watching the ordinary man and woman at each others throats and the Tories being Tories will try and out do Farage.

Gonnagle.

Listening to does not mean excusing making the flag a sign of hate, and yes, Farage is taking advantage of that but you can't just blame the politicians because then what you you are doing is saying that all of those involved are just too stupid to know they are being taken advantage of.

[Gonnagle]

Listening to does not mean excusing making the flag a sign of hate, and yes, Farage is taking advantage of that but you can't just blame the politicians because then what you you are doing is saying that all of those involved are just too stupid to know they are being taken advantage of.

Dear Sane,

Stupid!! Probably because they are angry, do people make good choices when they are angry, of course they don't.

Well we agree on Farage and he will keep fanning the flames of anger.

Blaming politicians, all day long, who's idea was it to house immigrant's in hotels, bloody stupid idea.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Sane,

Stupid!! Probably because they are angry, do people make good choices when they are angry, of course they don't.

Well we agree on Farage and he will keep fanning the flames of anger.

Blaming politicians, all day long, who's idea was it to house immigrant's in hotels, bloody stupid idea.

Gonnagle.

As opposed to what? We get the politicians we deserve in a democracy, and just blaming then as they exist as a seperate species is useless. Anger may be an energy but it doesn't mean you are right in any way.

[Nearly Sane]

As opposed to what? We get the politicians we deserve in a democracy, and just blaming then as they exist as a seperate species is useless. Anger may be an energy but it doesn't mean you are right in any way.

Though Mandelson may be a different species

[Gonnagle]

As opposed to what? We get the politicians we deserve in a democracy, and just blaming then as they exist as a seperate species is useless. Anger may be an energy but it doesn't mean you are right in any way.

Dear Sane,


  Anger may be an energy but it doesn't mean you are right in any way.

Or wrong.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear Sane,


  Anger may be an energy but it doesn't mean you are right in any way.

Or wrong.

Gonnagle.

Didn't say it did.

[Steve H]

Rispect are culcher!

[jeremyp]

... the flag wavers and hotel shouters have genuine grievance's ...

No they don't. If they have shitty lives, it is almost certainly not the fault of the immigrants but their own choices.

[Nearly Sane]

.

[Nearly Sane]

No they don't. If they have shitty lives, it is almost certainly not the fault of the immigrants but their own choices.

or maybe it's a tad more complex than that simplistic false dichotomy

[jeremyp]

or maybe it's a tad more complex than that simplistic false dichotomy

You give them too much credit.

[Nearly Sane]

You give them too much credit.

Snotty, elitist pish

[Nearly Sane]

Rispect are culcher!

But Keir has a flag in his room

[ad_orientem]

Best AI slop of the day, but then it did come from a Twitter account called "God Save Great Britain" with an IP address in India.

[Gonnagle]

No they don't. If they have shitty lives, it is almost certainly not the fault of the immigrants but their own choices.

Dear JP,

Shitty lives!! Well I have to confess that my usual go to for news is the good old BBC and the majority of people who have been interviewed of the flag wavers and hotel shouters are not complaining about "their shitty lives".

Just looking at the BBC coverage of what's happening in London, is everyone holding a Saltire, St Georges flag and the Union Jack a racist!! Was wondering where I could hang my Union Jack in Glasgow but it will have to wait need to dust off my KKK regalia and drag out that burning cross I was saving for a rainy day

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Dear JP,

Shitty lives!! Well I have to confess that my usual go to for news is the good old BBC and the majority of people who have been interviewed of the flag wavers and hotel shouters are not complaining about "their shitty lives".

Just looking at the BBC coverage of what's happening in London, is everyone holding a Saltire, St Georges flag and the Union Jack a racist!! Was wondering where I could hang my Union Jack in Glasgow but it will have to wait need to dust off my KKK regalia and drag out that burning cross I was saving for a rainy day

Gonnagle.

Such great patriots

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwydezxl0xlo

[Steve H]

I note that Hatey Cockpins and Laurence Fox were involved; also some thuggish-looking neanderthal called Ant Middleton, who one trusts is not related to the Princess of Wales.

[Nearly Sane]

I note that Hatey Cockpins and Laurence Fox were involved; also some thuggish-looking neanderthal called Ant Middleton, who one trusts is not related to the Princess of Wales.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant_Middleton

[Nearly Sane]

Which flag?


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2v7y0rdpwo

[Gordon]

My impression is that, for the most part, what we're seeing is xenophobia masquerading as patriotism.

[Aruntraveller]

I've always had an antipathy to flags of any sort. I think this was instilled in me by my father, who had no time for any displays of nationalism or patriotism.

I remember being astounded on my first visit to the USA in 1981 that my very liberal American friend had a flagpole with the Stars and Stripes duly attached to it in her front garden. It made me feel quite uneasy, as do the White/red combos that keep popping up with alarming regularity nowadays.

I had thought that the UK was, on the whole, more sensible about flags than the USA. Another of my internal myths has been fully demolished.