Metropol

The only flag that should fly over Downing Street is the Union Flag.

The whole enterprise is just another excuse for people to turn their hard-earned money into urine.

Such a flipping waste.

Having said that, it would be nice if we won! And it's refreshing to see the English flag a bit more too.

I think the England flags are more to do with buying into that whole magic of "the festival" than some macho head-banging football culture. The neanderthal men, of whom Gav speaks, only form a small part of the whole audience. And it is a great festival - it brings together different cultures and throws up surprises. Fans (of all countries) know that any knockout tournament is a lottery more than anything else and enjoy it primarily for its unpredictability. I'm flying the England flag but won't be too bothered if/when we get knocked out; I'll also be watching all the other games and enjoying them. It's pantomime, it's fun, just like any other game. And it's easily accessible - you don't have to have any real knowledge of football to appreciate the drama.

GavBelfast wrote:The only flag that should fly over Downing Street is the Union Flag.

I agree, and I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive or not, but I don't care for the "Feature" link on the BBC News homepage today which is as follows:


England Haters
Why so many Brits
will support Anyone
But Rooney and Co

I know they are trying to get clicks to the story, but I think they're guilty of stirring up tensions by suggesting Scotland is full of 'England Haters' - esp. using a photo of a kid wearing face paint. I know there are plenty who will want England to lose, but sweeping generalisations like that really annoy me. I wish the BBC would ditch the fluffy ‘Magazine’ from it’s website. It’s not it’s job to try and entertain office workers with this drivel every day.

After the world cup we have the other yawnfest that is wimbledon to look forward to.
And if one more person asks me why i'm not flying tthe flag from my car, i will shove the 3 flags they are flying from theirs where he sun don't shine..
<mini rant>

I have to say I'm not greatly irritated by this - I just don't think it's appropriate.

If, say, Wales had qualified as the only home team there, I simply can't contemplate that the Welsh Dragon would have been flown from the Prime Minister's residence. He is the UK Prime Minister, not England's First Minister. I'd hoped David Cameron might be above this sort of thing - he's not that interested in football as far as we know. The blurring of Englishness with Britishness does irritate people from other parts of the UK, including those of us who are very much pro-UK in our views.

Can I add, too, that I am certainly not an "England hater". I want to see England doing well in the tournament, though winning it might be a bit insufferable.

Good luck tonight against the self-proclaimed World's Coyboy, sorry, Policeman.

But the Scottish Parliament building has the Scottish flag flying outside it. Where, if we can't have it flying outside Downing Street, do you suppose we should have the English flag fly? We don't have our *own* Parliament as such.

GavBelfast wrote: He is the UK Prime Minister, not England's First Minister. I'd hoped David Cameron might be above this sort of thing -

pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft

That was quite evocative - by your standards - Alexia.

GavBelfast wrote:That was quite evocative - by your standards - Alexia.

-- I just love the idea that David Cameron is above anything.

Hopefully, the Union Flag has now been restored to its rightful place - and will stay there permanently.