Peter Moore: Is it racist to fly the English flag?

On the mini roundabout near my house is a red cross.

I confess I did not paint it. It is now wearing off as most drivers do not go round the roundabout but drive straight over it. 

But am I patriotic? Yes and no. A recent survey showed that sixteen and seventeen year olds are more patriotic than their parents. 49% are proud of their national identity with only 10% ashamed. Across the whole population 45% were proud and 15% ashamed.

When I was a teenager, many years ago, I claimed that I was not patriotic. Patriotism was the underlying cause of world strife and war. I was a citizen of the world. 

This belief was shattered by a French boy. I had an exchange visit to a French family. I enjoyed my time in South West France near the Alps, largely because it was a village with an international mixture of kids. I had far more in common with the German and Dutch teenagers than the French.

It was when he stayed with us in England that I realised I was patriotic. Everything was met with “we ‘av ze same en France” or “it is better en France”. Of course the mountains were better in France but we visited Stonehenge. Pardon. Vous n’avez par Le Stonehenge en France, although I’m not sure whether Stonehenge is male or female. I am not going to claim the Eiffel Tower is in London. And you may have the odd chateaux, but you do not have Longleat. 

After he had left it became a family joke. Whenever we saw something amazing one of us would say “it is better in France”.

I was not patriotic unless some foreigner tried to rubbish my country. 

So, should I put up a flagpole and start painting St George’s Flags on roundabouts? The problem I have is why? Why are people raising the flag and getting out the red paint? Although many people are simply patriotic it can mean something more sinister. Do the painters see England as the multicultural, multiethnic country it is or is there an element of racism. Do English people from ethnic minorities embrace this movement or see it as threatening? 

The anti-racist groups, “Hope not Hate” and “Stand up to Racism” have argued that the campaign is an attempt by the far right to promote tension and intimidate ethnic minorities, immigrants and asylum seekers. It has been supported by several organisations on the far right such as Britian First and Tommy Robinson, the anti-Muslim activist but also by many who are not in any way racist. 

Some people putting up flags argue that their parents or grandparents fought in the Second World War to support the flag. There are few World War two veterans left to ask but my father was rescued from Dunkirk and then sent to Burma where he nearly died. 

When a neighbour put up a flagpole with a Union Jack his response was to take the Mickey. He did not salute and sing Rule Britania. He never discussed the flag with the neighbour but did say to us that anyone putting up a flag should always take it down at night. When he was in the army leaving a flag up all night would have been seen as an insult to the country. 

Even the Union Jack is a bit problematic. It includes the Irish cross of St Patrick but not the flag of Northern Ireland. Wales is not on the flag because technically it is not a country but a principality, but don’t tell Plaid Cymru. I am not sure where we could put a dragon on the flag. 

I am proud of my country but mainly proud of our sense of humour, our habit of understatement and our feelings for the rights of others. I will support anyone who wants to put up a flag provided it is for the right reasons, pride in our multiethnic, welcoming country and pride in our sense of humour. I do not plan to paint any roundabouts or put up a flag in case anyone thinks I have a more sinister motive.