General News Thread

[st albans fox]

At the moment, can’t see anyone official from the Iranian regime willing to confirm that the ayatollah is alive. 
 

this could because he’s survived the initial attack and they don’t want the Israelis to know this.  Or it could be because he didn’t survive.  Impossible to have any information about much. In the twelve day war last year, we saw live pictures from Israel of missile strikes and confirmation out of Iran of sites that had been hit. Today has seen a lot more secrecy.  Infact the only public declaration from either country is that an elementary school was hit in southern Iran. Again, no way of knowing what struck that building nor who/how many casualties. And tbh, based on what the Iranian regime did to their own people last month, you wouldn’t put anything past them. 

 

Edited 28 February by st albans fox

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, Zear0 said:

Someone let me know which flag I'm allowed to fly please? 

Our team has got a white one you can borrow.

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, CornwallFox said:

It's not about the flag, this is what you're missing. 

 

What you're describing is patriotism. Simply being proud of your country is patriotism. 

 

Nobody cares about people loving their country and flying it's flag and other symbols as patriotism.

 

What we often see, however, is England flags flown by groups that are nationalistic rather than patriotic. The sentiment of their nationalism is what is disliked. You are yourself saying you disagree with nationalism. The flag when used by those groups as a symbol of their beliefs is where flag waving gets brought into focus.

 

Britain first, the national front, BNP, Tommy Robinson and other groups over the years have caused flag waving to be linked to nationalism, rather than patriotism which exists on left and right.

 

You should be angry about them misusing the symbol of our country as much as anybody else. 

 

The flag itself though has no meaning beyond being a symbol of the country so having it displayed is fine. It's about motive and motivation. The fact right wing patriots pretend this distinction doesn't exist is a bit ridiculous. 

I prefer Samuel Johnson's interpretation.

 

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

 

Interestingly, Oxford languages defines patriotism as devotion and vigorous support for ones country. From devoted and vigorous isn't much of a stretch to extreme and fanatical.

[StanSP]

Terrible times but this did tickle me. 

 

 

[Phil_Dunphy]

3 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Someone let me know which flag I'm allowed to fly please? 

 

[Foxdiamond]

3 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Someone let me know which flag I'm allowed to fly please? 

Flying the Union flag or England flag is open to criticism by many. Yet Flying a foreign flag in this country seems to be beyond reproach by the same people. Why is that? Can we really be thinking a foreign flag can be a unifying symbol and the Union or England flag can only be divisive 

[Clogger_]

8 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Flying the Union flag or England flag is open to criticism by many. Yet Flying a foreign flag in this country seems to be beyond reproach by the same people. Why is that? Can we really be thinking a foreign flag can be a unifying symbol and the Union or England flag can only be divisive 

Don't think flying flags is ever "unifying". It's being done to make a point. (In many cases, the point being "I'm a bellend")

[StanSP]

8 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Flying the Union flag or England flag is open to criticism by many. Yet Flying a foreign flag in this country seems to be beyond reproach by the same people. Why is that? Can we really be thinking a foreign flag can be a unifying symbol and the Union or England flag can only be divisive 

No one has ever said you can't fly the flag. It's what some people are using it for to further their agenda. 

 

Fly whatever flag you want. Have conversations with each other. Unify each other and don't use the flag (any flag) to further any racist or divisive nature... You can fly the Union Jack or St George's Cross but still be welcoming of others whatever their viewpoints... 

[Clogger_]

2 hours ago, st albans fox said:

At the moment, can’t see anyone official from the Iranian regime willing to confirm that the ayatollah is alive. 
 

this could because he’s survived the initial attack and they don’t want the Israelis to know this.  Or it could be because he didn’t survive.  Impossible to have any information about much. In the twelve day war last year, we saw live pictures from Israel of missile strikes and confirmation out of Iran of sites that had been hit. Today has seen a lot more secrecy.  Infact the only public declaration from either country is that an elementary school was hit in southern Iran. Again, no way of knowing what struck that building nor who/how many casualties. And tbh, based on what the Iranian regime did to their own people last month, you wouldn’t put anything past them. 

 

And your opinion of the murderous actions of the Israeli regime is...

[Foxdiamond]

Just now, Clogger_ said:

Don't think flying flags is ever "unifying". It's being done to make a point. (In many cases, the point being "I'm a bellend")

Must be all flags of whatever nation then?

[Clogger_]

Just now, Foxdiamond said:

Must be all flags of whatever nation then?

What on earth is your point? Do you like flag flying, but only Union Jacks?

[st albans fox]

4 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

And your opinion of the murderous actions of the Israeli regime is...

I’m not a fan of BN 

but he will be standing for re election in six months time 

[Foxdiamond]

2 minutes ago, StanSP said:

No one has ever said you can't fly the flag. It's what some people are using it for to further their agenda. 

 

Fly whatever flag you want. Have conversations with each other. Unify each other and don't use the flag (any flag) to further any racist or divisive nature... You can fly the Union Jack or St George's Cross but still be welcoming of others whatever their viewpoints... 

Not you obviously but plenty have objected to the Union and especially the England flag. Certainly there are some people using it for bad reasons but often there is an assumption that all are rabid right wingers yet everyone else flying a foreign flag is a paragon of virtue. Just to add I am welcoming of anybody from wherever if they are peaceable and law abiding

[Foxdiamond]

10 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

What on earth is your point? Do you like flag flying, but only Union Jacks?

Never actually felt the need to fly a flag. Would be happy to only see them at sports events or public buildings or places like the Mall. What about  you?

[Clogger_]

17 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Never actually felt the need to fly a flag. Would be happy to only see them at sports events or public buildings or places like the Mall. What about  you?

Quite like a county flag. Beyond that less so

[StanSP]

38 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Must be all flags of whatever nation then?

Yep, no problem. 

 

As long as you're a decent human being, not an arse hole and be civil then go ahead! 

 

26 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Not you obviously but plenty have objected to the Union and especially the England flag. Certainly there are some people using it for bad reasons but often there is an assumption that all are rabid right wingers yet everyone else flying a foreign flag is a paragon of virtue. Just to add I am welcoming of anybody from wherever if they are peaceable and law abiding

Thankfully most people are. But you'll only hear about the bad ones more often than not. 

[Foxdiamond]

8 minutes ago, Clogger_ said:

Quite like a county flag. Beyond that less so

Ha yes. Mind I bet a lot of people up and down the country wouldn't recognise their county flag 

[Foxdiamond]

4 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Yep, no problem. 

 

As long as you're a decent human being, not an arse hole and be civil then go ahead! 

 

Thankfully most people are. But you'll only hear about the bad ones more often than not. 

Yes. I guess the old maxim bad news travels fast is true.

[leicsmac]

Farage wanting the UK to follow the US in attacking Iran and "praying" for the "wonderful Persian people".

 

Wonderful enough that you'd like some more of them in the UK voting in elections, Nigel? Given the events of this week, assuming probably not?

[leicsmac]

Also, why are we living in a world where Marjorie Taylor Greene is suddenly a voice of sanity?

[Guesty]

2 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Also, why are we living in a world where Marjorie Taylor Greene is suddenly a voice of sanity?

For as bats**t crazy and insane as she is. She isn't some cult member that changes her mind with whatever Trump says. She is consistent and a true believer.

 

She genuinely believes in America First. It means leave Ukraine to fight it out, but also means leave Israel to it too.

 

She also genuinely believes in releasing the Epstein Files.

 

But she's still a crazy conspiracy theorist and was a Sandy Hook and Parkland denier.

[bovril]

8 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

Discussion of the union jack as racist is 95%  within right wing channels. It's a really boring trope trotted out endlessly about how you can't say you're English any more (good Stewart Lee piece on that), can't fly the flag, can't tell jokes etc. It's simply untrue.

 

I realise the whole thing has become a bit of a meme now but there is definitely a culture that has developed in England that expressions and celebrations of Britishness or even more so Englishness is inherently problematic, unless it's done in a way that is deliberately inclusive of diverse groups. Like supporting the England football team is so much more acceptable if it's the Lionesses or if we are celebrating the multi-ethnic makeup of the men's team. It's true to say there's a difference between patriotism and nationalism but people are less comfortable with even quite banal patriotism here than anywhere else I've been, unless as I said it is somehow fused with diversity and inclusivity. 

[Sly]

Ali Hosseini Khamenei assumed dead then. 
 

That’s the end of the not so supreme leader in Iran. 

[worthosoriginals]

6 hours ago, Zear0 said:

Someone let me know which flag I'm allowed to fly please? 

Cornwall would be acceptable 

[Lionator]

Dubai airport in smithereens