Sandie Seward
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Put out more flags.Tacky or not, the red cross should raise our national pride not flag up our faults, says sean thomas .
Like most people, I've noticed the slew of red cross-of-St George flags, decorating the cars and houses of England - urging on our World Cup soccer team. Like most middle-class people, I admit I've winced at the slight chavviness of it all, while fully supporting the right of every red-blooded Englishman to express his patriotism as he sees fit. Put it another way, I quite like the flag, but I can't be bothered to fly one myself.
But now, having read an extraordinary article by Muslim pundit Faisal Bodi, on the Guardian's Comment is Free website, I've rather changed my mind. Why? Well, see what you think - here's Bodi's piece, in its entirety:
"Just for the record, a red cross won't be flapping out of my car during the World Cup," he wrote. "And that's not only because the
damned thing is too closely associated with the Far Right.
"The cross, and the three lions for that matter, are Christian symbols, adopted by the crusaders for a historical episode that not only brought immense suffering to Muslims and eastern Christians alike, but which created the jaundiced lens through which much of the West would view Islam down the centuries.
"I'm not saying I'll be cheering for Iran or Saudi Arabia. I will be shouting for England. But like many British Muslims it'll be without any of the paraphernalia that brings shame to my country."
The paraphernalia that brings shame on our country? The standard of old England? This is the flag for which many young men have died - fighting slavery, Nazism and Communism.
If there is any shame here, it maybe lies with the Guardian - choosing to give a platform to people who so obviously loathe this country. The next time I go out in my car, I will be flying the flag of St George, after all.
FIRST POSTED JUNE 20, 2006
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marieann
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The paraphernalia that brings shame on our country? The standard of old England? This is the flag for which many young men have died - fighting slavery, Nazism and Communism.
This is exactly why I don't think football merits flag-waving - well not that flag anyway.
Apart from which I am English, always have been and always will be and don't see any necessity to emphasize that in my own country. 
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Sandie Seward
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Marie, some people are starting to feel insecure in their own country, one of the reasons for the resurgence of Nationalismn perhaps? 
(I don't think I need to spell it out anymore than this, as I'm sure you understand my meaning). 
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marieann
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I understand what you mean admin but living here have no experience of it.
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