The flag shagging, racist bellendery from the far-right is not patriotism

We’ve had a spectacular bank holiday just gone here in England. As well as blazing sunshine, this weekend saw an ancient English tradition return, that of “we’re going to tell you it belongs to us because look at our flag” – dressed up as ‘patriotism’.

Such custom harks back to the days of the Empire, the worst days in our history, which many would gladly go back to. This is despite them being poor and working class, so it would be even worse for them than it is now, though they’d at least be a bit more aware that the lord of the manor was pulling the strings.

I don’t need to give you a history lesson, but this was of course, when jolly English explorers (read: murderers, rapists, colonisers) would jaunt on over to whichever island they fancied and plant a flag, claiming the land. This is despite it already belonging to culturally diverse peoples who, if they resisted, would be abused, starved, and enslaved.

Though this time, they’re doing it on their own soil. Because after centuries of enslaving people from all over the world and bringing them here forcefully and illegally, racists now don’t like that England is home to many other races, religions, and cultures. To borrow a line from Bob Vylan, it’s a classic case of “loves a chicken korma, hates the hands that cook it”.

Flag shagging, racist bellendery dressed up as patriotism

So, for some absolutely unbeknownst reason other than sheer racist bellendery, the fash decided this weekend they would “remind everyone who’s country this is and if you don’t like it you can leave”. Because this country has gone to the dogs and you can’t even have a pint and a bacon sandwich without being arrested. And to prove we won’t stand for that absolutely not made up scenario, we’re going to *checks notes * paint a St George’s cross on a roundabout.

All around the country, we saw definitely not racists strewing cheap tacky flags upside down on lamp posts, and defacing everything from roundabouts and zebra crossings to, bizarrely, nature information stands in parks. All in the name of PATRIOTISM.

And of course it was never just about being proud of the flag. Racist losers who’d done things like paint a zebra crossing waited eagerly until Muslims crossed it to take photos and shame them on social media.

But of course, it’s done under the guise of “protecting our girls”. Which is why it’s especially ironic that Tommy Robinson caused a mass pile-on of three young women who tore down flags on a roundabout, instructing his Twitter followers to “make the dogs famous”.

Elon muscles in

And in turn, other far-right gobshites are adding fuel to the fire too. The edgiest little edgelord Elon Musk decided to be soooo edgy and post an England flag on Twitter. Not content with getting a pedo racist into the Whitehouse, it appears he’s setting his sights on pulling the strings in British politics too. Yesterday, Musk shared a tweet from far right grifter Rupert Lowe which apparently detailed:

85 cities in Britain where local authorities were complicit in the rape of children.

Though this is a Reform investigation which surely enough does nothing to highlight the fact that most abuse is perpetrated by white men. Elon and Rupert have also conveniently ignored a campaign which is urging the government to not only stop weaponising violence against women and girls for racist means, but also hold those who do to account. But then, they’d be telling on themselves wouldn’t they?

Raising a flag isn’t inherently racist

The thing is, raising the flag in itself isn’t inherently racist. Our flag is used at times of national celebration and support (albeit usually connected to football) or commemoration of those lost to conflict. At its heart, raising your national flag should be a point of pride, “this is where I’m from and I’m proud of that”. Being truly proud of where you’re from isn’t racist, but in order to do that you have to also accept how gloriously multicultural England is.

True patriotism comes from community-building, from looking after your neighbours and wanting to improve where you live for all. It comes from lobbying your politicians for better, for everyone, not just those who look and think like you. It’s supporting local businesses, being kind to strangers, and opening doors instead of building walls.

Tying a hastily and shoddy-made flag your missus got on Temu upside down on a lamppost or drunkenly painting a roundabout whilst shouting about ‘protecting are girls’ isn’t patriotism. When raising your flag comes as a warning, that’s not patriotism, that’s a threat.

But isn’t that what raising the English flag has always been about?