There's a house a few streets away that has a flagpole in the garden and flies various appropriate flags at appropriate times. For the last week they've been flying a curious version of a St George. Curious because I've not seen anything exactly like it before; it has a miniature cross of St George in the hoist quadrant, within the big normal cross.
Quote from: Martin on 24 April, 2018, 08:08:54 pmAs I now refuse to wave the Union Flag other than for sporting / royal occasions due to its toxicity I thought I'd strap a St George's flag to my bike yesterday as I happen to think it's a day worth celebrating despite having been pretty much castigatedCurious. For me the St George's flag is irreparably tainted with ballsports and nastier shades of nationalism, while the Union Flag is still acceptable in sufficiently international[1] contexts.But then while I'm happy to think of myself as British, I don't really identify with Englishness. *shrug*I don't really know or care about saints. I'm not sure what I'm missing out on...[1] Flying one in the UK would be suspect unless accompanied by an assortment of other flags, but I'd be fine with sticking one on my pannier while touring abroad[2], and it's always pleasing to see one on a spacesuit.[2] In practice it seems that a jersey with a .co.uk address on it is sufficient, and avoids the flaggy baggage.There is actually a Patron Saint of Atheists!!!!!QuoteSaint Otteran, and his story is crazy. Here is what they says about him. First there was this other Saint, named Saint Colomba who was exiled from Ireland in 563, he founded a monastery on Iona with several companions, one of whom was a monk named Otteran. Legend has it that Saint Colomba's numerous attempts to build a chapel on Iona were thwarted because the building he was trying to erect was myseriously destroyed every night. One night a voice told Saint Colomba that the chapel could not be completed until a man was buried alive in the foundation. Obliging soul that he was, Saint Otteran volunteered for the task and was buried alive… and the chapel was completed.Some time later, during a service, Saint Otteran, whom all had supposed to be long dead, pushed his head up out of the floor and informed the congregation that contrary to popular belief, there actually was neither a heaven nor a hell. Saint Colomba, aghast at this impertinent revelation, pushed Saint Otteran back into the ground and had him buried more securely beneath the chapel, where he remains to this day.
As I now refuse to wave the Union Flag other than for sporting / royal occasions due to its toxicity I thought I'd strap a St George's flag to my bike yesterday as I happen to think it's a day worth celebrating despite having been pretty much castigated
Saint Otteran, and his story is crazy. Here is what they says about him. First there was this other Saint, named Saint Colomba who was exiled from Ireland in 563, he founded a monastery on Iona with several companions, one of whom was a monk named Otteran. Legend has it that Saint Colomba's numerous attempts to build a chapel on Iona were thwarted because the building he was trying to erect was myseriously destroyed every night. One night a voice told Saint Colomba that the chapel could not be completed until a man was buried alive in the foundation. Obliging soul that he was, Saint Otteran volunteered for the task and was buried alive… and the chapel was completed.Some time later, during a service, Saint Otteran, whom all had supposed to be long dead, pushed his head up out of the floor and informed the congregation that contrary to popular belief, there actually was neither a heaven nor a hell. Saint Colomba, aghast at this impertinent revelation, pushed Saint Otteran back into the ground and had him buried more securely beneath the chapel, where he remains to this day.
Quote from: mattc on 25 April, 2018, 04:27:42 pmI have no love for the NF or similar groups - but I'm quite happy to wave an England flag on appropriate occasions. It is not a racist/xenophobic symbol. (and neither is a shaved head). Same for the Union Flag.IMHO, part of standing up to these twats is to stand by things like national flags; otherwise what next - stop speaking English cos so many racists do??^ ThisNow having dual British/Irish nationality as a post-Brexit insurance policy, I feel fine waving an Irish/English/British national flag as appropiate.
I have no love for the NF or similar groups - but I'm quite happy to wave an England flag on appropriate occasions. It is not a racist/xenophobic symbol. (and neither is a shaved head). Same for the Union Flag.IMHO, part of standing up to these twats is to stand by things like national flags; otherwise what next - stop speaking English cos so many racists do??
No sword, that was my first assumption too. No red hand either! It was a mini St George Cross inside a large one. As for metal dragons, it would have been a good day to read Kenneth Grahame.
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 30 April, 2018, 10:46:20 amNo sword, that was my first assumption too. No red hand either! It was a mini St George Cross inside a large one. As for metal dragons, it would have been a good day to read Kenneth Grahame.The Naval ensign of Tonga perhaps.
Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 30 April, 2018, 07:12:15 pmQuote from: Cudzoziemiec on 30 April, 2018, 10:46:20 amNo sword, that was my first assumption too. No red hand either! It was a mini St George Cross inside a large one. As for metal dragons, it would have been a good day to read Kenneth Grahame.The Naval ensign of Tonga perhaps. Closer to that than to Georgia, City of London, White Ensign. But with the vertical bar central and without the 'outlines' on the main cross.
Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 30 April, 2018, 07:55:32 pmQuote from: Exit Stage Left on 30 April, 2018, 07:12:15 pmQuote from: Cudzoziemiec on 30 April, 2018, 10:46:20 amNo sword, that was my first assumption too. No red hand either! It was a mini St George Cross inside a large one. As for metal dragons, it would have been a good day to read Kenneth Grahame.The Naval ensign of Tonga perhaps. Closer to that than to Georgia, City of London, White Ensign. But with the vertical bar central and without the 'outlines' on the main cross.The flag company names upthread will make flags to any design you give them.
Something approximating this, maybe?Wikipedia suggests that this - as the ensign of the White Squadron from 1702-1707 - was one of the precursors of the White Ensign.
