Anders Hanson

I’ve always thought that it was great to see people flying flags from homes, offices and factories and I’m a big fan of making St. George’s Day a public holiday as a sort of national day. So why do I feel so uncomfortable with the number of flags flying from cars or people hanging them out of windows?

Maybe it’s a reflection in me of the inate conservative reserved nature of the English that means I don’t like such an ostentatious display of nationalism. But then I’m also half Swedish, a country that is perhaps even more reserved than the English, and yet Sweden is a country that flies the flag a lot. In fact it is difficult to move anywhere without seeing a flagpole, particularly in rural areas where most farms or cottages seem to have their own flagpole. I like seeing these flags flying and so why not from cars or vans?

So is it because I feel uncomfortable with this sort of tribalism or nationalism? No it’s not that either. Although I wouldn’t say I was nationalistic as it has conotations of being very anti other countries and thinking that England is perfect, I do feel an affection and sense of loyalty to England. I also have the same feeling towards Sweden which is a bit of problem when England and Sweden keep playing against each other in football. I probably feel this affection and loyalty though even more strongly about Yorkshire and Sheffield than for either England or Sweden. Which brings me back to football. As despite me being useless at playing football and me rarely watching football, I have a sense of tribalism and almost nationalism about being a Sheffield Wednesday supporter, and I find it difficult to feel positive about Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premiership.

Having confessed my lack of any abilities at football, perhaps part of it is the way that being nationalistic and flying the flag has become so associated with football. Of course football will always be that way and for that reason I, unlike some of the tabloids, have no problem with Andy Murray’s comments about him backing whoever plays against England - he’s Scottish what do you expect? We should want to fly the flag because it is proclaiming our identity and because it looks good. I tend to feel a bit that only flying it during football matches is a bit demeaning towards the flag. An odd notion, demeaning a flag, but I think it sums it up nicely. Which I suppose brings me round to my final feeling, maybe the reason I don’t like the flag hanging from cars is because it looks a bit naff. Could it be the snob in me that likes seeing the flag flying from a flagpole on some public building or church, but hates seeing them on a car? Perhaps that’s it.

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON “ANDERS HANSON’S BLOG” BUT WAS MOVED TO THIS WEBSITE WHEN THAT SITE WAS REPLACED