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How Can St George's Day Be Celebrated?

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sp1814 | 15:41 Mon 17th Mar 2014 | News
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Every year around this time, friends I've know for years suddenly discover they have (questionable) Irish roots and jump on the joyous St Patricks Day celebrations.

I've always noticed how every Irish bar I've been into has been warm, friendly and inviting.

I've always thought that it's a shame there isn't the same publicity given to St George's Day (April 23rd), and suspect that some of the conclusions drawn in this report have a ring of truth about it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/by-george-english-should-fly-the-flag-and-take-pride-on-23-april-says-ed-miliband-adviser-9195836.html

Could it be that after years being draped around the shoulders of the EDL and BNP, that the flag of St George has been a little 'tainted'?
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AOG

It's the same in America. The stars and stripes has no political overtones, so you will see people of all races flying the flag, saluting the flag etc (but not the Confederate flag, for obvious reasons).

The same should be true here.

But leaving the flag aside for a moment - what can be done to promote the event?

I'm thinking that it could be kicked off by the big pub chains. They're the ones who would benefit from increased sales, and they have the network infrastructure to support it.
i think sp you may already have answered your own question
"Could it be that after years being draped around the shoulders of the EDL and BNP, that the flag of St George has been a little 'tainted" yes
Saint Patrick
wasn't born in Ireland, he was Romano-British,

" When he was about 16, he was captured from his home in Great Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as an ordained bishop, but little is known about the places where he worked. By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. "

any number of countries claim a St George, not just England
a number of ours do, one generally gets the flags and bunting out for St George's day and St Patrick's day, the British rugby, football, big events,
oh well that's my once a year dabble in the news section over, happy dis-agreeing people
I've had wonderful Paddy's Day celebrations and never been drunk....nor in the company of drunks.....many have given up the drink for Lent but we sing our songs and talk.....dance and talk..... and enjoy and talk.

Nobody did it for us or gave it to us.....it's up to you....start small...fly your flag with pride...they can't make you all take them down... get together and enjoy.

You have songs and dances....you have wonderful bards....promote them!

Sláinte....Gx....☺
Question Author
jomifl

I've just had a brainwave - a poster campaign which would be funded by those interested parties (ie. those who would benefit from the celebrations) - newspapers, pubs, shops etc etc.

The campaign would feature famous British Georges (George Michael, Boy George, George from Rainbow, George Dawes...ahem...George Galloway), with the tag line: 'By George...it's April 23rd'.

They could sell St George related merchandise, the profits of which (after manufacturing and distribution costs) would go to 'Help For Heroes'.

Hmm...I wonder I should present this on Dragon's Den...?
AOG, i despise people like that woman, they give common sense a bad name
sp1814

/// Because it's been appropriated by the BNP and EDL, it now almost looks like a political symbol ///

Only to some I would say, at least we still see it flying from the towers of our English churches, are they all members of the BNP or the EDL too?

What do you suggest? that we get rid of the St George flag, if so what would you replace it with that signifies England?

/// ..in the same way that if I saw a red flag in the 70s or 80s, I would subconsciously associate it with the far left. ///

Is not the song of the Labour party "Keep the red flag flying high"?

/// It's the same in America. The stars and stripes has no political
overtones, ///

Are but then outside the US, we regularly see it set fire to, do we see the red cross of St George treated in such a fashion?

/// so you will see people of all races flying the flag, saluting the flag etc (but not the Confederate flag, for obvious reasons). ///

You have not travelled in the Southern states then?

how about including people who have actually made a difference to the country, not sure that i would ever put Galloway in that category.
George Stephenson should be in,
Question Author
AOG

You asked:

"What do you suggest? that we get rid of the St George flag"

No...what I've suggested is that we re-appropriate it.

You went on to ask:

"Is not the song of the Labour party "Keep the red flag flying high"

Yes. Hence the subconscious link.

Then you asked:

"Are but then outside the US, we regularly see it set fire to, do we see the red cross of St George treated in such a fashion?"

No...and I don't understand why you're asking.



sp1814

/// The campaign would feature famous British Georges (George Michael, Boy George, George from Rainbow, George Dawes...ahem...George Galloway), with the tag line: 'By George...it's April 23rd'.///

there you go you have addressed the problem without realising it.

"Famous BRITISH Georges", when it should be "Famous ENGLISH Georges" that would let George Galloway out seeing he was born in Dundee Scotland.
Question Author
emmie

I think the advertising campaign would need to include people that the target audience would actually recognise. I wouldn't know what George Stephenson looked like, but most people have 'a relationship' with popular culture Georges.

However, if the campaign were to include Georges that are dead, the list becomes really interesting, because you could include Harrison, Orwell, Stephenson...

Hmm...not as many as I thought there'd be.
Question Author
AOG

Yes - good point. It really needs to be English Georges. And Mr Galloway was born in Dundee.
sp1814

/// You asked: ///

/// "What do you suggest? that we get rid of the St George flag" ///

/// No...what I've suggested is that we re-appropriate it. ///

And how do we set about that, conduct a mass flying of the flag of St George?

/// You went on to ask:///

/// "Is not the song of the Labour party "Keep the red flag flying high" ///

/// Yes. Hence the subconscious link. ///

Oh let me get you right then, you would only subconsciously associate the Labour Party with the far left then, what about when you are fully conscious?

/// Then you asked:///

/// "Are but then outside the US, we regularly see it set fire to, do we see the red cross of St George treated in such a fashion?" ///

/// No...and I don't understand why you're asking. ///

I asked because you stated that the stars and stripes has no political overtones.





i am assuming you know who he is.
sp1814

You suggested George Orwell, then perhaps this will be interesting.

*** George Orwell had a go in his 1945 essay Notes on Nationalism: ***

*** "Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own
individuality." ***
you need to visit west bromwich we have the bigest and best march every year for st georges day , but like you say it doesnt get the publicity that st patricks day gets , google the west brom one or you tube it
Question Author
AOG

"And how do we set about that, conduct a mass flying of the flag of St George?"

Yeah...on St George's Day for a start.

You went on to ask:

"Oh let me get you right then, you would only subconsciously associate the Labour Party with the far left then, what about when you are fully conscious?"

No so much.

Finally, with regards to the American flag, I should've been more explicit...within American, the flag isn't seen as a political symbol owned by one particular faction or another.



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