Another appalling attack

MartavTaurus

twaddle

I had never seen either Palestinian flags nor Union Jacks flying in public until a couple of months ago. I had the misfortune to have to visit a town with dirty, torn Union Jacks flying from nearly all the town centre lamp posts. They looked awful. Not only that, but I knew very well what they represented to the people who had hung them and I felt intimidated to be in such a place. I might very well feel the same if I saw Palestinian flags festooned like that, but I never have. As far as I know, the only time there are hundreds of them flown in public is during marches. They aren't a permanent fixture.

I felt intimidated to be in such a place
And do you not think that Jewish people might also feel intimidated in areas with Palestinian flags flying on lamp posts and walls?

I might very well feel the same if I saw Palestinian flags festooned like that, but I never have. As far as I know, the only time there are hundreds of them flown in public is during marches. They aren't a permanent fixture.
Perhaps you aren't aware that the streets of Tower Hamlets made newspaper headlines because so many lamp posts and walls in the borough had Palestinian flags put up on them. It's a multi cultural area I know very well from working there, and the Council was forced to remove the Palestinian flags. If we want peace and harmony in the community, then everyone has to play a part and take responsibility. There is no room for intimidation or provocation.

If we want peace and harmony in the community, then everyone has to play a part and take responsibility. There is no room for intimidation or provocation.

Well said, MartavTaurus.
I agree.

However, flying the national flag of the country is a different matter altogether. Nothing to be ashamed of although some people seem to think so.

I do think that our flag can be used in order to intimidate or promote a particular view, whatever country it is, and we are experiencing it. We keep going round in circles but it is currently be used to push a far right agenda -

its been going on a long time,

Tommy Robinson and his supporters a long time ago, as well as during the Southport riots, wrapped themselves in England flags to claim "ownership". Same with far right youth right now in Germany.

No easy answers as what to do, but at least let's accept it happens.

look at and listen to this video from the far right demo in London 2025

www.instagram.com/reel/DOiufyOAosw/

another report and images

www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-tommy-robinsons-march-was-a-drunken-coked-up-mess/

So if Tommy Robinson followers start draping themselves in any other flags, be that Pride, Trans, Scottish or indeed Palestinian, that will render those flags inelibigible to be displayed?
You do realise you are conceding absolute power to him to determine which flags may or may not be displayed?
Perhaps if others showed a bit of backbone and reclaimed their flags this capitulation could be avoided?

Presumably Hamas fly the Palestinian flag, so if you don't object to that does it mean you fully endorse Hamas and their disgusting practices?

So much about the so called far right but the far left are much more numerous, dangerous and aggressive.

nanna8

So much about the so called far right but the far left are much more numerous, dangerous and aggressive.

Where?

What evidence do you have for that claim?

Allira

MartavTaurus

twaddle

I had never seen either Palestinian flags nor Union Jacks flying in public until a couple of months ago. I had the misfortune to have to visit a town with dirty, torn Union Jacks flying from nearly all the town centre lamp posts. They looked awful. Not only that, but I knew very well what they represented to the people who had hung them and I felt intimidated to be in such a place. I might very well feel the same if I saw Palestinian flags festooned like that, but I never have. As far as I know, the only time there are hundreds of them flown in public is during marches. They aren't a permanent fixture.

I felt intimidated to be in such a place
And do you not think that Jewish people might also feel intimidated in areas with Palestinian flags flying on lamp posts and walls?

I might very well feel the same if I saw Palestinian flags festooned like that, but I never have. As far as I know, the only time there are hundreds of them flown in public is during marches. They aren't a permanent fixture.
Perhaps you aren't aware that the streets of Tower Hamlets made newspaper headlines because so many lamp posts and walls in the borough had Palestinian flags put up on them. It's a multi cultural area I know very well from working there, and the Council was forced to remove the Palestinian flags. If we want peace and harmony in the community, then everyone has to play a part and take responsibility. There is no room for intimidation or provocation.

If we want peace and harmony in the community, then everyone has to play a part and take responsibility. There is no room for intimidation or provocation.

Well said, MartavTaurus.
I agree.

However, flying the national flag of the country is a different matter altogether. Nothing to be ashamed of although some people seem to think so.

I have every right to admit that I'm intimidated by Union Jacks or George Crosses draped on lamp posts or on motorway bridges because I know full well the signal behind them.

I have absolutely no problem with the flag in itself when used to celebrate a special occasion, at international sports matches or as part of "Cool Britannia" marketing, as seen in almost every London souvenir shop or at remembrance ceremonies, etc. We all know what they mean.

We all know what the flags mean when people go on to social media and announce they're going to such and such a place to plaster it with flags to show foreigners they're not welcome (and worse) - and if you don't believe me, just spend a few minutes looking. Those people who deny that's the reasoning behind them really need to visit that famous optician and/or give their heads a big wobble!

nanna8

So much about the so called far right but the far left are much more numerous, dangerous and aggressive.

Where? Not in the UK they’re not. Can you name even one dangerous and aggressive far left group please?

Rosie I understand your point, but realistically how many older women would be well-advised to ‘stand up to’ the likes of Britain First (or any of the groups of thugs marching under the England flag)? Not being foolhardy doesn’t signify a lack of backbone, but the presence of common sense, IMO.

twaddle

love0c

Wyllow3 'understand the context'???? it is like you are giving justification!!!!???? I am sickened by your comment!

Understanding the context would mean not making claims such as the conflict starting with the Hamas attack, which is just ludicrous. Understanding the context does not mean justifying what happened on 7 October.

Explaining and justifying are not the same thing.

True; it’s wrong to ‘justify’ the attacks but not wrong to correct people who state that the conflict started with the Hamas attack.

Let’s be clear that antisemitic attacks increased in the UK after the October 2023 Hamas attack in Israel. Shame on us.

Perhaps if others showed a bit of backbone and reclaimed their flags this capitulation could be avoided?

I think I have a fair bit of backbone, having overcome a lot of challenges.
I have zero interest in reclaiming a flag which sadly is being used for all sorts of reasons.

I’m still concerned about the assumption that anyone flying our union or England flags are dangerous, white, right wing bigots like Tommy Robinson.
We might as well put up white flags, we surrender to bigots

And of course it leaves people free to say anyone who flies the pride flag or votes green is a bigot. Perhaps they are.

Iam64

I’m still concerned about the assumption that anyone flying our union or England flags are dangerous, white, right wing bigots like Tommy Robinson.
We might as well put up white flags, we surrender to bigots

Quite!
And as for twaddle’s assertion that our English flag doesn’t mean what the Saltire does, well, that really is twaddle.

All these half torn flags that posters see, posters that to a man/woman hate to see our flags flown mind you, am wondering who’s getting up the lampposts to tear them?🤔

nanna8

So much about the so called far right but the far left are much more numerous, dangerous and aggressive.

I think they're as bad as each other actually, but the ultra left don't seem to get as much condemnation. Also it makes you laugh when you hear these ultra left types speak and they nearly always seem to be middle class, or put on a mockney accent.

I don’t know which group of people you are talking about Cumbrianmale56? There are no far left marches, or protests? People with strong opinions march and protest for specific causes, but there isn’t any group equivalent to the Tommy Robinson crusaders.

I wouldn't call them far left I call them progressives ( although that's not right either as they frequently embrace regressive ideologies) , they are the ones marching with globalise the intifada sign, saying but but when anyone talks about anti semitism, destroying womens rights by pretending men are included in that descriptor. The word far left isn't quite right but they are dangerous.

Any group of extremists is dangerous whether right or left.

Oreo

All these half torn flags that posters see, posters that to a man/woman hate to see our flags flown mind you, am wondering who’s getting up the lampposts to tear them?🤔

They are cheap flags that get torn by the wind.

Oreo

Iam64

I’m still concerned about the assumption that anyone flying our union or England flags are dangerous, white, right wing bigots like Tommy Robinson.
We might as well put up white flags, we surrender to bigots

Quite!
And as for twaddle’s assertion that our English flag doesn’t mean what the Saltire does, well, that really is twaddle.

Oh do please explain!

Oreo

Iam64

I’m still concerned about the assumption that anyone flying our union or England flags are dangerous, white, right wing bigots like Tommy Robinson.
We might as well put up white flags, we surrender to bigots

Quite!
And as for twaddle’s assertion that our English flag doesn’t mean what the Saltire does, well, that really is twaddle.

👏👏👏 Iam64
and
👏👏👏 Oreo

I'm going to be silly now
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Galaxy

I wouldn't call them far left I call them progressives ( although that's not right either as they frequently embrace regressive ideologies) , they are the ones marching with globalise the intifada sign, saying but but when anyone talks about anti semitism, destroying womens rights by pretending men are included in that descriptor. The word far left isn't quite right but they are dangerous.

I think that is more accurate, I don’t think that there is a ‘far left’ group in the sense that nanna8 and Cumbrianmale53 have described. In fact they are not all politically aligned at all, they espouse whatever cause suits their personal views rather than acting as one group motivated by a leader or an ideology.