England national team

[Flamingo Lane]

If you're downtroden the songs are ace, if your the downtrodee they tend to be a bit shit.

I often wonder about those without any lyrics. Why?

The Spanish national anthem has no words. Apparently, this is because Spaniards disagree so profoundly about their in history that they dare not put words to it.

[Dave]

If you're downtroden the songs are ace, if your the downtrodee they tend to be a bit shit.

I often wonder about those without any lyrics. Why?

The Spanish national anthem has no words. Apparently, this is because Spaniards disagree so profoundly about their in history that they dare not put words to it.

Plus they've already got the Dutch to big up Spain in their anthem, so they don't really need to do it themselves.

[Smithy]

I do feel sorry for England fans, that you can't parade a St George's flag, as people (including me), will just assume you're a racist.

The knobheads have spoilt it for the decent England fans.

They have. The way nationalism and jingoism have overtaken patriotism in the use of the St George's flag is a huge disappointment. No one ever painted a roundabout out of patriotism.  They did it out of nationalism/jingoism - they just didn't realise it.

For those earlier trying to discern the difference between 'pride' in your country, versus problematic 'nationalism', think of it in a Villa context.  You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when Villa have played well, and won? That's 'patriotism'. You know that hateful, angry feeling thugs get when they want to take on a 'firm' from another club to show they're the 'top' firm? That's nationalism/jingoism. 

Conflating the two does a huge disservice to genuine football fans of all countries.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't understand why people seem to think that a really valid expression of patriotism is to attach a flimsy plastic flag to a series of lamposts with cable ties and watch it disintegrate over months, anyway. What kind of respect for your beloved flag is that showing?

I was over Hollywood / Wythall way yesterday and saw, to my happiness, that a massive number of these lamp post flags have now gone. I then found myself seeing them outside peoples' houses, and found myself tutting. A couple of seconds later, it occurred to me that these are most frequently going to be world cup related currently.

Which proves AD's point exactly.

[Sexual Ealing]

I don't understand why people seem to think that a really valid expression of patriotism is to attach a flimsy plastic flag to a series of lamposts with cable ties and watch it disintegrate over months, anyway. What kind of respect for your beloved flag is that showing?

I was over Hollywood / Wythall way yesterday and saw, to my happiness, that a massive number of these lamp post flags have now gone. I then found myself seeing them outside peoples' houses, and found myself tutting. A couple of seconds later, it occurred to me that these are most frequently going to be world cup related currently.

Which proves AD's point exactly.

It also serves as a warning against placing too much importance on symbolism. It's fine, as far as it goes, but it doesn't matter. It's stupid. I used to buy drugs from a guy who claimed to be an observant Muslim and he lost his shit one time because he'd touched his copy of the Quran while high, and this had somehow crossed a line. It's fucking mental to imagine these things are significant.

[Monty]

I don't understand why people seem to think that a really valid expression of patriotism is to attach a flimsy plastic flag to a series of lamposts with cable ties and watch it disintegrate over months, anyway. What kind of respect for your beloved flag is that showing?

I was over Hollywood / Wythall way yesterday and saw, to my happiness, that a massive number of these lamp post flags have now gone. I then found myself seeing them outside peoples' houses, and found myself tutting. A couple of seconds later, it occurred to me that these are most frequently going to be world cup related currently.

Which proves AD's point exactly.

It also serves as a warning against placing too much importance on symbolism. It's fine, as far as it goes, but it doesn't matter. It's stupid. I used to buy drugs from a guy who claimed to be an observant Muslim and he lost his shit one time because he'd touched his copy of the Quran while high, and this had somehow crossed a line. It's fucking mental to imagine these things are significant.

Absolutely love this story.