Flags Are ‘dynamite’ In The Uk, But How Does Spain Treat Them?

I grew up successful Romania, erstwhile flags were conscionable flags: symbols of pride, not governmental landmines. But successful nan UK today, nan Union Jack aliases St George’s Cross tin consciousness for illustration a taste trigger.

As a shot nerd who watches and writes astir exotic clashes specified arsenic Ivory Coast vs. North Korea aliases Singapore vs. Myanmar successful nan World Cup qualifiers, flags simply told maine who was playing and who was who.

Fast guardant 3 decades, and successful nan UK, flags person go thing other entirely. A location successful nan UK tin now bent a Union Jack aliases St. George’s Cross, and suddenly, it’s not patriotism and emotion for your country; it’s a taste trigger.

Flags successful nan UK don’t conscionable wave, they scream

From schools to roundabouts, flags person go frontline markers successful today’s taste skirmishes. Take Operation Raise nan Colours, a grassroots run that has planted Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses connected lampposts, roundabouts, and moreover full streets.

Supporters opportunity it’s each astir pride; critics opportunity it’s profoundly anti-immigrant. There’s moreover a Facebook group called nan Weoley Warriors, fuelling a full-blown emblem economy.

And those emblem critics spell further. For instance, The Guardian warned these flags are “symbols of prejudice, not pride,” claiming they transmission far-right energy. In different words, successful nan UK, nan Union Jack and St George’s Cross person go politically charged. For some, it’s a motion of anti-immigration and a far-right vibe, which gives nan message: “You’re not welcome!”. For others, it’s axenic pride, a awesome of belonging and emotion for your land.

EWN readers: “It’s nan UK, wherever other would you alert a Union Flag?”

Despite concerns astir far-right associations, 86 per cent of readers polled by Euro Weekly News said everyone should beryllium free to alert their emblem without criticism.

A UK expatriate successful Spain wrote: “Where other would you alert a Union Flag? It’s nan UK. They should beryllium proud to alert their flag.” “It’s not a provocation to show who you are and to support your ain country,” said different commenter.

Another noted, “Here successful Spain, flags are everywhere, a motion of nan emotion for their country.” And you cognize what? He’s not wrong.

Spain is different: flags are everywhere, and nary 1 is offended

In Spain, flags are almost portion of nan interior decor: Hanging from balconies, fluttering astatine fiestas, printed connected car air-fresheners, aliases moreover doubling arsenic sunshades. My ain neighbour waters his plants nether a Spanish emblem flapping proudly supra him, a segment that feels perfectly normal successful Andalusia, wherever nationalist hostility is hardly felt.

That said, there’s a spot of nuance lately, and, indeed, Spain isn’t each sunshine and pavilion flags anymore. For galore connected nan left, “la bandera” isn’t neutral astatine all, often being linked to Franco-era nostalgia, to VOX rallies, aliases to nan alleged “Cayetanos” (Spain’s posh blimpish archetype). That’s why you’ll sometimes perceive progressives opportunity nan Spanish emblem feels hijacked by nan right, conscionable for illustration successful nan UK. So while Andalusian fiestas and World Cup wins make nan red-and-yellow consciousness for illustration a unifying symbol, successful nan large cities, flags tin still spark governmental tension.

But each successful all, “la bandera” still is little arguable than successful nan UK. You spot it connected balconies, astatine bars, connected cars, aliases connected t-shirts. It’s benignant of a normal gesture, a benignant of “this is my home”, overmuch much relaxed than successful nan UK. Sure, discourse matters (always!), but arsenic a rule, nan emblem remains a awesome of unity and identity, not a hidden awesome of dislike and thoroughfare wars.

And yes, I myself person a Spanish emblem location successful my level too, would you judge it? It came pinch a shot match, I think, and is still waving free.

Identity aliases exclusion? Let america cognize your opinion

Expert voices astir nan world opportunity flags deed affectional chords because they awesome identity, belonging… aliases exclusion. In nan UK, a emblem tin beryllium a canine whistle, they say. In Spain, it’s much often a emotion statement to your country.

Anyway, here’s nan thing: flag-flying successful nan UK intends clash nowadays. In Spain, it’s much for illustration mundane wallpaper.

So, fto america cognize successful nan comments, and let’s debate. Do you spot flag-flying arsenic harmless pridefulness aliases a provocation waiting to happen?

Read more news from Spain here.