Is it time for British to become Republicans?

[Seabass]

Oh good grief.


Here is a google maps street view of my neighborhood. This is an actual, real American neighborhood, as opposed to one made up by typical British exaggeration and slander.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Universit ... iALb1MjIDQ

As you can see, there is no "flag in every second garden". I looked over several blocks and only found one flag, but perhaps a set of superior British eyeballs can find more.

[Svartalf]

Back in '68 flying flags were extremely common in certain areas of the city... much to the chagrin of the so called 'forces of order'.

[Bella Fortuna]

Oh good grief.


Here is a google maps street view of my neighborhood. This is an actual, real American neighborhood, as opposed to one made up by typical British exaggeration and slander.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Universit ... iALb1MjIDQ

As you can see, there is no "flag in every second garden". I looked over several blocks and only found one flag, but perhaps a set of superior British eyeballs can find more.

Hey, I didn't know you were in San Diego!

[Bella Fortuna]

I don't see what is so bad about flying a flag anyhow. Seems to some of you as if someone who puts a flag outside their house is deserving of some scorn.

Because it implies blind patriotism and usually an unpleasant sort of insular nationalism.

My travels in the US have been confined to LA and SF, but even there flag flying was blatant enough to be immediately notable to me. Flag flying here is a rarity.

Actually I agree with this (as well as the image it projects). You very seldom see them in the UK - I don't know that I ever have.

Come to think of it, about a week ago as I was driving in my neighbourhood I counted at least half a dozen houses with flags flying (that don't normally) but had no idea why... It seemed weird.

[Seabass]

Oh good grief.


Here is a google maps street view of my neighborhood. This is an actual, real American neighborhood, as opposed to one made up by typical British exaggeration and slander.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Universit ... iALb1MjIDQ

As you can see, there is no "flag in every second garden". I looked over several blocks and only found one flag, but perhaps a set of superior British eyeballs can find more.

Hey, I didn't know you were in San Diego!

Yep. I'm a California boy.

[Bella Fortuna]

[Thinking Aloud]

Here is a google maps street view of my neighborhood. This is an actual, real American neighborhood, as opposed to one made up by typical British exaggeration and slander.

I guess the neighbourhoods I've visited (repeatedly) in the US aren't actual real American ones. I stand corrected.

[JimC]

Very few flags displayed in Aussie houses, except sometimes on Australia day...

Tribal symbolism; the old hominid within will not be denied...

[Blind groper]

Very, very few national flags flown here in New Zealand either, except by wankers. (We got a few of them).

I don't know what the fuss is about republicanism. Basic definition is government in which the powers that be and the national leader are elected by the people. The only reason that Britain (and NZ and Aussi) are not called republics is because we have a fictional national leader, called the queen. The real ones, though, are voted.

[MrJonno]

Very, very few national flags flown here in New Zealand either, except by wankers. (We got a few of them).

I don't know what the fuss is about republicanism. Basic definition is government in which the powers that be and the national leader are elected by the people. The only reason that Britain (and NZ and Aussi) are not called republics is because we have a fictional national leader, called the queen. The real ones, though, are voted.

I think Americans have some different meaning for the world Republic which no one outside the US understand and I'm not convinced most Americans do either. I think its something to do with the poorer majority not being able to outvote millionaires. It's on those lines as only right wing millionaires (or those who think they will be one) ever bring it up

Basically all the democratic systems in the Western world are 99% identifical whether they are are a republic or not

[Coito ergo sum]

I don't see what is so bad about flying a flag anyhow. Seems to some of you as if someone who puts a flag outside their house is deserving of some scorn.

Because it implies blind patriotism and usually an unpleasant sort of insular nationalism.

My travels in the US have been confined to LA and SF, but even there flag flying was blatant enough to be immediately notable to me. Flag flying here is a rarity.

Actually I agree with this (as well as the image it projects). You very seldom see them in the UK - I don't know that I ever have.

Come to think of it, about a week ago as I was driving in my neighbourhood I counted at least half a dozen houses with flags flying (that don't normally) but had no idea why... It seemed weird.

I think that we forget that while some people may be blindly patriotic, patriotism is not by definition blind. I see no virtue in blind scorn or indifference toward one's country, either. A flag, in my experience, means more about a connection to a larger group. A family. I was born in the US, but my parents are immigrants. I often flew the flag of my forefathers too - I'd put stickers of the Norwegian flag on things. I'd wave a Norwegian flag at the Norwegian independence day parade, when we'd go. Sometimes we'd fly the Norwegian flag outside the house now and again. It wasn't out of "blind patriotism" and during Fourth of July celebrations in the US, the red white and blue of the flag was and is everywhere - but, it's not blind patriotism, radical nationalism and jingoism that has people celebrating -- it's love of country. Americans tend to like it here, and we're grateful.

It doesn't have to imply patriotism at all, let alone blind. And patriotism with sight is not a bad thing, and being patriotic may well mean opposing things one's country is doing.

Moreover, it doesn't have to mean - and in my experience more often than not doesn't mean an "insular nationalism" with distasteful ideas. She Who Must Be Obeyed keeps her home country's flag around. She has good feelings for her home country - her people - her family - all that.

Incidentaily, it may be the far more immigrant friendly nature of the US that causes such a high degree of flag waving. You'll find that long time immigrants to the US develop an even greater sense of patriotism than born-and-bred Americans (who tend not to have the same sense of value in what they have, as compared to immigrants who more often than not burst with affection for the US). Far more Americans are immigrants, and recent descendents of immigrants than you find in the more insular countries elsewhere. They tend to retain an affection for the "home country," and at the same time develop an affection for their new country. Most Americans can trace their ancestry overseas within a couple-three generations.

[Coito ergo sum]

Very, very few national flags flown here in New Zealand either, except by wankers. (We got a few of them).

I don't know what the fuss is about republicanism. Basic definition is government in which the powers that be and the national leader are elected by the people. The only reason that Britain (and NZ and Aussi) are not called republics is because we have a fictional national leader, called the queen. The real ones, though, are voted.

This was a parody thread.

[Coito ergo sum]

Very, very few national flags flown here in New Zealand either, except by wankers. (We got a few of them).

I don't know what the fuss is about republicanism. Basic definition is government in which the powers that be and the national leader are elected by the people. The only reason that Britain (and NZ and Aussi) are not called republics is because we have a fictional national leader, called the queen. The real ones, though, are voted.

I think Americans have some different meaning for the world Republic which no one outside the US understand and I'm not convinced most Americans do either. I think its something to do with the poorer majority not being able to outvote millionaires. It's on those lines as only right wing millionaires (or those who think they will be one) ever bring it up

Basically all the democratic systems in the Western world are 99% identifical whether they are are a republic or not

And, here we go again....

Yes, yes....we Americans we have our own quaint little word for it which nobody outside the US would understand.

First of all, the OP was a parody of another thread, and it should be patently obvious what the joke was. Look at the bleeding pictures.

You're ignorant about the US - this nonsense - endless stream of utter and complete ill-informed nonsense - that you and others spout from ignorant, poorly educated mouths - in an attempt to always denigrate the US.

Why is that? Why are you and some others not able to discuss an issue without it become an America-bashing thing?

[MrJonno]

Nothing anti-American in what I said, certainly I'm taking the piss out of right wing extremists who go around saying ' we are republic not a democracy' obviously showing they don't understand the meaning of either word.

Pretty sure the US is one of the few English speaking republics so its hardly surprising when it comes to talking about being a republic the UK is going to look at how it works in the US

[Coito ergo sum]

Nothing anti-American in what I said, certainly I'm taking the piss out of right wing extremists who go around saying ' we are republic not a democracy' obviously showing they don't understand the meaning of either word.

LOL - if you say so. You didn't refer to right wing extremists. You referred to Americans. Maybe you think that's the same thing.

The words have a variety of meanings and are often used interchangeably these days. Democracies, generally speaking, may or may not be limited by constitution or charter. However, Republics are limited by constitutions or charters. In a pure or true democracy, the majority has unlimited power over the minority. This system of government does not provide a legal safeguard of the rights of the individual and the minority in the face of majority vote. In a Republic, the majority is limited and constrained by a written constitution which protects the rights of the individual. The purpose of a republican form of government is to control the majority from oppressing individuals and minorities.