“What day is it today?”
“Thursday.”
“Thursday the what?”
“Thursday 23rd April.”
“Oh, right. What’s special about that?”
I made that conversation up but the reality is that a version of it has probably happened somewhere, maybe everywhere, in England today. It’s St George’s Day. Why don’t we celebrate it?
I am not one of those who think that hanging cheap flags on lampposts is a particularly good expression of pride in one’s country. I don’t feel the need for flag-shagging and wrapping myself up in the flag of St George to prove my patriotism and pride, but in my quite, soggy, liberal (with a small ‘l’) way I find there is lots to celebrate. Other countries happily celebrate their traditions, people, and history. Why don’t we?
For a small, weather-beaten island country, we haven’t done too badly, have we? We’ve given the world everything from the telephone, steam engines, football, the jet engine, IVF and the internet to give but a few examples. In a country where so many people whinge that everything is broken and nothing works, Britain has a stunning history.
Despite my Norwegian and Dutch (and a small portion of Welsh, would you believe) ancestry, and the fact that only around 17% of my DNA is English, I am English through and through. I am more than happy to dilute elements of our country’s sovereignty in order to maintain defence and for trade to thrive and, in my ideal world to deepen ties with Europe, through the EU which may one day expand to include countries like Canada, as America drifts away to the extremes of politics and looks inwards. I don’t see why England, and indeed the rest of Britain, cannot thrive that in that environment.
I certainly don’t see why the far right, led by the likes of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who calls himself Tommy Robinson, should have exclusive access to the flag and their version of patriotism. I don’t think patriotism should be political at all. Aren’t we all proud of our NHS, our armed services, as well as our great traditions, people and history?
Today will pass by as if nothing has happened. Doubtless, some folk will drink a foaming pint of warm English ale, eat roast beef and enjoy the sight of Morris Dancers outside their local pubs, but for the rest of us it’s business as usual, including me.
Look how well the Irish do St Patrick’s Day. No one is calling them racist bigots and flag-shaggers as they celebrate their identity and all the rest of it. Why, then, don’t we have a bank holiday during the week St George’s Day falls, say on the Monday? And don’t just announce a bank holiday, let governments and councils encourage people to participate. Hold events, raise money for charity: I’m sure you could think of more imaginative things than I have but do you get the idea?
I won’t be doing much today. My partner is at work, I’m at the food bank this afternoon, tonight I’m watching my son play football. Morris dancing and roast beef can wait.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love, as well as a little less Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and Nigel Farage. St George’s Bank Holiday? Bring it on. We’ve lots to celebrate, so why not let us?
