Taxi Driver Online

Boris ignores political correctness to fly England's flag and celebrate St George


Boris Johnson slew the dragon of political correctness yesterday by announcing London would mark St George's Day with a week of celebrations.

The capital's mayor said he would proudly fly the red and white flag of England's patron saint from his City Hall office on April 23.

St George's Day has been a low-key event in London in recent years, dwarfed by a St Patrick's Day parade funded to the tune of £100,000, and enormous crowds at Gay Pride.


The Mayor's endorsement of St George's Day appears to mark an official determination to make English patriotism more acceptable.

In recent years, many local authorities have banned taxi drivers, builders and firemen from displaying the Cross of St George – often citing spurious health and safety reasons.

Mr Johnson said: 'St George's Day has been ignored in London for far too long, but I'm truly pleased to announce some fantastic events to mark this occasion.

'We have much to be proud of in this great country. England has given so much to the world, politically, socially and artistically.'

A music festival on Sunday April 25 in Trafalgar Square will feature artists 'finding innovative ways to express music that is inspired by English folk tradition'.

And as April 23 is also Shakespeare's birthday, there will be an event commemorating the Bard's work at the Globe Theatre in London.

Many councils have shied away from endorsing St George and the English flag over a perception that they were the preserve of far-Right political parties and racists.

St George's adoption by Crusaders against Islam in the Holy Land has been a further obstacle.

But in recent years, English patriotism has become more acceptable, with the flag more likely to be associated with the national football team.

The news was welcomed by the Left-wing musician Billy Bragg yesterday.

He said: 'I think it's great that the Mayor is grasping the nettle. Good luck to him. If you don't use the flag in a positive way then you leave it to be used by the far-Right and it will have negative connotations.'

Until the 18th century, St George's Day was a celebration on a par with Christmas. But it fell out of favour.

Despite being the patron saint of England, St George is thought to have been a Roman soldier born in Turkey.

The legend of George slaying the dragon is believed to have been brought back from the Middle East by Crusaders, growing in popularity until he was canonised in the 1400s.

Last year, Gordon Brown flew the flag of St George over Downing Street for the first time in recent years.

But the day has not received much backing from government.

Over the past five years, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent just £230 promoting St George's Day.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's strange how it has to be acceptable in England

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

well done Boris,in recent years i have said England is losing its identity .you should be able to fly your flags and be proud of it.I am a proud scotsman and would hate to be in the position that you English are in ie not being able to fly your flags.I hope for your sake this is a change in attitude,and you are allowed to show your English patriotism .

I may have to abstain from the above.

Why

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I'll celebrate with a Kebab, after all he was Turkish wasn't he?

I didn't know he was Turkish I just knew he wasn't English

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Cancel the kebab (most around here are Cypriots anyway)


Saint George of Lydda (ca. 275/281 – April 23, 303) was according to tradition,[2] a Roman soldier in the Guard of Emperor Diocletian, venerated as a Christian martyr.

In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. He is immortalised in the tale of George and the Dragon and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. His memorial is celebrated on 23 April. He is regarded as one of the most prominent military saints.

St. George is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia, as well as the cities of Amersfoort, Beirut, Bteghrine, Cáceres, Ferrara, Freiburg, Genoa, Ljubljana, Gozo, Pomorie, Qormi, Lod and Moscow, Scouting, as well as a wide range of professions, organisations and disease sufferers.

George was born to a Christian noble family during the late third century between about 275 AD and 285 AD, in Lydda, Palestine. His father Geronzio was a Roman army official from Cappadocia and his mother was from Palestine. They were both Christians and from noble families of Anici (which means "can not be defeated"), so by this the child was raised with Christian beliefs. They decided to call him George meaning "worker of the land". At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George's mother Policronia died.

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Now Boris is moving in the right direction, I thought Boris was just another muppet tbh, but if he comes up with more beneficial ideas like this one he'll trash all of Ken Livinghells previous ideas.

Toots he's Scottish

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

Ironic that Englands patron saint was a Palestian christian....

he would be in Hamas now..

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Sod the patron st bit, it's about not having to live in fear for having a flag up, you're right about the origins and for years I've wondered how and why, but there's examples of it all over the place, the Yank KKK members who burned black ppl in the name of his Lord Jeazus Cariyst, some even say William Wallace gave the future Queen of England one in a tent

Well how am I suppose to know that



How so ain't they muslims

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

This is where the media lets ppl down, they don't tell the whole facts about what they report, would it suprise you to learn that the Iraqi's are mostly Catholic and Christian's, and that it's the Kurds up north of the country that are Muslim.

thats what i mean, he WOULD be a muslim

either bombing over there or shouting abuse at our returning troops on a march through an english town before they (the protesters) nip down the social for a giro...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most