I’m sure we’ve all come across British and English flags tied on to lamp posts everywhere. I was just in Greenwich, and spotted several as I was crossing Blackheath. I usually just ignore them: of course, the rise of nationalism which they herald leaves a very nasty taste in my mouth, but there’s nothing I can do to get them taken down. However, I just came across this video on the subject which I think is well worth a watch. The guy in it explains how such nationalism is symptomatic of something far darker than simply patriotism: a form of territorialism, and a repugnant desire to dominate other cultures, expressed by disenfranchised working class men whose frustrations have been harnessed by the far right. It is a narrative which has been repeated over and over again throughout history, and it never ends well. Thus, while we might be content to let these flags fly for now for fear of causing trouble, sooner or later we will have to do something about them.