Happy Birthday Union 'Flag'

**InsaneApache** · 04-10-2006, 16:32

That's right 'flag', it is not the Union Jack.

Union 'Flag'

400 years old.

**Duke Malcolm** · 04-10-2006, 16:47

I was upset to see the BBC cannot decide between "Jack" and "Flag". I thought everyone knew the difference... but apparently not those at Shepherd's Bush...

**Kanamori** · 04-10-2006, 17:13

Nifty little flag, it would have been interesting now if the welsh dragon would have been incorporated too.

**Big King Sanctaphrax** · 04-10-2006, 17:22

I think if you did want a Welsh presence, the St. David's Cross would be better.

Lots of rather unpleasant nationalism in the comments for that article.

**Taffy_is_a_Taff** · 04-10-2006, 18:27

Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax

Lots of rather unpleasant nationalism in the comments for that article.

I couldn't see any, did they get deleted?

I saw Welsh people complain about no Welsh representation on the flag and various non-English people say that they felt it did not represent them.
The worst I saw in the way of unpeasantness was an English man who lives in the U.S. and makes sure to fly the union flag on 4th July and that really wasn't too bad.

**English assassin** · 04-10-2006, 17:23

Originally Posted by Duke Malcolm

I was upset to see the BBC cannot decide between "Jack" and "Flag". I thought everyone knew the difference... but apparently not those at Shepherd's Bush...

That's because the only flag they salute is the red flag of proletarian revolution...

**Louis VI the Fat** · 04-10-2006, 19:48

Gah, even foreigners know that the principality of Wales was already united with England and therefore didn't have it's flag represented seperately on the union flag. The kingdom of England and Wales formed a union with Scotland, and later Ireland.

One thing has always puzzled me to no end though: why oh why is St. Patricks cross skewed on the union flag?
(Assuming the Irish cross is St. Patricks, and that on its own it forms a proper cross)

edit: oops, union flag, not jack.

**ShadesPanther** · 04-10-2006, 19:58

double post

**ShadesPanther** · 04-10-2006, 19:59

this is the st. patricks cross
http://www.anbg.gov.au/images/flags/...icks-cross.gif

edit: since its so freaking huge i'll make it a link

**Banquo's Ghost** · 04-10-2006, 20:17

Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

One thing has always puzzled me to no end though: why oh why is St. Patricks cross skewed on the union flag?
(Assuming the Irish cross is St. Patricks, and that on its own it forms a proper cross)

More to the point, why is the cross of St Patrick (the saltire) still on the union flag when the Republic of Ireland is no longer part of the union?

(The flag of Ulster, as you can see in ShadesPanther's sig, is the St George cross with a red hand + not x ).

**InsaneApache** · 04-10-2006, 20:27

You know, I always thought that the cross of St. David was on the Union Flag. I used to think that it was a red saltire on a white background.

Then a nice chap I met in Greece explained to me that it wasn't. He was, of course, a Welshman. Had a few great sessions with him.

A Killer Zombie or two makes for great debates.

**Banquo's Ghost** · 04-10-2006, 20:31

Originally Posted by InsaneApache

You know, I always thought that the cross of St. David was on the Union Flag. I used to think that it was a red saltire on a white background.

Wouldn't it be a good idea if this was the case? Then the Welsh would be part of the flag and the Irish not - like it should be

Can saints swap flags?

**Duke of Gloucester** · 04-10-2006, 22:10

More to the point, why is the cross of St Patrick (the saltire) still on the union flag when the Republic of Ireland is no longer part of the union?

(The flag of Ulster, as you can see in ShadesPanther's sig, is the St George cross with a red hand + not x ).

Well obviously it represents Northern Ireland, which is still part of the UK. It would not make sense to replace St Patrick's cross with the Ulster flag: whilst the six counties are not the whole of Ireland, neither are they the whole of Ulster.