The boomerang and St George

One of things that has always irked me about “multiculturalism” is the way that its advocates have tried so very hard to make that significant part our population who are of English extraction persona non grata. There seems to be an underlying assumption that the English are just the same as those who are descended from the original settlers. So when we look at the schedules on SBS, for instance. we find a greatly disproportionate number of programs that cater for immigrant groups that are, in terms of actual numbers, far less significant that the English.
Even in England there has been a sort of cultural cringe, in the face of their own multiculturalism, that has seen so many symbols of “Englishness” allowed to quietly fade away; any celebrations of some fine tradition or pride in the heritage risks being denounced as “racist” or an example of the “Far right”. This has in particular been the case with the ST George flag (the part of the union jack which represents England) and by association St George himself. I am an Englishman and as I watch my children grow up to be fine Australians I often wonder if they will even appreciate the English part of their heritage. I find it hopeful that in England there are some brave souls who are trying to reclaim from the extremists the symbols and inspirations that made generations of Englishmen proud. The campaign to make St Georges day a national celebration is just such an effort.

“The patron saint of England should be rebranded and St George’s Day should become a national day to celebrate the tradition of dissent,” says a report in the Church of England newspaper. “Licensees are asked to ring their bell at 10.45pm on April 23 and ask customers to raise their glasses in a grand toast to St George,” reports the Morning Advertiser.

The enthusiasm for Englishmen to proclaim St George’s Day a national holiday is building. A ground swell of patriotism is returning after years of paying no heed to our avenging paragon while tolerating our Celtic neighbours’ over-enthusiasm for nailing up griffins, wearing tartan and the lauding of little green men.

“It is time that St George was reclaimed from the dragon, from past associations with racism and the far Right,” says Simon Barrow, one of the authors of the report. He claims the original St George dates from the 4th century and was celebrated for defending the marginalised and challenging the persecution policy of the then Emperor, Constantine. He suggests George should become the “people’s saint”. Certainly it is “the people” who kicked off this renewed interest in St George.

(source)

 

For although I am proud to call Australia home, to raise my children here, to vote and take part in the life of this nation there will always be a part of me that will be a proud Englishman who feels as much at home under the flag of Australia as  the Cross of Saint  George .