Happy St. George's Day

The 'England' Riots

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:23:00 +0000

It's been a crazy few days in London and other major cities. Riots on the streets culminating in the deaths of a number of people. Our sympathy goes out to the relatives who have lost loved-ones.

The dramatic picture opposite shows Polish national Ms Konczyk jumping for her life from a burning building. In an interview with the Sun, she said: "I came to England because I thought it was a great country full of kind and gentle people. I thought London was a civilised society full of gentlemen and ladies - but it is not like that. England has become a sick society."

England is full of civilised gentlemen and ladies - they just don't live in London.

London and most major cities across England are no longer representative of the English. You only need to travel on a Bus and listen to people's conversations to realise the English are a minority.

And if you asked the rioters their nationality, how many would say "English"?

Just because the rioters live in England doesn't make them English. Even the woman jumping from the burning building described herself as Polish.

'England' and the 'English' are fast becoming words to describe something bad. These are not 'British' riots, carried out by thugs who hold a British passport - no, they are 'English'.

This has nothing to do with colour - the pictures show both white and black people looting.

But when people are prepared to 'sh*t on their own doorstep' and burn down their neighbourhood, you have to recognise they have no sense of pride or belonging.

Anybody who is proud to be English would not riot. English nationalists take pride in their country.

And becoming English has nothing to do with the colour of your skin; you're English if you say you are... the problem is you will find very few people in London who will claim that nationality.

What will be on nationality forms when British has gone?

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:29:00 +0000

There will be no British option next time.

Will it force people to tick English, or will hate make them tick 'Other'? The term British has been used by many as a way of avoiding having to admit they are English. Very soon Guardian readers and minority extremists will have to find new ways of describing themselves.

White British becomes White English, British Asian becomes English Asian.

Personally, I don't see the need to qualify my Englishness. I'm English, not White English. The colour of my skin should be irrelevant. And so is my religion. I don't describe myself as English Christian, just English.

Terms like Black English or English Muslim only serve to highlight differences - unimportant differences. We are all English, one tribe.

But there are some who will be unhappy with this change. British Passports become English Passports, complete with the St George flag printed on them. Supermarkets will no longer be able to disguise the origin of English products and hide behind the Union Jack. Even the BBC will have to radically re-think who it serves when 'British' is removed from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

And the end result of all this? The word 'English' and the St. George flag will become 'normalised'. As people see them on their passports, in Supermarkets and on TV it will reinforce their nationality. Being English will no longer be for special occasions - the World Cup and St. George's Day - it will be a part of every day life.

Scottish independence will hammer a nail in the coffin of the Union and have a profound effect on England. And it's all good.

Britain used to be a club with four members, now it has only one - England.

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Ask a Scotsman his nationality and he will say "Scottish", ask a Welshman and he will say "Welsh" - only an Englishman might say "British".

It's becoming increasingly clear that the Union between England, Scotland and Wales is coming to an end. The English need to stop viewing Scotland and Wales as their children; not yet fully grown and in need of our guidance, protection and large sums of pocket money.

Scotland and Wales are adults now, they have their own identity and are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves (but after they leave home we are not taking them back).

Personally, I will still stand on Remembrance Day in a minutes silence for all the brave Scottish, Welsh and Irish soldiers who are far better than me and laid down their lives to protect this island. But I also think it's time for us to part as friends.

The vote on Scottish independence is coming soon. I think we already know the result. Soon after that will be Wales.

So what does this all mean for St. George's Day?

The English have been programmed to think of themselves as British, encouraged to suppress their 'Englishness'. But after Scottish independence 'British' will cease to exist, and people in England will ask themselves "If I'm not British, what am I?"

St. George will answer "You are English".

The St. George flag and right wing politics

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:57:00 +0000

In radio/newspaper interviews I'm always asked how to take back the St. George flag from extreme right wing groups and reduce the stigma some people feel is associated with the flag.

Odd that the same question is never put to organisers of St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

In Trafalgar Square you will see thousands of people waving the Irish flag on 17 March - the same flag that was at the front of recent parades by the Real IRA, the same flag that is draped over the coffins of IRA members (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/977644.stm), the same flag that is on murals along the Falls Road.

So if everyone that waves a St. George flag is a fascist, does that mean that anyone who waves an Irish flag is a terrorist? Or is this simplistic, knee-jerk prejudice reserved only for the English?

As a spokesman for an English patriot group I always have to deny that we are racist during every interview I give. If I was organising St Patrick's Day celebrations the media wouldn't dream of asking if we supported republican terrorism - can you imagine the reaction if they did?

Not all Irish patriots are terrorists, and not all English patriots are fascists. Is it really that difficult to understand?

Happy St. George's Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:52:00 +0000

Happy St George's Day

Got radio interviews lined up for St. George's Day today to spread the word. BBC London and BBC Five Live.

Send your friends family a free 'Happy St. George's Day' ecard today.

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:11:00 +0000

There's over 100 designs at http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/cards/

Congratulations England

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:55:00 +0000

England win Six Nations under Martin Johnson

Well done England on winning the Six Nations. On to New Zealand and World Cup victory in September.

Not sure what chemicals are released in my brain, but whenever England do well it always brightens my day. It must be a tribal thing - shared events and community, wanting to see others in your tribe do well for the benefit of the tribe as a whole.

Hopefully Christchurch will still be hosting matches despite the earthquake - our thoughts are with them.

How many English people will pretend to have Irish ancestors today?

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:33:00 +0000

Such a shame that some English people will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with enthusiasm, but will let St. George's Day pass without notice. They will claim some distant link with Ireland ("my Dad drank Guinness in a pub in Dublin once" etc, etc).

The popularity of St. Patrick's Day is entirely down to good marketing. The Irish Government needed foreign currency back in the 70s and decided that Tourism was the answer. So they started to aggressively promote the day as part of Irish culture.

But the plan has back-fired a bit. Today, St. Patrick's Day has little to do with Irish culture and a lot to do with consumption of alcohol. St. Patrick wears a t-shirt with 'Sponsored by Guinness'.

We should not make the same mistake with St. George's Day. We have a rich culture and heritage that must remain the focus on 23 April.

Just got my 2011 Census form

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Q.15 Make sure you tick 'English' :)

Government considers holiday on St. George's Day

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:57:00 +0000

May Day moved to October or 23 April. Either way today is a win-win situation for our campaign.

1) If they move it to October for a 'Britain' day it will just serve to highlight how divided we are in the UK. Do the government really think Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland will be hanging Union Jacks out of their windows and singing 'God Save the Queen'? The recent old-firm match in Scotland between Rangers and Celtic highlighted the gap between those that support the Union and those that don't.

Result? The day will polarise the member countries of the UK and the English will continue to re-discover their nationality.

2) If they move the day to St George's Day, we win! And according to the Met Office April has less rain fall than October :)

Personally, I would like to keep May Day and have St George's Day as an extra bank holiday. We get fewer bank holidays in England than the rest of Europe, and May Day is a traditional day of celebration for Morris Dancers.

Add a St. George's Day Rose to your Facebook picture

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:18:00 +0000

For a rose with black text click http://apps.facebook.com/fribbon/group.php?gid=11868&refer=pp

For a rose with light grey text click http://apps.facebook.com/fribbon/group.php?gid=11870&refer=pp

The actual size of the roses are smaller than indicated here, just enlarged them for clarity.

St George Fact No. 3, he has a Mosque named after him

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:55:00 +0000

St. George is referred to as al-Khader in the Koran, and there is a Mosque in Lod, Israel known as the al-Khader Mosque. The site of the St. George Mosque could be over 700 years old.

Celebrate St. George's Day on 23 April. Because you're English.

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:36:00 +0000

England 17 - France 9

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Ben Foden scores England's try with passion

That was a close run thing. But yet again our boys stood firm in a very hard fought match. Both sides were a bit clumsy at times but England were the only ones to score a try. Next up Scotland on 13 March. So proud of England.

Free gift for your kids and grandkids

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:41:00 +0000

A Sony Playstation? A trip to Disney? No. It's Pride.

Pride in their country. Pride in their culture and heritage. Pride in themselves.

But without a national celebration each year that pride will disappear. We can already see how English culture is mocked and riddiculed and how 'other patriotism' is encouraged. Soon our children will feel ashamed of their roots. Ashamed of what their parents, grandparents and great grandparents achieved.

So give them a gift that lasts a lifetime. An English day of celebration on 23 April. Make it happen by emailing your MP. Go to http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/MP and enter your postcode to find your MPs email address (if you are not sure what to write there are some suggestions on the website).

It only takes a few minutes to send an email and it's free.

Remember, once we lose our heritage and culture it's gone forever. Give our kids and grandkids the pride to say "I'm English".

England 59 - Italy 13

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Chris Ashton - 4 tries against Italy.

So proud of England. Our rugby teams (RFU and League) play with passion. 8 tries and man-of-the-match Chris Ashton just gets better. Great weekend. France next in the firing line.

Barking & Dagenham for St George!

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:46:00 +0000

Council will give £450 for street parties on 23 April. The success of last year’s St George’s Day parties has encouraged them to fund more celebrations in 2011.

Interested? If you are a Barking & Dagenham resident you just complete a simple application form about who you are and your street party idea. Deadline for completed forms is 11 March at the very latest. Successful applicants could be awarded up to £450 to hold a street party on or around St George's Day - Saturday 23 April. Visit http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/News/PressReleases/Pages/CelebrateStGeorgesDay.aspx

England v Italy (Six Nations, Saturday 12 February)

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:34:00 +0000

Can't wait for the England v Italy game. Surely it will be another win. And watch Martin Johnson sing the national anthem with the rest of the team. They wear the shirt with pride.

St George Fact No. 2, he's not English and St Patrick isn't Irish

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Some people assume we are all racists and think we will drop St. George because he's not English.

Wrong.

St. George is a great success story for modern England. Born overseas, he has integrated so well he has become an English icon.

And why should his country of origin matter? St. Patrick is not Irish. He was born in Roman Britain and captured by Irish pirates who took him to Ireland as a slave. And guess what? St. Andrew isn't Scottish. He was born in Israel and probably didn't even know Scotland existed.

St George Fact No. 1, he's the only Saint in the Koran

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Saint George is the only christian saint to be mentioned in the Koran (holy book of Islam). In it he is referred to as Al Khadir.

Government wants bank holiday in October

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:16:00 +0000

They want to scrap May Day bank holiday and move it to October (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12372625). A couple of things to consider:

1) Why do we need to get rid of one bank holiday to get a new one in October? England has fewer bank holidays than most European countries.

2) If they move May Day then the argument that there are too many bank holidays in April/May will be removed. This could make it easier for 23 April to be a bank holiday.

3) They want the October bank holiday to be either UK Day or Trafalgar Day.

On UK Day are we expected to wave Union Jacks? This may not go down very well with Catholics in Northern Ireland or the separatists in Scotland, Wales and Cornwall. UK Day will just highlight how parts of the UK are not united.
We admire what Lord Nelson achieved in the Battle of Trafalgar. But here's some of the things we will have to read about in the papers every year. a) He commanded a Navy that 'press ganged' men into service. b) Sailors were flogged under his command. c) We are celebrating an event where we killed our 'European partners'. d) Lord Nelson was having an affair with a married woman. e) The press will not hold back on their criticism of Lord Nelson because he was English and an easy target.

More outrageous comments from English Councillors about St. George's Day

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:06:00 +0000

All we did was send Local Councillors in England a 'Happy St. George's Day' email and ask them if they have plans to celebrate St. George's Day in their local area. The prejudice some of them displayed is breathtaking.

6) Rushmoor Borough Council, 23/4/2009.

Councillor said: “Not my St at all. We celebrate on March 1”

We reply: It may not be your Saint, but as an elected Councillor for an English Council you are surely meant to represent your constituents. Would this Councillor be so quick to distance himself from other cultural celebrations?

7) Wellingborough Borough Council, 23/4/2009.

Councillor said: “I would be grateful if you could inform me a little more of what you mean by ‘English culture and heritage’, as opposed to (say) ‘British culture and heritage’? I would also like to know what an English ‘Patriot’ is?”

We reply: We couldn’t believe this one. He doesn’t even know the difference between English and British. And we assume he question about patriotism is meant to be sarcastic.

8) Blackpool Borough Council, 13/10/2009.

Councillor said: “I'd love to help, but don't think I could. I'm actually Scots and don't think I'd be very welcome.”

We reply: Wonderful. The knee-jerk assumption that all English people are racist xenophobes. If we hate the Scottish so much we wouldn’t elect this man as a Councillor.

9) St Albans District Council, 13/10/2009.

Councillor said: “Thank you for contacting me. I cannot support an organisation that encourages people to take a day off work.”

We reply: We all get holiday entitlement, normally 4 weeks if you work full-time, it’s entirely up to us which day we choose as holiday. England is at the bottom of the European League Table with only 8 Bank Holidays a year. Spain gets as many as 14. We deserve more holidays.

10) South Lakeland District Council, 13/10/2009.

Councillor said: “Thank you for yr invitation but I'm British, born in Scotland, and I am deeply saddened by the actions of those who would widen the gap between the different constituents of Britain.”

We reply: When he says he is saddened by those who would ‘widen the gap’ is he referring to us, or Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party? The above is the full text of his email, note he doesn’t mention the effect of Devolution on the disintegration of ‘Britishness’; or the demands of Nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales for independence. No, apparently it’s all our fault.

Comments from other Councillors are listed in an earlier post - equally outrageous. Please try asking your local Councillors if they have any plans to celebrate St. George's Day and let us know the response you get. It's easy to email them and only takes a few minutes, go to http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/council and enter your postcode in the box provided.

Before you vote in the next English Local Council elections read this...

noreply@blogger.com (St George Unofficial Bank Holiday) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Here's a brief list of some of the derogatory comments we have received from Local Councillors about St. George's Day over the years. Just remember these are Councillors elected to represent people living in England.

The comments they make are is response to an email we sent them asking if the Council had plans to celebrate St. George's Day.

1) Burnley Borough Council, 27/11/2008.

Councillor said: “Unfortunately I'm on the politically opposite end of the spectrum to your campaign, and would like to see an end to all nationalist holidays because they promote boundaries, separation and mistrust. They are, on the whole, founded on war - certainly that is the case for St George - whereas I believe celebrations should be founded on peace.”

We reply: This is very revealing, as the Councillor assumes that promoting St. George’s Day is a political statement. She states “I’m on the politically opposite end of the spectrum”. Really? So what end of the political spectrum is our family of supporters?

The assumption by many Councillors is that we are all right wing extremists, they seem to have difficulty understanding how English patriots can be politically neutral.

2) Lancashire County Council, 27/11/2008.

Councillor said: “With a surname like [name removed to protect identity], I can't really say I'm falling over myself with enthusiasm at the prospect of celebrating England's national day. But I hope you all have a lovely time all the same.”

We reply: If we were organising a St. Patrick’s Day celebration do you think he would have sent the same email? For example, “I’m not falling over myself with enthusiasm at the prospect of celebrating Ireland’s national day”. Can you imagine the response he would have got?

Also, note how he refers to the English as a separate group from which he is divorced - “... I hope YOU ALL have a lovely time”. This man was elected by the English to represent their wishes in an English Council.

3) Chester City Council, 28/11/2008.

Councillor says: “No thanks.”

We say: Two words that speak volumes. Can you imagine getting such a curt reply if we had asked about any other cultural celebration?

4) Rushmoor Borough Council, 26/3/2009.

Councillor says: “I'm more interested in St David's Day but do acknowledge that those in this country need to share the day with those in Georgia etc”

We say: Would he have stated a lack of interest if we were asking about the Council’s plans to celebrate any other cultural day? Also note how he tries to belittle our Patron Saint by highlighting that we share him with Georgia, and also how he refers to ‘those in this country’ rather than ‘our’ country - again divorcing himself from people he is elected to represent.

5) Gloucester City Council, 3/4/2009.

Councillor says: “I was born in England, brought up in Wales and have Irish forbears - I don't believe in your campaign.”

We say: Clearly this Councillor has connections with England, Wales and Ireland. If she doesn’t believe in our campaign then presumably she also doesn’t believe in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and St. David’s Day? Or is her dislike only reserved for the country she was born in?

It never ceases to amaze us how some Councillors in England are happy to embrace their Celtic heritage, yet distance themselves from anything English.

Try asking your local Councillors if they have any plans to celebrate St. George's Day and let us know the response you get. It's easy to email them and only takes a few minutes, go to http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/council and enter your postcode in the box provided.