Patriotism and the English 'intellectual'

"England is perhaps the only great country whose intellectuals are ashamed of their own nationality. In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during 'God save the King' than of stealing from a poor box. All through the critical years many left-wingers were chipping away at English morale, trying to spread an outlook that was sometimes squashily pacifist, sometimes violently pro-Russian, but always anti-British."

George Orwell, 1941.

Another good reason to celebrate Boris beating Ken

The Mail reports that:

"London Mayor Boris Johnson is to defy the politically correct brigade by staging a week-long festival in the capital to celebrate St George’s Day, with the red and white cross of England’s patron saint flying proudly from his City Hall offices.

The move follows a series of incidents in recent years in which people have been banned from displaying the English flag on the grounds that it is racist and could offend Muslims because of St George’s association with the Crusades.

But Mr Johnson believes such arguments are unjustified and plans a series of events around St George’s Day on April 23 to honour the historical achievements of England and the English."

About time too, it's just a shame that 12 years of Labour misrule have left the English so downbeat this year and not in the best state to enjoy it.

A truly jaw-dropping comment

Buried at the end of a piece in The Mail about Gordon Brown not holding an early election appears this thought:

"Some pundits say ‘patriot’ Mr Brown may call an election on April 23, St George’s Day..."

Patriot? Patriot! PATRIOT?!