Great Britain: Navy bans St.George flags (Flag said to upset Turks; reminder of Crusades)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | April 22, 2005 | TOM NEWTON DUNN, Defence Editor, and ALEX PEAKE

[Stoat]

EXCLUSIVE

Navy bans St George flags

Banned ... St George's cross
 

By TOM NEWTON DUNN, Defence Editor
and ALEX PEAKE

THE Royal Navy has banned 12 warships from flying the English flag to commemorate St George’s Day today in case it upsets the Turks.

The order, blasted as “political correctness gone mad”, has enraged men and women of the senior service.

[Stoat]

 

England's pride

 

THE politically-correct brigade won’t be able to stop patriotic Sun readers marking the day — and there’s plenty going on.

Even Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is celebrating England’s patron saint by giving thousands of families free entrance to a host of events around the capital.

A parade down Whitehall this morning is followed by traditional morris dancing in Covent Garden.

Other highlights include a re-enactment of St George slaying the dragon at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Beds.

Full list of activities at www.stgeorgesdayevents.org.uk.

[Stoat]

BBC - Religion & Ethics - St George

St George
St George's Day is April 23

Saint George is the patron saint of England. He’s popularly identified with England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry—but actually he wasn’t English at all. Very little, if anything, is known about the real Saint George. Pope Gelasius said that George is one of the saints "whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God."

Facts in Brief
Everything about St George is dubious, so the information below should be taken as mythical rather than real.

• Born in Turkey (in Cappadocia)
• Lived in 3rd century CE
• His parents were Christian
• Later lived in Palestine
• Became a Roman soldier
• Protested against Rome's persecution of Christians
• Imprisoned and tortured, but stayed true to his faith
• Beheaded at Lydda in Palestine
• 23rd April was named as St George's day in 1222

Patron Saint
He is patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece; and of Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to St Mark). He’s also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis.

Who was Saint George
The story of Saint George is so wrapped in myth and legend that it’s difficult to extract the historical facts of a real life. Some believe he never existed or that he’s a Christianised version of an older pagan myth.

In the early centuries of Christianity, followers would write up fabulous accounts of the lives of their heroes. This enhanced George’s reputation but left the details of his life very blurred.

His Life
Early Life - What we believe to be the truth is that George was born in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey in the 3rd century; that his parents were Christians; and that when his father died, George’s mother returned to her native Palestine, taking George with her. George became a soldier in the Roman army and rose to the rank of Tribune.

Persecution of Christians - The Emperor of the day, Diocletian (245-313 CE), began a campaign against Christians at the very beginning of the 4th century. In about 303 CE George is said to have objected to this persecution and resigned his military post in protest.

Torture and Martyrdom - George tore up the Emperor’s order against Christians. This infuriated Diocletian, and George was imprisoned and tortured — but he refused to deny his faith. Eventually he was dragged through the streets of Diospolis (now Lydda) in Palestine and beheaded. It’s said that Diocletian’s wife was so impressed by George’s resilience that she became a Christian and that she too was executed for her faith.

Myths and Martyrdom
In the stories George is said to have been tortured in a number of gruesome and hideous ways. He was forced to swallow poison; crushed between two spiked wheels; boiled in a cauldron of molten lead. None of these attempts killed him and his wounds were healed in the night by Christ himself.

George was told his life would be spared if he would offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. The people assembled to see him do so but instead George prayed to the Christian God. Immediately, fire came down from heaven, an earthquake shook the ground, and priests, idols, and the temple buildings were destroyed. However, by this time it was God’s will that St. George should die for his faith, and he was beheaded without further trouble.

Stories of this nature abounded about pagan and Christian figures in the early Middle Ages. People would have expected their heroes to have undergone such experiences and in an age when many things seemed mystical, few were sceptical about such stories.

His Rise and Fall
The Golden Legend - The story of Saint George only achieved mass circulation when it was printed in 1483 by Caxton in a book called "The Golden Legend". This was a translation of a book by Jacques de Voragine, a French bishop, which incorporated fantastic details of Saints’ lives. It’s believed that Saint George was adopted in England because the story in the Golden Legend was similar to an Anglo-Saxon legend. St George was quickly incorporated into miracle plays adapted from pagan sources and is a prime figure in Spenser’s famous epic poem The Fairie Queen.

George Falls from Favour - George’s popularity faded after the Reformation when religious beliefs changed. He also lost ground as gunpowder became the primary weapon of war and protection, making the lance and sword less significant. In 1778 Saint George’s Day was demoted to a simple day of devotion for Catholics in England.

St George and England
The earliest known British reference to Saint George occurs in an account by St. Adamnan, the 7th century Abbot of lona. He’s believed to have heard the story from Arcuif, a French bishop who had travelled to Jerusalem and other holy places in Palestine. The saint is also mentioned in the writings of the Venerable Bede. George's reputation grew with the returning crusaders. A miracle appearance when it is claimed that he appeared to lead crusaders into battle, is recorded in stone over the south door of a church at Fordington in Dorset. This still exists and is the earliest known church in England to be dedicated to St. George. The Council of Oxford in 1222 named 23rd April Saint George’s Day.

Order of the Garter
When Edward III (1327-77) founded the Order of the Garter (c. 1348), the premier order of knighthood in England, he put it under Saint George’s patronage. The magnificent St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle was built by Edward IV and Henry VII as the chapel of the order. The badge of the Order shows Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon. From the 14th century Saint George was regarded as a special protector of the English. English soldiers were called to wear "a signe of Saint George" on chest and back. He became, in the popular imagination, English.

The Flag of St George
The flag of Saint George - a red cross on a white background - is incorporated into the Union Jack and recalled in the ensign of the Royal Navy.

Henry V
In 1415 Archbishop Chicele promoted the feast of Saint George to principal status after Henry V’s speech at the Battle of Agincourt invoking Saint George as England’s patron saint. Many believed they saw him fighting on the English side.

The George Cross
In 1940 King George VI inaugurated the George Cross for ‘acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger’. The award is usually awarded to civilians. Saint George slaying the dragon is depicted on the silver cross. In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church revised its Calendar of Saints and downgraded Saint George to its lowest status - commemoration - which means celebration of his feast is optional. He has not been, as some people believe, abolished.

[rocksblues]

Give it up now Euro's! The Inmates are now in charge of your future!

[Luigi Vasellini]

Are these the muslim Turks that butchered 1.5 million Armenian and Greek Christians about 90 years ago?? The Euros are fools!!!!!!!!!

[Bombardier]

Fly it anyway.....who cares about the stinking Turks and what the muslimes think?

[tbeatty]

What are all those Hospital ships with the Red Cross painted on it going to do?

[Cicero]

St George, Patron Saint of England

23rd April

SONG

Saint George is the pride of England's throne,
From east to west he holds his own
And none may dare in their pride to say,
That Saint George's Cross has seen its day
Saint George for merry England

When battle clouds at evening frown,
And the sun of peace in shade goes down,
The meteor flag shall its radiance cast
Lit up by the light of the gorgeous Past
Saint George for merry England.

When armies muster front to front,
That Cross must face the battle-brunt
For the heart of the Briton beats more warm
When he sees that beacon amid the storm:
Saint George for merry England.

Through England's fleet the watchword ran,
"SHE CLAIMS HIS DUTY OF EVERY MAN,"
And forth the standard of battle flew,
And what it signalled each man knew:
Saint George for merry England.

He knew that England's mandate says,-
When life and duty point two ways
The whole world shortly witness can
There's but one choice for the Englishman.
Saint George for merry England.

Beneath that Cross lie stood at bay
On the Belgian plain, through the livelong day,
That Europe's lords might the mettle try
Of Saint George's blood-red infantry.
Saint George for merry England.

The sun sank low on the pride of France
As our Captain said, "Brave Flag, advance!"
And she quailed as she saw the last rays shine
On the triumph step of that thin red line
Saint George for merry England.

Saint George's Cross bars the gates of Day
Where the snow ne'er melts on the Himaleh
That bannered Cross shall wave o'er them
While Japhet dwells in the tents of Shem.
Saint George for merry England.

Blazed high the Cross of the sea-girt isle,
When the death-reek rolled o'er the waves of Nile;
By sea, by land, it peerless is,
For no cheer comes home to the heart like this-
Saint George for merry England.

No plain of Europe lies so far
But has hailed that Cross in the van of war:
But the fairest motto that flag can claim-
I fight for honour and not for fame."
Saint George for merry England.

Old England loves her God too well
For Glory's gold her soul to sell,
And when she arms her for the fight
She arms, FOR GOD AND FOR HER RIGHT.
Saint George for merry England.

Unfurl, brave flag! as thou hast unfurled
Through a thousand years of the changing world,
And be thy Cross as pure from stain
When the thousand years come round again.
Saint George for merry England.

Gerard Moultrie

[skeeter]

Just wait till their admitted into the EU...

[ryan71]

The only purpose the Euoros's serve is to warn those of us in the US what is to come if we don't remove our heads from our asses (excuse my English).

[ArrogantBustard]

Is it just my imagination, or has Her Majesty's government gone completely barking mad?

[swilhelm73]

So, to summarize, Muslims are upset that the British honor a Christian from pre-Islamic conquest Turkey because he was a symbol of Christian efforts to free, err, conquer the lands Saint George had lived in?

[river rat]

Perhaps Turkey should reconsider their desire to join the EU...
The EU is full of countries whose flags have Crosses upon them....
There are the dreaded Christian cathedrals all over Europe..
There are folks on the street, displaying crosses around their necks....

The sensitive Turks - should stay home until they're ready to enter the "modern era"....

Europe is nuts to even consider admitting Turkey to the EU..

Semper Fi

[goldstategop]

Liberals hate the Cross. I'm not surprised they're trying to get it banned from flags as well as from all the other aspects of public life. They don't have this reaction to the symbol of Islam, the Crescent.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[kingattax]

..TURKEY

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Great Britain: Navy bans St.George flags (Flag said to upset Turks; reminder of Crusades)"

Yeah, and G_D forbid if the Brits should ever have to shoot at them, I guess they would really, really get upset then.

PC upchuck crap is getting revolting.

[Archon of the East]

The only purpose the Euoros's serve is to warn those of us in the US what is to come if we don't remove our heads from our asses (excuse my English).

Now that is well said!!!!!Nothing more to add

[stylin19a]

maybe we could trade 'em for the stars & bars we can't fly

[blackbart.223]

"Is it just my imagination, or has Her Majesty's government gone completely barking mad?"

For the most part royals are inbred. Do the math.

[Husker24]

They'll ban the Cross in Europe like theyve banned the Swastika.

[blackbart.223]

"maybe we could trade 'em for the stars & bars we can't fly.

I fly The Stars and Bars here and no one gives me any S**t about it. I won't let 'em.