Falkland Islanders Talk About National Pride and Flag Display
Introduction
A campaign called 'Operation Hoist the Colours' started in Birmingham last summer. People put up St. George's and Union flags in many places in the UK. Some people say this shows pride in the country. Other people say the flags make some people feel bad. We talked to people from the Falkland Islands about their feelings on flags and pride.
Main Body
Cathy Jacobson is 67 years old. She runs a pub in Stanley. She said islanders always show their flags. They only take them down for Christmas. She thinks the UK can learn from this. She also said the Prime Minister should think about his international actions. She does not think the Falkland Islands are important to him. Gary Clement is 70 years old. He was a Royal Marine in the Falklands War. He said the UK can learn a lot about national pride from the islands. He said islanders used to show pictures of the Queen. Now they show pictures of the King. He said there is a statue of Margaret Thatcher on Thatcher Drive. He does not think there will be a statue of the current Prime Minister. Tony Smith is a battlefield guide. He said any British person should be proud of their flag. They should be free to show it at any time. Ian Cameron lived in the islands in the 1960s. He said islanders are 'more English than the English' and 'more British than the British'. Chris Anderson was a Royal Navy veteran. He survived an attack on his ship in 1982. He said islanders have a different view. Pride in history and values does not need flag-waving. Coleen Biggs moved from London to the Falklands in 2002. She said the flag means something different in the islands. It does not mean excluding people. Her mother painted a big Union Flag on her roof. It is still there. She does not like it when people remove flags to make others feel unwelcome. Jack Ford is a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly. He said islanders are proud to be Falkland Islanders and part of the British family. This feeling comes from the 1982 war and the people who died. People still remember that. The community is strong. They welcome veterans. They have close ties to the Ministry of Defence. This gives them a daily sense of national identity.
Conclusion
The people from the Falkland Islands show a deep love for their country. This comes from their history of danger and defense. While people in the UK argue about flags, islanders say their way of using flags is a good example. The way people show national pride is different. The Falklands experience gives a different view to the argument in mainland Britain.