Latest news with #nationalpride
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Why Lionesses saying they're ‘proud to be English' could get them arrested in Keir Starmer's woke police state
IN the afterglow of shooting the Lionesses to Euros victory, striker Chloe Kelly told the watching world: 'I'm so proud to be English!' For a player from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France or the US, a simple exclamation of national pride in their homeland nation would go unremarked. 6 6 6 Here in England it sparked a social media frenzy. Some half-jokingly wondered whether such publicly avowed patriotism would elicit a knock on the door from cops. One X user posted a picture of officers on a door camera with the caption: 'Hi Chloe Kelly, police here, we just need to speak to you about your nationalistic outburst.' Posters were referencing the new elite police squad set up by the Home Office to monitor anti-immigrant sentiment online, aimed to prevent a summer of riots. As we see time and time again, expressing a love for England and displaying a St George Cross flag can erroneously be interpreted by those who wish to divide us as Far Right rabble-rousing. So we shall watch and wait to see who gets caught up in this new net. Hopefully it wil not trouble our new net queen, hero goalie Hannah Hampton who also evoked her Englishness in a post-match interview. 'We've shown during this tournament that we can come back when we go a goal down, we have that grit, we've got English blood in us,' she told TV viewers. That two young women — part of a diverse team that reflects modern England — were happy to express pride in their homeland should be a wake-up call to our nation's elite, falling over themselves to praise Sarina Wiegman 's aces since Sunday night's stunning win. This new flowering of Englishness comes in an era where it's become fashionable to talk the country down and smother it with colonial guilt. Many on the metropolitan left in Britain have long had a sneering disdain for the emblems of the nation. In 2014, Dame Emily Thornberry's snobby tweet of a Medway home with England flags flying and a white van in the drive saw her resign from the then Labour Shadow Cabinet. The following year fellow Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn, who was then Labour's leader, failed to sing the National Anthem at a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Not only did it appear an affront to the memory of 'The Few' — those who had lost their lives in the history-defining conflict — it was also bad politics. Labour signalled that it was drifting away from its traditional, patriotic working-class base who loved their country, their flag, their monarchy and their football team. Sir Keir Starmer recognised Labour's patriotic deficit late in the day, the piping up about his pride in the nation and instigating the singing of the National Anthem at party conference. Later, Corbyn, now in the throes of setting up a new hard left party (don't expect it to have a Union Jack emblem), called singing God Save The King at Labour's annual get-together 'very, very odd'. Such sentiments drove away voters in the so-called 'red wall' constituencies in the north. Little wonder that as the Starmer project flounders, Reform UK — unafraid to fly the flag — have now found fertile ground in once Labour heartlands. English patriotism has long hid its light under a bushel — not helped by the St George Cross being adopted by far-right knuckle draggers like the English Defence League. Compare the comparably muted St George's Day celebrations to the green carnival of St Patrick's Day. In America, with a bloody history to rival Britain's, Old Glory is hung from garden flag poles across the land, whether the owner is Republican or Democrat. Some argue that our patriotic reserve is part of the essence of Englishness. Chloe and Hannah showed the world they were gutsy, skilled, confident, joyous — and proud to be English Yet, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton wore their national pride on their sleeve. It was remarkable for being such a rarity in English public life. Former Government special adviser James Price wrote on X: 'I haven't heard anyone on telly say that about England in so long. 'For all the sneering from some quarters, that's just such a wonderful thing to hear. Much more of this please, in all kinds of arenas.' Much has been made of the British — as well as English — preoccupation with our victorious role in World War Two. Yet, standing alone against Nazi Germany — real fascists not someone misgendering you on social media — was a crowning achievement of the British Empire, with theatres of war in Africa and Asia as well as Europe. Swell with pride The number of red poppies displayed on St George flags is testimony to how important it remains to our national story. After the war — under Clement Attlee's Labour government — a sense of patriotic purpose and unity helped rebuild Britain. A shared togetherness can work wonders for the economy and the national mood. Remember Cool Britannia in the 1990s when the nation revelled in its identity? It was a soft power and financial winner. Everyone has their own sense of Englishness in a land that produced the likes of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, John Lennon, Agatha Christie and Sir Isaac Newton, to name but a few. For some it's rolling moorlands of the Pennines and Cumbria, others might choose dining out on chicken tikka masala or dancing to dub reggae at the Notting Hill Carnival. Many will swell with pride re-watching Bobby Moore wiping his muddied hands before accepting the World Cup from the Queen. Now the Lionesses have roared and added their story to our national identity. Chloe and Hannah showed the world they were gutsy, skilled, confident, joyous — and proud to be English. 6 6 6
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thais and Cambodians slug it out on social media, as border tensions flare
As the border clashes this week killed more than a dozen people in Thailand and at least one in Cambodia, regional governments have been trying to prevent a war between the two countries. But a different kind of war between their citizens is already raging - via increasingly belligerent exchanges on social media. Nationalists from both sides have long bickered over several points of national pride - from ownership of temples and territories to the origins of traditional dances, costumes, food and sports. The rising tensions in recent weeks, which culminated in the deadly attacks on Thursday, have now prompted young people on both sides to trade fresh barbs online. The comment sections of social media posts about the conflict have turned into an online warzone, with Thai and Cambodian users arguing with each other and backing their governments official version of events. "Justice for Cambodia," one Cambodian user commented on a TikTok video of a user trying to explain the conflict. "Thai troops opened fire on Cambodian forces first." "[Who's] gonna trust [what] the largest scammer country said?" a Thai user replied, making a reference to the widespread scam centres in Cambodia that have entrapped hundreds of thousands. "Cambodia fired at Thailand first. This is the truth. Join in using the hashtag #CambodiaOpenedFire" a Thai X user wrote, in a post that has been viewed a million times. Cambodians, meanwhile, are using the hashtag "Thailand opened fire" and making their own videos about the conflict. Border tensions between the two countries have been simmering since May, after a brief skirmish killed one Cambodian soldier. Both countries imposed travel restrictions on each other and strengthened military presence along the border. As bilateral ties plunged to their lowest levels in a decade, some voiced concerns about hate-mongering on social media that threatened to divide the two countries' people even more. Cambodian and Thai journalists' associations issued a joint statement in May, saying that social media users have "circulated information without clear sources" and "caused confusion". The groups urged social media users to "carefully consider the potential consequences" when sharing content related to the border. As things heat up, a few have taken the belligerence offline too. A viral video posted on Thursday showed what appeared to be a Thai man asking Cambodian workers to speak Khmer - before slapping them in the face. "We're now beginning to see violence, even among the groups with no prior conflict between them," Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem, a journalism professor at Thammasat University, told BBC Thai, describing the nationalistic influencers as waging a "war of hate". Long cultural rivalry There are plenty of sensitive touchpoints for social media warriors from both countries to battle over. The dispute between the two countries dates back to more than 100 years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia. In 2008, Cambodia registered Preah Vihear, an 11th Century temple located near the disputed border as a Unesco World Heritage Site - a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand. The dispute later expanded to the 13th Century Ta Moan temple complex - which Cambodia claimed Thai troops had lined with barbed wire on Thursday. These historical sites are at the heart of a longstanding cultural rivalry between the two countries, which also extends to the realms of sports, cuisine and attire. Thai nationalists decry what they say is cultural theft by "Claimbodia", while their Khmer counterparts have dubbed them "Siamese thieves". In 2023, Thai kickboxers boycotted the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia after the sporting event they recognised as Muay Thai was introduced as Kun Khmer - which is what Cambodians call it. Earlier this month, controversy ensued after Cambodia nominated its Khmer wedding tradition for inscription on Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage. Thai social media users claimed that a Thai traditional dress was in the submission - igniting anger and allegations of cultural appropriation, as Thailand was also seeking consideration for its traditional attire to be recognised by Unesco. More recently, Thai tourists attacked Cambodian military officers at Ta Muen Thom, a temple in a disputed area along Thai-Cambodian border. Politicians' war on X Whether the aggression will wane remains to be seen, now that Cambodia has called for a ceasefire. On the other hand, the political kingmakers on both sides - who are avid social media users themselves - are hurling jabs at each other too. In a post on X, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's populist former prime minister, said he appreciated the offers he had received to help mediate the hostilities. "But I asked for some time because I have to let the Thai military teach Hun Sen a lesson for his cunningness," he wrote. Hun Sen, a strongman ex-leader who remains influential in Cambodian politics, retorted on his X account. "I am not surprised by Thaksin's attitude toward me, because he has even betrayed the Thai King, as well as members of his own party," he wrote on Friday. "Now, under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people." This particular escalation of events was, in fact, caused by the unexpected fracturing of a long-standing friendship between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra. Hun Sen leaked a phone call between him and Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The conversation, where Paetongtarn - then prime minister - called him "uncle", and criticised one of her own military commanders, was hugely embarrassing for her and sparked massive public anger. She has since been suspended as prime minister and Thailand's Constitutional Court is considering a petition for her dismissal. Some Thais believe that the leaking of the phone call was an attempt by Hun Sen to distract his people. "Hun wants dispute and war, he wants to solidify his and his son's future position in (Cambodia) and he needs to have bigger enemy which is why he push for anti-Thai narrative and war," said one Thai social media user in response to a Cambodian's post which said "there is no reason for smaller country with weaker economic (sic) like Cambodia to invade Thailand first". Even if the border conflict stops short of being a full-fledged war, the battles on the social media look set to continue. Additional reporting by Paweena Ninbut Cambodia calls for immediate ceasefire with Thailand Thailand warns clashes with Cambodia could 'move towards war' The fractured friendship behind the fight at the Thailand-Cambodia border
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thailand-Cambodia: Social media war flares up amid border clashes
As the border clashes this week killed more than a dozen people in Thailand and at least one in Cambodia, regional governments have been trying to prevent a war between the two a different kind of war between their citizens is already raging - via increasingly belligerent exchanges on social media. Nationalists from both sides have long bickered over several points of national pride - from ownership of temples and territories to the origins of traditional dances, costumes, food and rising tensions in recent weeks, which culminated in the deadly attacks on Thursday, have now prompted young people on both sides to trade fresh barbs online. The comment sections of social media posts about the conflict have turned into an online warzone, with Thai and Cambodian users arguing with each other and backing their governments official version of events. "Justice for Cambodia," one Cambodian user commented on a TikTok video of a user trying to explain the conflict. "Thai troops opened fire on Cambodian forces first.""[Who's] gonna trust [what] the largest scammer country said?" a Thai user replied, making a reference to the widespread scam centres in Cambodia that have entrapped hundreds of thousands. "Cambodia fired at Thailand first. This is the truth. Join in using the hashtag #CambodiaOpenedFire" a Thai X user wrote, in a post that has been viewed a million times. Cambodians, meanwhile, are using the hashtag "Thailand opened fire" and making their own videos about the conflict. Border tensions between the two countries have been simmering since May, after a brief skirmish killed one Cambodian soldier. Both countries imposed travel restrictions on each other and strengthened military presence along the bilateral ties plunged to their lowest levels in a decade, some voiced concerns about hate-mongering on social media that threatened to divide the two countries' people even and Thai journalists' associations issued a joint statement in May, saying that social media users have "circulated information without clear sources" and "caused confusion".The groups urged social media users to "carefully consider the potential consequences" when sharing content related to the things heat up, a few have taken the belligerence offline too. A viral video posted on Thursday showed what appeared to be a Thai man asking Cambodian workers to speak Khmer - before slapping them in the face. "We're now beginning to see violence, even among the groups with no prior conflict between them," Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem, a journalism professor at Thammasat University, told BBC Thai, describing the nationalistic influencers as waging a "war of hate". Long cultural rivalry There are plenty of sensitive touchpoints for social media warriors from both countries to battle over. The dispute between the two countries dates back to more than 100 years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia. In 2008, Cambodia registered Preah Vihear, an 11th Century temple located near the disputed border as a Unesco World Heritage Site - a move that was met with heated protest from dispute later expanded to the 13th Century Ta Moan temple complex - which Cambodia claimed Thai troops had lined with barbed wire on historical sites are at the heart of a longstanding cultural rivalry between the two countries, which also extends to the realms of sports, cuisine and nationalists decry what they say is cultural theft by "Claimbodia", while their Khmer counterparts have dubbed them "Siamese thieves". In 2023, Thai kickboxers boycotted the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia after the sporting event they recognised as Muay Thai was introduced as Kun Khmer - which is what Cambodians call this month, controversy ensued after Cambodia nominated its Khmer wedding tradition for inscription on Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage. Thai social media users claimed that a Thai traditional dress was in the submission - igniting anger and allegations of cultural appropriation, as Thailand was also seeking consideration for its traditional attire to be recognised by recently, Thai tourists attacked Cambodian military officers at Ta Muen Thom, a temple in a disputed area along Thai-Cambodian border. Politicians' war on X The aggression is unlikely to wane, especially since the political kingmakers on both sides - who are avid social media users themselves - are hurling jabs at each other too. In a post on X, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's populist former prime minister, said he appreciated the offers he had received to help mediate the hostilities. "But I asked for some time because I have to let the Thai military teach Hun Sen a lesson for his cunningness," he Sen, a strongman ex-leader who remains influential in Cambodian politics, retorted on his X account. "I am not surprised by Thaksin's attitude toward me, because he has even betrayed the Thai King, as well as members of his own party," he wrote on Friday. "Now, under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people."This particular escalation of events was, in fact, caused by the unexpected fracturing of a long-standing friendship between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra. Hun Sen leaked a phone call between him and Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn conversation, where Paetongtarn - then prime minister - called him "uncle", and criticised one of her own military commanders, was hugely embarrassing for her and sparked massive public anger. She has since been suspended as prime minister and Thailand's Constitutional Court is considering a petition for her Thais believe that the leaking of the phone call was an attempt by Hun Sen to distract his people. "Hun wants dispute and war, he wants to solidify his and his son's future position in (Cambodia) and he needs to have bigger enemy which is why he push for anti-Thai narrative and war," said one Thai social media user in response to a Cambodian's post which said "there is no reason for smaller country with weaker economic (sic) like Cambodia to invade Thailand first".Even if the border conflict stops short of being a full-fledged war, the battles on the social media look set to continue. Additional reporting by Paweena Ninbut
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China's first domestically built aircraft carrier visits Hong Kong in show of power
China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, docked in Hong Kong on Thursday as part of Beijing's campaign to boost patriotism, just days after the territory marked the 28th anniversary of its handover from British to Chinese sovereignty. Escorted by a vessel from its strike group, the Shandong entered Hong Kong waters in the early hours of the morning, accompanied by two destroyers and a frigate, according to Chinese state media. The warships will be open to public visits over the weekend. Local media reported that residents had already bought all 10,000 tickets for the public tours. Of those, 2,000 were allocated for visits aboard the Shandong, with the remainder for the accompanying destroyer and frigate. The visit comes as Beijing intensifies efforts to foster national pride in Hong Kong, particularly following the widespread anti-government protests in 2019. Since then, many pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned under sweeping national security legislation. Although Hong Kong retains some semi-autonomous status and enjoys civil liberties not found in mainland Chinese cities, its military and foreign affairs remain under the control of Beijing. The People's Liberation Army maintains a land, sea and air garrison in the city. The Shandong is China's second aircraft carrier and the first to be entirely constructed domestically. It is smaller than its US counterparts, displacing 70,000 tonnes fully loaded and carrying 24 Shenyang J-10 fighter jets. In April, the carrier was dispatched for exercises in the eastern maritime and airspace surrounding Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as its own. A month later, the Shandong and China's first carrier, the Liaoning, carried out joint drills in the Pacific, beyond the so-called first island chain, in a show of increasing naval ambition. Related Hong Kong trade delegation visits Qatar to strengthen bilateral relations Hong Kong warns citizens over mobile game 'advocating armed revolution' The Liaoning, a vessel purchased from Ukraine and refurbished, last visited Hong Kong in 2017. A third carrier with a flat-deck design is currently undergoing sea trials, while a fourth is under construction.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texans Celebrate First ‘American Patriotism Month' After New Law Takes Effect
Texans are ringing in the Fourth of July this year under a brand-new banner: American Patriotism Month. For the first time, the Lone Star State is formally celebrating Independence Day as part of a newly designated month-long tribute to national pride, republicanism and liberty, thanks to a law unanimously passed earlier this year. House Bill 2703, authored by Rep. Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo), sailed through both chambers of the Texas Legislature with no recorded votes against it—148 yeas in the House, 31 yeas in the Senate, and just two present but not voting in the House. Because the bill received over two-thirds support in both chambers, it took effect immediately, making July 2025 the inaugural American Patriotism Month. 'July is American Patriotism Month to…celebrate the United States of America and honor the values and principles on which it was founded,' the statute reads. Texans are encouraged to recognize military veterans, the Founding Fathers, civil rights leaders, moon-landing astronauts, and the unity displayed by Americans following the September 11 attacks. The law calls for 'appropriate ceremonies and activities that help citizens develop a sense of national pride and national identity,' though participation is voluntary and no specific requirements are imposed. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the bill's passage in May, writing on social media: Though July has long held special significance in Texas—the Fourth became a legal state holiday in 1879 — this year's observance carries new weight. Texas is now the only state in the nation to set aside the entire month for patriotic reflection. Raymond, who previously led efforts to add 'In God We Trust' to state license plates, introduced the bill with little media attention but received praise from Texas leaders and civic education advocates. This also marks the first July 4 that Texans can take their boats down from docks in Galveston and sail into the newly renamed Gulf of America, another Texas-led patriotic initiative approved earlier this year. As fireworks light up the Texas sky this week, it won't just be the nation's independence being celebrated — it's also the launch of a state-sanctioned season of American pride.
