Flag of England Offensive to Muslim Criminals

“So, what?” you might be thinking. I know that’s what I was thinking, but apparently, there is some serious discussion in England about changing the English flag, because of its history of being flown by Christians in the Crusades.

According to a CNN report:

British prison officers who wore a St. George’s Cross tie-pin have been ticked off by the jails watchdog over concerns about the symbol’s racist connotations.

The pins showing the English flag — which has often raised hackles due to its connection with the Crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries — could be “misconstrued,” Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said…

The banner of St. George, the red cross of a martyr on a white background, was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers during the military expeditions by European powers to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims, and later became the national flag of England.

[...]

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, said Tuesday the red cross was an insensitive reminder of the Crusades…[and] added that it was now time for England to find a new flag and a patron saint who is “not associated with our bloody past and one we can all identify with.”

Fortunately, at least at the time I voted in the CNN poll, asking, “Is it time for England to change its national flag?” 90% of the respondents weren’t feeling the need to call for changing a centuries-old national symbol to appease a bunch of prisoners:

This flag is an important part of English history, but it is also an important part of the history of western civilization, as well as the history of Christianity. I hope there is enough outrage about this to stop this whole idea right here and now.

(Hat-tip, Orion and Larry, and LGF)