h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Most of the stories I just looked at through Google seem to agree that he was born somewhere called Cappadocia. He was then martyred by the then Emperor of Rome, in Palestine around the 3rd Century.

ReddyFreddy is right in saying that the English Crusades brought the legend back to England, and because he was martyred for being christian and was also a soldier, he became the Saint Of Battle. Apparently he appeared before the British forces before the Battle of Antioch and also appeared to Richard the Lion Heart. This is possibly why he became our Patron Saint.
There is another story somewhere that he actuall resurrected 3 times Refusing to die at the hands of the heathens. I suspect that is part of the Crusaders adaptation

Either that or locked up as a potential terrorist - Middle Eastern and with violent tendencies!

I mean no racism, but I continue to be amazed that so many of the worlds most important inventions and conventions should come from such an insignificant (in size) Island, not to mention that we once had possession (for want of a better word), of one third of the worlds land mass. We must have something special going for us as a Race.

The other point is that as the English are so laid-back, is a martyred soldier the right symbol for a Patron Saint these days?

"Battle of Antioch "

It wasn't him with the holy Handgrenade was it?

"We must have something special going for us as a Race."

Pehaps instead f the word 'Race', we should put 'Nation'. I can see people having a problem reading that otherwise


My theory is that we were so successful in the past, and I think I should emphasise 'the past', is due to our education system. It would be interesting to see when any such system was first introduced and to who it was made available to? But that would take us off topic

Madfidler - we weren't always laid back, hence the Crusades He refused to change Religion at the orders of the Emperor, that is why he was martyred. The Crusaders admired this a lot

Ictoan - Yes, and he slew the might beast with the big pointy teeth

Sorry all, perhaps the wrong choice of word.

Hi All
St George is also the patron saint of Moscow and he and his dragon appear on the city flag.

And of Georgia. (the nation, not the US state, afaik) Which is why they have the flag of St George as well. So if anyone accuses you of being an English nationalist, tell them your dad is Georgian.

sprout

If anyone accuses me of being an English Nationalist, I'll reply "Yes? Is that a problem for you?"

RF

Interesting that people use the word 'accuse' in relation to being an English nationalist.

Well, a nationalist does have a certain connotation about it - Scottish and Irish nationalists want to create a Scottish nation state, or an expanded Irish member state.

So does an English nationalist want to split off from Scotland and Wales? Or just has a strong attachment to the idea of the nation state?

sprout

Sprout, are you aware of this F1731787?thread=412465&latest=1


Can't 'Nationalis' just be used to describe someone proub of their national origins?

As the pressure builds up over the issue of the referendam and the whole european issue, feelings and emotions will run high. I will be the first to admit that my emotions on this issue may well cloud my judgement. Wether we finish up as part of a federation or retain our sovrenty is yet to be decided, but whatever the outcome I pray we as a Nation never loose our pride and become ashamed of our roots and our flags

Creachy
I don't assume that everyone who flys the St George flag or the Union Flag is racist although i don't feel it can be denied that a lot of them at present are which is why I'm happy for the relatively sane members of this site to use them

RF
I don't have a problem with you being an English nationalist
I think it is you who has the problem
I would say the same to anyone who told me they were a Welsh, Scottish, British or any other variety of nationalist

I don't have a problem, I'm simply unashamed to be English.

RF

well I'm not English but if I was I wouldn't be ashamed or proud of an accident of birth, only of things I'd done myself

Morning Blackbery Cat.
Does it ever occur to you that we as individuals are the sum total of our upbringing and envireament? Certainly we have our individual quirks and veiws, but without realiseing it we are still influenced by what we are. And haveing got all that of my chest, I AM PROUD TO BE ENGLISH.
And I do not beleive it would go amiss for every nation to be equally proud of there heretige. Why paint the whole World Grey??