Happy St George's Day

William Blake

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountain's green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold: Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire.

I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant Land.

"Milton"

sir winston churchill (1874-1965)

"We shall go on till the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island what ever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches and we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We will never surrender".

sir winston churchill (1874-1965)

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England".

cecil john rhodes (1853-1902)

"Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen".

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

1914

Originally posted by Al Jarvis And what a glorious sunny day it is too!I wanted to include a link to the Sun's page 3 St George's Day lovelies today, but you need permission there. Boo, hiss.

Not safe for work opening ? Have to wait till I get home then :(

We talking about the rag or the online version here??

5 pints of Stella & Chicken burger for my St Georges lunch, fuck me i'm leathered, need to kip !!!!

Stuck to London Pride this lunchtime, nice patroitic glow now making me see two keyboards as well. TYping to deteriorate as the afternoon proceeds.

I thought it was St.Patrick's Day we only celebrated.:\ohwell:

For he might have been a Roosian, A French, or Turk, or Proosian, Or perhaps Itali-an! Or perhaps Itali-an!

But in spite of all temptations To belong to other nations, He remains an Englishman!

Viva Inglaterra!

Did he slay the dragon today or something?

Being ignorant on this subject, can someone tell me who the fuck this guy is?

William Shakespeare

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier lands,— This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

"Richard II" (2.1.43-53)

Oh, I get it now. Hooray for nationalism....

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope Oh, I get it now. Hooray for nationalism....

You don't get it your holiness, there is a clear distinction between patriotism (loving your country) and nationalism (considering other countries to be inferior to yours). I am a Spanish patriot and very proud of it and at the same time I inmensely despise nationalism.

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol Being ignorant on this subject, can someone tell me who the fuck this guy is?

Sorry Tristan, I had written half and essay on St. George and I lost it when I tried to submit it. Irretrievably. I cannot face to do it again. Here is the lowdown, though.

Roman soldier song of well off farmers in Capadocia (currently part of Turkey) during the 3rd Century. At one time he decided to join the Christians and received martyrdom in Lidda (today part of Israel) in the year 300 hundred BC. So far the history. legend has that before joining the meek Christians he was a dragon slayer having saved a city of Lybia from a beast who having finished off all the lambs and ewes around now exacted a daily tribute of virgins to eat. He killed the basylisc and probably married the beautiful daughter of the King.

He is the saint patron not only of England but also of Georgia (the European one, I reckon the American one is so called for George Washington and not particularly devout either), Lithuania, Poland, many regions of Spain (I myself am having a quiet and relaxed day at home courtesy of the saint) and...the boy scouts (don't ask me why).

Unrelated to this today is also Book Day but that's another story.

You get the day off on St.Georges Day in Spain ? Fookinell !

Originally posted by Budvar Huber

Originally posted by Tristan Jayol Being ignorant on this subject, can someone tell me who the fuck this guy is?

Sorry Tristan, I had written half and essay on St. George and I lost it when I tried to submit it. Irretrievably. I cannot face to do it again. Here is the lowdown, though.

Roman soldier song of well off farmers in Capadocia (currently part of Turkey) during the 3rd Century. At one time he decided to join the Christians and received martyrdom in Lidda (today part of Israel) in the year 300 hundred BC. So far the history. legend has that before joining the meek Christians he was a dragon slayer having saved a city of Lybia from a beast who having finished off all the lambs and ewes around now exacted a daily tribute of virgins to eat. He killed the basylisc and probably married the beautiful daughter of the King.

He is the saint patron not only of England but also of Georgia (the European one, I reckon the American one is so called for George Washington and not particularly devout either), Lithuania, Poland, many regions of Spain (I myself am having a quiet and relaxed day at home courtesy of the saint) and...the boy scouts (don't ask me why).

Unrelated to this today is also Book Day but that's another story.

Thanks for the background info., and have a good holiday.

Fuckin great isnt it,St Georges Day and its not celebrated yet everyone goes on the piss for paddys day (no offence). I was working with a welsh fella today who was saying "Fuck george and englands shit" I pointed out he was speaking our fuckin language & earning our Sterling. Cheeky twat went quiet after that. The Knob.

Originally posted by Budvar Huber

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope Oh, I get it now. Hooray for nationalism....

You don't get it your holiness, there is a clear distinction between patriotism (loving your country) and nationalism (considering other countries to be inferior to yours). I am a Spanish patriot and very proud of it and at the same time I inmensely despise nationalism.

There's a very fine line betwixt them.

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope > Originally posted by Budvar Huber> > > > Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope> > Oh, I get it now. Hooray for nationalism.... >

You don't get it your holiness, there is a clear distinction between patriotism (loving your country) and nationalism (considering other countries to be inferior to yours). I am a Spanish patriot and very proud of it and at the same time I inmensely despise nationalism. There's a very fine line betwixt them.

Not so fine eminency, not so fine and the baby must remain safely held while changing the water form the tub.

It's bollocks.

Originally posted by Detweiler 3.63 You get the day off on St.Georges Day in Spain ? Fookinell !

Only in certain regions of Spain like Aragon or Castilla. It's a regional festivity. BTW I agree with Veritas, it's a disgrace it's not more widely celebrated in England.

Originally posted by Hank Wiseass© It's bollocks.

What's bollocks Hankyman?

Originally posted by Budvar Huber

Originally posted by Hank Wiseass© It's bollocks.

What's bollocks Hankyman?

I'm pissed like but I can't think of one single reason to be proud of being English, never have really but that's just me. 15 years of disenfranchisement(what are the odds I spelt that right?) under Thatcher and the Tories leaves a bitter taste.

*Originally posted by **Hank Wiseass©***I'm pissed like but I can't think of one single reason to be proud of being English

Cross the pond on become an American instead ;)

Don't buy The Sun

Originally posted by The Haçienda must be (re)Built William ShakespeareThis royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,This other Eden, demi-paradise,This fortress built by Nature for herselfAgainst infection and the hand of war,This happy breed of men, this little world,This precious stone set in the silver sea,Which serves it in the office of a wallOr as a moat defensive to a house,Against the envy of less happier lands,—This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."Richard II" (2.1.43-53)

Blakeney: Do you like poetry, Mr. Chauvelin?

Chauvelin: "That damned elusive Pimpernel"!

Blakeney: No...No, I mean...uh, poetry:

"This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea... This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."

Oh damn me, I forget the rest.

     - Sir Percival Blakeney, 
       "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1935)

Originally posted by Budvar Huber Roman soldier song of well off farmers in Capadocia (currently part of Turkey) during the 3rd Century. At one time he decided to join the Christians and received martyrdom in Lidda (today part of Israel) in the year 300 hundred BC.

Well, he certainly was ahead of his time.

Originally posted by Budvar Huber

He is the saint patron not only of England but also of Georgia (the European one, I reckon the American one is so called for George Washington and not particularly devout either)b]

Umm...No. The State of Washington is named for George Washington.

Georgia was named to honor King George II of England, who signed the royal charter which established the colony of Georgia in 1732. [Source: Krakow, Kenneth. Georgia Place Names. Macon, GA: Winship Press, 1994.]

Originally posted by SP1 I was working with a welsh fella today who was saying "Fuck george and englands shit" I pointed out he was speaking our fuckin language & earning our Sterling.

Not that the Welsh were ever asked their preference, mind.

But Happy St. George's anyway, everybody.