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[scrdest]

It's hard to be a secular society when your national flag is based on the amalgamation of three Christian crosses. Granted, the Scottish flag is somewhat different given that its origins aren't necessarily Christian but it doesn't sit right for me.

Spoiler: The usual British Republican flag design (click to show/hide)

On the other hand, the US was founded on the separation of church and state and yet it is the UK that is the more secular of the two.

[lordcooper]

Luckily flags don't tend to feature heavily in the average Brit's daily life.

[Owlbread]

Luckily flags don't tend to feature heavily in the average Brit's daily life.

They feature in our daily life rather a lot up here. I see Scottish flags virtually every day, and not just because there's one across the bed from me hanging up when I go to sleep. If I go for a drive down to Perth I will drive past many Scottish flags and see even more on the cars driving past. I'll drive past a handful of Union Flags too. You'll see Scottish flags on lorries, vans, shopfronts, flying in the wind outside houses/public buildings/hotels, everywhere.

[TD1]

Luckily flags don't tend to feature heavily in the average Brit's daily life.

You've never been to Northern Ireland, then. Add to what Owlbread said that there is a flag on nearly every lamp post, the union colours painted on many curb stones, the Ulster flag flying, and even a few Scottish flags too.

[smjjames]

It's hard to be a secular society when your national flag is based on the amalgamation of three Christian crosses. At times I wonder if we all need some new flags, apart from the Welsh of course.

Spoiler: The usual British Republican flag design (click to show/hide)

Shame on them for stealing Hungarys flag, lol. Although the red on Hungarys flag is darker, but still....

Also, if Scotland becomes independent, will the UK still have that famous highlanders unit (forget the actual name, but its a well known regiment)?

[lordcooper]

Luckily flags don't tend to feature heavily in the average Brit's daily life.

They feature in our daily life rather a lot up here. I see Scottish flags virtually every day, and not just because there's one across the bed from me hanging up when I go to sleep. If I go for a drive down to Perth I will drive past many Scottish flags and see even more on the cars driving past. I'll drive past a handful of Union Flags too. You'll see Scottish flags on lorries, vans, shopfronts, flying in the wind outside houses/public buildings/hotels, everywhere.

I don't think I've seen a British or Welsh flag for at least six months.  I kinda like it.

Luckily flags don't tend to feature heavily in the average Brit's daily life.

You've never been to Northern Ireland, then. Add to what Owlbread said that there is a flag on nearly every lamp post, the union colours painted on many curb stones, the Ulster flag flying, and even a few Scottish flags too.

I haven't!  Ireland = County Cork as far as I'm concerned.  I will live there some day.

[Owlbread]

You've never been to Northern Ireland, then. Add to what Owlbread said that there is a flag on nearly every lamp post, the union colours painted on many curb stones, the Ulster flag flying, and even a few Scottish flags too.

Don't forget a cheeky tricolour here and there too, I'm sure.

I don't think I've seen a British or Welsh flag for at least six months.  I kinda like it.

It all depends on where you are in the UK I suppose. I do wish there were more English flags flying in England, personally.

[TD1]

You've never been to Northern Ireland, then. Add to what Owlbread said that there is a flag on nearly every lamp post, the union colours painted on many curb stones, the Ulster flag flying, and even a few Scottish flags too.

Don't forget a cheeky tricolour here and there too, I'm sure.

I don't think I've seen a British or Welsh flag for at least six months.  I kinda like it.

It all depends on where you are in the UK I suppose. I do wish there were more English flags flying in England, personally.

Oh yes, many tricolours, of course. I was talking about the places I see. If I were to go down one of those estates, there's a chance I might not come out the other end. Not as big a chance as it once was, but it still happens, and I prefer not to take chances.

[Owlbread]

Maybe if you wore this shirt:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You'd be alright? I suppose the problem would be what to do if you tried to go home.

[TD1]

I'm fairly certain you know that would stick in my throat 

[Owlbread]

Also, if Scotland becomes independent, will the UK still have that famous highlanders unit (forget the actual name, but its a well known regiment)?

That remains to be seen as the UK refuses to prenegotiate the terms of independence, unless it's on their terms and on a particular issue they're interested in. But yes, there were many units at one time. The old Highland regiments such as the Black Watch and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Gordons and the Highland Light Infantry were all scrapped and amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland as battalions; they will be resurrected upon gaining independence to form the infantry of the Scottish Army.

At the moment it looks as though Scottish soldiers should be able to fight in the British army like the Irish and other Commonwealth troops. They'll probably have their own regiment.

I'm fairly certain you know that would stick in my throat 

Indeed my good sir, I'm just acting the maggot. A wee bit of banter, like.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

On the other hand, the US was founded on the separation of church and state and yet it is the UK that is the more secular of the two.

The UK has a state church, state church schools which push that church's agenda, and 26 bishops of that church alone are unelected members of the House of Lords who try to sway the political agenda in the church's favor. The UK is many things, but it isn't secular, and it definitely isn't more secular than the US.

The strange thing is that the UK is more irreligious than the US, but it isn't more secular by far.

[MonkeyHead]

On the other hand, the US was founded on the separation of church and state and yet it is the UK that is the more secular of the two.

The UK has a state church, state church schools which push that church's agenda, and 26 bishops of that church alone are unelected members of the House of Lords who try to sway the political agenda in the church's favour. The UK is many things, but it isn't secular, and it definitely isn't more secular than the US.

The strange thing is that the UK is more irreligious than the US, but it isn't more secular by far.

Tomato, tomato.

What we don't have in the UK though is an explicit religious aspect to our politics, unlike the US. As mentioned by myself and others (Owlbread included I think) is how the low level "noise" of religious life here in the UK actually turns people generally away from devout faith into a wishy washy agnosticism which is socially accepted - people do not actually care about religion, in general. AFAIK, that is very much not the case in the US, where in some areas christianty is rammed down peoples throats (granted, there are areas where it is not, too). There are not the great dividing lines such as your bible belt, and a distinct lack of the televangelism that pervades many aspects of your media. This is despite the elements you mention. Regarding the Bishops, they have little political power (the House of Lords nowadays acts as little more than a rubber stamp for and occasionally an annoying thorn in the side of the government) compared to some of the religious nutters elected to power in the states.

[Sheb]

So, regarding compulsory voting - if it is not enforced, how does it actually work?

Well, it's an offense, punishable by a fine, but no one was ever fined for not voting. We still get abstention rate of less than 10%, so pretty cool.

[10ebbor10]

So, regarding compulsory voting - if it is not enforced, how does it actually work?

Well, it's an offense, punishable by a fine, but no one was ever fined for not voting. We still get abstention rate of less than 10%, so pretty cool.

Actually, people were punished. But the sanctions haven't been enforced since 2003.

However, should the officials deem it nessecairy, they can and will* enforce it. Basically, the prosecutors just don't bother with tracking everyone down. It happens with a lot of thing in Belgium really, parking and traffic fines are also rarely followed upon.

*Well, might enforce it. The juridical system is a bit broken at the moment.