The public’s attention has been drawn by the far-right hooligans, but the real patriots are the Team GB Olympians who are proudly to fly the flag for Britain
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In towns and cities across the country can be found the smouldering scars of more than a week of violence and disorder.
Far-right hooligans have terrorised communities, whipped up hatred where there was harmony and destroyed buildings, shops and libraries. And they have claimed to do so in the name of patriotism.
The real patriots, the people who truly represent this country, can be found at the Paris Olympics. Whereas the thugs seek only to divide people, the Team GB athletes seek only to bring them together.
Our Olympic heroes and heroines are proud to come from diverse backgrounds, they are proud to be standard bearers for inclusivity and they are proud to fly the flag for Britain.
They are not just ambassadors for their sport but ambassadors for their country. This summer, the focus should have been solely on celebrating their achievements.
The thugs divide people, the athletes bring the country together (
Image:
PA)
We should be taking pride every time the national anthem is played and Union Flag is hoisted at a medal giving ceremony. How must they be feeling as they witness the events which have taken place back home?
While they seek to show Britain at its best, a thuggish few have been intent on showing this country at its worst. The Britain our athletes are so proud to represent has been dishonoured by a mindless minority who also have the temerity to drape themselves in the Union Flag. As the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, said yesterday: “They defile the flag they wrap themselves in.”
There is nothing patriotic about committing acts of violence or attacking the police or intimidating people of Muslim faith or seeking to undo the ties and bonds which unite us. The far-right thugs who have caused so much destruction and fear in these last few days do not speak for the law-abiding majority.
Nor do they speak for the communities who are bound together by love and respect. And they certainly don’t speak for this country.
The only thing they have brought on this nation is shame, including the humiliation of other countries issuing travel warnings because they do not deem Britain a safe place to visit. There are no excuses for their behaviour. Those who argue they were provoked by grievances over immigration or crime or neglect are providing them with an alibi they do not deserve.
What must the athletes think at seeing what is happening at home (
Image:
EVENING STANDARD)
It is perfectly possible to have legitimate concerns on all these issues without resorting to looting, thuggery and arson. These louts are motivated solely by a thirst for violence.
They are not protesters but criminals. People who genuinely love this country deplore their attempts to sow division.
They despair that the fatal stabbings of three innocent girls were hijacked by far-right mobs without any care for the feelings of the grieving families. They have nothing but contempt for those who have fanned the flames of the lawlessness whether it is Tommy Robinson from his sun lounger in Ayia Napa or right-wing politicians who trade in conspiracy theories and misinformation.
And they abhor how social media companies continue to put profits before people by allowing their online platforms to become vehicles for hatred, abuse and racism. The Britain which makes the vast majority of people proud is the Britain which welcomes outsiders, celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity.
Far right thugs holding the Union Flag (
Image:
Lee McLean / SWNS)
Keely celebrates winning her medal while dressed in the flag (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
It is the Britain of Team GB and England team which came so close to lifting the trophy at this summer’s Euros. Over the next few days and weeks, order will be restored once again and the acts of criminality will be punished.
The forces of tolerance, understanding and civility will prevail. We will get our country back.
Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities – a novel set in London and Paris – opens with the famous line: “It was the best of times and the worst of times.” In the last week we have witnessed the best of Britain and the worst of Britain.
The best could be found in the communities who came together to clear their streets of the debris left after the rioters went on the rampage. It could be found in the volunteers who helped repair the damage to the local mosque and raised funds for the charities, libraries and community hubs looted by the far-right thugs.
And it was seen in the police officers who risked their lives in order to keep our streets safe and the NHS staff who braved the violence in order to go to work. And it has been witnessed in the Olympic arenas in Paris where our Team GB athletes have made their country proud.
In this summer of despair, they have given us hope. They have lifted our spirits.
They have reminded us of all that is best about Britain. They have given us a reason to wave the Union Flag with pride.