Telegraph, May 15
A local council decided against flying the flag of St George after concerns were raised that it would offend the town’s 16 Muslim residents.Eleanor Jackson, a university lecturer, said the red and white symbol could cause upset in Radstock, Somerset, because it was used during the Crusades 1,000 years ago.The Labour councillor voiced her concerns at a meeting called to discuss which flag should be purchased to fly atop the town's repaired civic flagpole.She said: “My big problem is that it is offensive to some Muslims, but even more so that it has been hijacked by the far right."My thoughts are we ought to drop it for 20 years."Radstock Town Council, which serves a local population of more than 5,600 residents, eventually decided to purchase a Union flag to fly on Armistice Day.The rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride movement will be flown at “appropriate” times of the year while an In Bloom flag will celebrate the town's achievements in the gardening competition.The objections raised about the flag of St George were branded “oversensitive” by the local Muslim community while the Muslim Council of Britain said England's patron saint should not be associated with “any hatred of Muslims”.Spokeswoman Nasima Begum said: "St George needs to take his rightful place as a national symbol of inclusivity rather than a symbol of hatred.”Rizwan Ahmed, spokesman for the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society said: "I think they are going a bit far here."It is political correctness going a bit too far."Use by the far right is one thing, but to say that Muslims are offended I don't think is correct. We understand the flag is part of this country's heritage, and in fact many many Muslims will identify as being British themselves."In actual fact we are normal people. We have a sense of humour and have the same concerns as everyone else – we are not just some single group."...
So we're constantly told, until there comes the next time to take offense over some ridiculous thing. And "we are not just some single group," and yet there is still no significant anti-jihad or anti-terror movement among Muslims in the U.K. or U.S. Now, why is that?