Fly the flag....it's officially good for you

It's only 20 days to the World Cup and already the flags are flying! ....and just as soon as the first St George's Cross is seen flying from a car... we have the anti-flag flying fraternity flying off the handle.

It's the usual suspects and arguments that feature in this debate. The voices of officialdom who speak on behalf of minority interests who they claim find majority-interest symbolism offensive. Something that seems to have escaped my local Indian restaurant (Muslims from Bangladesh) who erect a christmas tree religiously each December.
And of course the good old BBC can see something to whip up here. Encouraging listeners to 'phone in and say where they stand on flying or not flying the flag?  Strange isn't it...that it is always those callers with strong....going on extreme feelings that get through!  And we listen to familiar widely opposing views. Are reminded of the flag waving stereotype, you know... the bull terrier tugging...pot belly vested...tatooed skin-head!   Funny that the cars I see are driven by young mums with kids...but no news in that.
Interestingly this subject of flag waving has occupied scientific research in the past...and with surprising results.
Whereas we tend to think of flag waving as a metaphor for stirring up nationalistic attitudes this was not the findings of research lead by Dr. Ran Hassin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Psychology Department, and summarised in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In a series of experiments Israeli participants were randomly divided into two groups and their attitudes were questioned on issues connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Before questioning one group was exposed to subliminal images of the Israeli flag. Their answers consistently showed attitudes that were politically central and moderate in marked comparison to the other group. Attitudes that were also seen to convert to actions in the form of election choice as measured by a post election survey.
So there we go. Flying the flag is good for you and makes you a better balanced person!
Which is great news! Because I've bought my St Georges Cross lapel badge. The creases from my 2006 flag have been pressed out ready.  I've bought wrist-bands for all the kids. Most importantly I've got my official England ball....a must have stressbuster to occupy my hands and feet as I watch the games.

So come on then lads. Get those flags flying. Practice your face painting.  Start working on those distended bellies .... we've only got 20 days or so to go!