If only people knew St George's backstory

The words that follow may make me feel like I am whistling into a force ten hooley coming off of the English Channel.

What I have seen on the news and have been bombarded with on social media feeds lately is coverage of demonstrations outside hotels here in England. These are hotels that are providing accommodation for people who have entered our country through improper channels. Please note that I have not used the words “immigrant” or “immigrants”. I find both of them totally dehumanising and capable of obliterating any respect for the individuals concerned let alone taking any account of their individual back stories. As for the use of "illegal" that is an issue to be decided through the due process of law.

Those demonstrating have expressed themselves with spittle flecked vocalisations that take them close to being violent. Some of the demonstrators are draped in flags portraying the cross of St George who happens to be the patron saint of England.

Have the people adorning themselves with these flags realised or accepted a few things about the saint they are rallying around? If indeed, they do realise the red cross on a white background is the result of saintly behaviour seventeen hundred years ago?

"George" was born in Cappadocia in central Turkey into a relatively wealthy Christian family in 275AD. While he was still a young child his father died. So, in keeping with the traditions of the day his mother, who was originally from Lydda, in what is now Syria, returned to her hometown with young George. This was a distance of approximately seven hundred miles across central Turkey, through Syria and Lebanon to a region that is now part of Israel.

Despite their wealth this journey would have been fraught with hardships and dangers.

When he was old enough he joined the Roman Army. In 303AD when he was just 28 years old and still a Christian the Diocletian Persecution took place. This was, in effect, a move by the Roman army to root out the Christians in their ranks and try to convert them to Paganism. George, being a Christian, was arrested. While in prison the Roman army used starvation and torture him to force him to convert but without success. He never renounced his Christianity. When the Romans realised they couldn't convert him they executed him.

Where he was buried soon became a shrine that people made pilgrimages to looking for comfort and cures.

Approximately 200 years after his death he was venerated. His death was recognised as a martyrdom and he became St George.

The fundamental tenets of Christianity are love, compassion and selflessness in all aspects of life. George had adhered to them throughout his life up to the moment of his imprisonment. His good deeds included giving away money from his own wealth to the poor, the sick and the needy. Very much like "zakat" in Islam.

The awareness of his sainthood spread across the Middle East and Asia Minor before reaching Europe. It was there that churches took his name and where his name was adopted as the patron saint of several countries. These include England, Lithuania, Georgia and Ethiopia. He is the patron saint of the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Aragon as well as the Moscow region of Russia.

Beyond Christianity St George is recognised by Muslims as a symbol of courage and faith. Muslims also revere him as being associated with the traditional figure of “A-Khidr” who is revered for being a very wise and compassionate character.

To summarise St George, he lost his father when he was young. He had to trek across the Middle East with his mother and when he was less than thirty years old was executed for his religious beliefs. He is also someone held in high esteem in two religions; Christianity and Islam.

Wouldn’t parts of that back story ring true with many of the people coming into this country? Wouldn’t St George, if he were able to do so, follow his Christian beliefs if he was here today and treat these people in the hotels with love, compassion and kindness? That is the same St George whose emblem of a red cross on a white background is worn by people shouting abuse at buildings where those very people are being accommodated

There is nothing wrong with patriotism as long as it is not blind or misplaced. It unites us in an inclusive way for great occasions such as major sporting events and moments of national importance. Patriotism’s very close cousin, nationalism, can lead to exclusionist and aggressive behaviour when its definition of the nation becomes narrow with an air of superiority.

And for goodness sake, when St George was alive roads were not swamped with traffic and certainly did not have traffic circles or roundabouts at junctions. So, really what is the point of painting his emblem on them? Those who do so say they are doing it to show support for their country. Doh! Patriotism? I don’t think so. More like nationalism with an underlying desire to commit the ultimate ignominious sacrifice under the wheels of an HGV without so much as a brass plaque to mark the event.