I support Peter Unsworth's letter (Oxford Mail, April 26) expressing disappointment at Marcus Mabberley's St George's Day article. It marked a surprising change in attitude in the Oxford Mail from two years ago when the newspaper supported St George's Day as a way of bringing the community together to celebrate what we all have in common -- being a part of England.
Instead, this year the Oxford Mail tried to paint an extremely negative view of St George's Day, and even went on to state that "in recent times, the idea of Englishness had been taken on and used by the Far Right", referring to Enoch Powell. Since when was 1968 in recent times?
No-one questions whether St Patrick existed or quibbles that he wasn't Irish.
People just get together to have a good time. So they should. And so should people on St George's Day without being made to feel as if they're doing something wrong.
St George's Day does not promote violence, as one person in the article was quoted as saying. As Mr Unsworth said: "This country has more of which to be proud than ashamed about." It is about people celebrating what we have in common.
TOM WATERHOUSE
Winterborne Road, Abingdon
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