​England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals has turned even reluctant households into flag-wavers, and for Charlotte Cripps, watching her young daughters become overnight patriots has stirred up some distinctly mixed feelings.Writing about her 10-year-old’s newfound love of St George’s Cross, Cripps admitted she wasn’t sure how she felt about a symbol she’s more used to seeing at far-right marches than on her own car window.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt’s a tension Independent readers clearly recognise. Many pushed back on the idea that patriotism needs an apology at all, arguing that loving your country is no different from any other kind of pride.Others said the discomfort makes sense, given how hard Reform UK and the far right have worked to make the flag their own – and saw this summer’s tournament as the perfect moment to take it back.It’s a debate that goes well beyond football. Here’s what you had to say:There is nothing wrong with being patriotic when it’s for the right reasons. At its best, sport unites people, especially when fans and players show good sportsmanship. Wimbledon is an excellent example of this: the country can put all its hopes into one of our own players, but when they are beaten, we still cheer and applaud the foreign player, and are genuinely happy for their success. England is a great country and we should be proud of it… but we also have a responsibility to behave in a way that demonstrates to others that this pride is justified.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementthecultureI thought Charlotte’s article articulated the reasons behind this quite well – patriotism has been the realm of the flag-waving right in the last decade since Brexit, and not much this country has done since 2016 has given us much to be excited about, even if you take out the hatred that seems to exist in the dark corners. It’s nice to be excited to be English again, even if that feeling can only last a little while.NihaleThe English won’t reclaim their flag until the middle stops passive-aggressively looking down their noses at anyone who flies it.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt will stay the preserve of the far right while that continues.FazzieSupporting your own country should not be controversial. Flying the St George’s Cross during an England match is not hatred, extremism, or a threat to anyone – it is simply pride in your country and support for your national team. Yet it always seems to be the same section of political opinion that has a problem with it: happy to celebrate every other identity, but not this one. Patriotism is not prejudice, and no amount of sneering will make it so.RachelFromAccountsYou can buy England flags with ‘Football Not Farage’ printed across the horizontal bar. I got a couple for my neighbour’s kids.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementProBonoCommentsThere is nothing wrong with being a patriot. Why would or should you feel uncomfortable with the no