Facebook has updated the Burns Supper icon to display the Saltire flag globally. This corrective measure aligns the platform imagery with the cultural specificity of the holiday. We will monitor future regional feature rollouts to ensure this accuracy remains.
February 23, 2016
Change the icon on Facebook for Burns Supper from the Flag of the UK to the Flag of Scotland
Final supporters
To Facebook and its administrators, We, the undersigned, respectfully request that Facebook change the flag icon for celebrating Burns Supper from the flag of the United Kingdom (the “Union Jack”) to the flag of Scotland (“The Saltire”) for the following reasons:
1) Robert Burns is considered the National Bard of Scotland, not the United Kingdom.
2) Burns Supper is the second most important holiday in Scotland after Saint Andrew’s Day. It has little meaning to most non-Scots in the rest of the United Kingdom, but is celebrated throughout the world by people of Scottish descent and Scottish expatriates as well as those who love and respect Burns’s works.
3) One of Robert Burns’s works is “Parcel o’ Rogues” which castigated the Scottish men who sold the freedom of Scotland for gold and created the United Kingdom.
For these reasons we find it improper to have the flag of the United Kingdom as an icon when celebrating Burns Supper. We ask that you respect the memory of Robert Burns and the request of the undersigned and change the icon to the flag of Scotland.
Thank you.
Updates
January 9, 2016
We reached 2,500 signatures today. I am currently drafting a formal letter to the Facebook policy department to request a meeting regarding this change.
Reached 2,500 supporters
January 8, 2016
Reached 1,000 supporters
January 7, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
January 7, 2016
1,344 Comments
The Union flag? On RABBIE BURNS' Night?? How insulting. The man was a Scottish Nationalist, NOT a unionist. If you are wont to remember his night, at least respect his memory and his legacy by marking the day with his, and our, Scottish Saltire.
The Saltire is the appropriate flag for all Scottish holiday events (St. Andrew's Day, Hogmanay, Burns Night). Five million Scottish people (very active Facebook users) would hail this change as a sign of progress upon the world stage.
The union flag is alien to Scottish culture, containing the flags of two other countries which have no association with Burns. Burns risked execution for treason when he wrote Scots Wha Hae in honour of Tom Payne. Respect his memory and fly the Saltire.
This is akin to only having the european union flag for people in France or Spain and would not be tolerated. We are a distinct and devolved part of the UK, with our own national flag and anthem, surely it wouldnt take too great an effort by Facebook to change this?
When it's a Scottish event then a St Andrews Cross should be used, just like when it's an English Welsh or Northern Irish event then their flag should be used and not the Union Jack! I know how fair Facebook are and expect you to respect this request Thank you
this format has inspired me to rewrite my own petition!
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Facebook has updated the Burns Supper icon to display the Saltire flag globally. This corrective measure aligns the platform imagery with the cultural specificity of the holiday. We will monitor future regional feature rollouts to ensure this accuracy remains.
February 23, 2016
Change the icon on Facebook for Burns Supper from the Flag of the UK to the Flag of Scotland
Final supporters
To Facebook and its administrators, We, the undersigned, respectfully request that Facebook change the flag icon for celebrating Burns Supper from the flag of the United Kingdom (the “Union Jack”) to the flag of Scotland (“The Saltire”) for the following reasons:
1) Robert Burns is considered the National Bard of Scotland, not the United Kingdom.
2) Burns Supper is the second most important holiday in Scotland after Saint Andrew’s Day. It has little meaning to most non-Scots in the rest of the United Kingdom, but is celebrated throughout the world by people of Scottish descent and Scottish expatriates as well as those who love and respect Burns’s works.
3) One of Robert Burns’s works is “Parcel o’ Rogues” which castigated the Scottish men who sold the freedom of Scotland for gold and created the United Kingdom.
For these reasons we find it improper to have the flag of the United Kingdom as an icon when celebrating Burns Supper. We ask that you respect the memory of Robert Burns and the request of the undersigned and change the icon to the flag of Scotland.
Thank you.
Updates
January 9, 2016
We reached 2,500 signatures today. I am currently drafting a formal letter to the Facebook policy department to request a meeting regarding this change.
Reached 2,500 supporters
January 8, 2016
Reached 1,000 supporters
January 7, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
January 7, 2016
1,344 Comments
Scotland is a nation; the United Kingdom is not. Using the UK flag for a specifically Scottish event is offensive to me and is likely to be so to most Scots, the vast majority of whom consider themselves to be Scottish rather than British.
The Union flag? On RABBIE BURNS' Night?? How insulting. The man was a Scottish Nationalist, NOT a unionist. If you are wont to remember his night, at least respect his memory and his legacy by marking the day with his, and our, Scottish Saltire.
The Saltire is the appropriate flag for all Scottish holiday events (St. Andrew's Day, Hogmanay, Burns Night). Five million Scottish people (very active Facebook users) would hail this change as a sign of progress upon the world stage.
The union flag is alien to Scottish culture, containing the flags of two other countries which have no association with Burns. Burns risked execution for treason when he wrote Scots Wha Hae in honour of Tom Payne. Respect his memory and fly the Saltire.
This is akin to only having the european union flag for people in France or Spain and would not be tolerated. We are a distinct and devolved part of the UK, with our own national flag and anthem, surely it wouldnt take too great an effort by Facebook to change this?
When it's a Scottish event then a St Andrews Cross should be used, just like when it's an English Welsh or Northern Irish event then their flag should be used and not the Union Jack! I know how fair Facebook are and expect you to respect this request Thank you
this format has inspired me to rewrite my own petition!
I 'am new here and would love to have you sign my petition supporting affordable and fast internet for towns in western Mass. who have be left behind. This will be a benefit to local business in western Mass. and it's citizens. https://www.facebook.com/WiredWestMA for more info.
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Scotland is a nation; the United Kingdom is not. Using the UK flag for a specifically Scottish event is offensive to me and is likely to be so to most Scots, the vast majority of whom consider themselves to be Scottish rather than British.