I have an American-flag t-shirt I bought in Yellowstone a long time ago. It’s a wonderful pattern - the flag is made of animals found in the park.
It used to be one of my favorite shirts, and I would wear it on the 4th, or other special occasions.
But - I haven’t been able to bring myself to wear it since trump has been in power. Maybe I’ll put it on the first day he’s gone.
Anyone else feel the same way?
I do, too. Recently I saw an article about taking back the flag, but I’m afraid too many times those gestures will be misinterpreted. I did like a sign I saw on TV at a recent protest, though. It said something like “Stop calling your racism ‘patriotism’”.
Generally yes, but I have worn a shirt with an American flag on it to a couple of “No Kings” protests—along with a submarine veteran ball cap. No chance of it being misinterpreted if I’m also carrying a “No Kings” protest sign.
Why should the fascists get to claim the flag for themselves?
Independence Day only.
It’s never been my thing. I’m basically a supporter of this comment, heavy on the “… in many ways …” (ie, not in ever single way) part:
“I think in many ways religion and nationalism are the two scourges of humanity.”
–Deepak Chopra
While a bit afield from the OP, they’re just – IMHO – probably the two greatest examples of tribalism around, and – again: IMHO – tribalism is a one-way ticket to turning off the critical thinking light switch.
Which I find pretty globally insidious.
My $0.02. YMMV. Trained professional, closed course.
Honestly, if you used to wear USA-themed clothing, but can’t really bring yourself to do so now … then you’re surely not who I’m talking about 
I haven’t worn anything like that since performative patriotism hit it big after 9/11.
I’m Canadian and I bought a souvenir “Bush/Cheney 2004” T-shirt (from Hot Topic) when I visited Texas. I don’t think I ever wore it outside though (and I don’t know where it is now).
In 2002, I was in D.C. and I bought a souvenir baseball hat that says “DEA”. I don’t know if I’ve ever worn it.
This.
But for damned sure I’ll not wear anything USA themed until trump is gone. And perhaps not even then.
Yes, Americans need to take the US flag back from the Fascists. But I’m not real sure how we do that. Especially as a grassroots movement.
I don’t remember ever wearing America themed clothing, but I agree that the accelerating pace at which I don’t see patriotism in a great light makes that chance that I will start 0.000 … Graham’s number of intervening zeroes… 0001%.
I would agree in theory that I could break this streak at a protest, but much like how I still identify as an independent because I haven’t registered as a Democrat, it is too late in life for me to bother changing now.
I’m pretty sure I wore some bicentennial clothing 50 years ago. If I tried to wear the same t-shirts now, I’d look like an All-American sausage.
The closest I come is Captain America-themed clothing. I am a big fan of the character. I will also note that the character, as portrayed in comics and even recently in the films, has protested against his own nation and its choices, and I feel like you can celebrate the character without also being performatively patriotic.
General “USA” stuff though, no.
Like others have already observed, wearing an American flag themed shirt or even displaying the flag at this point has become a political statement. More so than it has been in the past, at least when I was a teenager 30 years ago. It’s not innocent or ubiquitous anymore. The right wing has perverted the symbol from one of patriotism into blind nationalism. And they have no problem condemning or harassing people who don’t hew to their self-defined standards of what a proper level of “patriotism” requires. They’ve turned it into a club to wield against those they don’t like or disagree with.
So no, I don’t and currently would not wear American flag themed clothing publicly as everyday wear. Many people would interpret that as a political statement, and it’s not one I’m interested in making at the moment. I actually owned a pair of American flag themed swimming trunks at one point that my wife bought for me. I haven’t worn them in 10 years at least, and I couldn’t even tell you where they currently are at, if I even still have them.
That said, I do agree displaying a flag in specific circumstances is a good idea to send a specific message. At a protest while also wielding a sign that says “No Kings” is a statement that can’t be easily misinterpreted. I am sympathetic to the desire to recapture the symbolism, that the flag represents all of us, no exceptions. Symbols are important and they can and should be fought over. But that’s going to be a long, tough hill to climb and I wouldn’t condemn those who don’t think it’s worth it.
On 4th of July I wore a Captain America themed shirt that I break out for such occasions. I think that’s a little different, and I only wore it around friends and family. (Yes, I’m a comic book nerd.)
ETA: I swear I did not see @Atamasama post before I wrote that last paragraph. Great minds think alike. 
I don’t recall ever having worn anything outright “patriotic”, like with the flag, or even USA. However, I do enjoy dressing / accessorizing for holidays, so I have jewelry and single pieces of clothing in red, white, or blue that I’ll put together to get into the spirit without looking like some Nationalist yahoo.
I have never been a fan of patriotic or USA themed clothing. I probably just ignored it in the past, but I’m actively repelled by it these days.
I do wear a Neil Young tour shirt that features a flag on the front, along with riot cops and smoke/gas. It’s black and white, and on the back says “FREEDOM”.
I had a stars-and-stripes pair of hotpants when I was maybe 16. I thought they were so cool. I have a vivid memory of wearing them to the little shopping area near my house one day in hopes that the neighbor boy I had a crush on would see me. They are the only article of “patriotic” clothing I’ve ever owned and I’m pretty sure love of my country had nothing to do with why I bought them. I also have a large collection of pins to wear on jackets and coats. But I’ve never had a flag pin. I’ve just never felt the need to celebrate the luck of the draw in where I was born.
Talk about flag-waving.
I bet that was super cute.
This.
I definitely used to have more USA-themed shirts than I do now. I remember my wife getting me a July 4th 2005 shirt from somewhere and that was given away quite a while ago. I don’t think that I have a straight up USA-themed shirt right now.
I do have a couple exceptions - I do have a shirt that has says Foxtrot Delta Tango on it in a pattern that resembles a US flag and I wear that on occasion, namely while at protests. I also have a small handful of military-themed shirts that represent my time in the Army that I still wear, though I am sometimes selective about when I wear those.