# American Dopers, does it annoy you when people fly foreign flags? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608 "2011-07-19T18:21:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/21 "2011-07-19T19:29:50Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > The American flag is more ubiquitous in the US than national flags tend to be in this part of the world. I’m curious about the phenomenon of people flying non-American flags on their property and what you think about the phenomenon? Doesn’t bother me in the least. Actually, I think it’s kind of neat. Don’t care if it’s a foreign flag, the state flag, some political statement flag, some colorful non-political flag… Technically, when multiple flags are displayed in the US the US flag is always supposed to be the highest flag flying, so the proper way to do it on, say, the flag pole outside a private home is the American flag on top with the others underneath. If the US flag is not in the multiple flag display then it doesn’t matter which, if any, is highest. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/22 "2011-07-19T19:33:47Z")
I don’t mind. I have fun trying to identify some of the less-familiar ones. The only time I see/hear people around here getting pissy about it is when it’s the Mexican flag at Cinco de Mayo. I go to a lot of cultural festivals around town, and at the Irish Festival, Scottish Festival, Greek Festival, etc., the flying of a different flag is cool. Nobody gets bent out of shape about it or writes letters to the editor or starts some shit with the festival organizer or hollers “go back to it if you like it so much!” But god forbid that those brown people fly the Mexican flag at Cinco de Mayo. People lose their friggin’ minds if that happens. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/23 "2011-07-19T19:34:24Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > [..]or perhaps a UK/Canadian Flag February 18 (and especially these are not flown any other day of the year), then that may be a bit much. Wouldn’t the classy response be to blast “The Battle of New Orleans” on your car stereo? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/24 "2011-07-19T19:35:04Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > It doesn’t bother me, which is odd, because I seethe a little when I see an American flag hung wrongly or otherwise mishandled. I don’t think that’s odd. Nothing wrong with flying any flag you like, but handle it correctly, dammit. > [@GusNSpot](#): > > but that is just me For which we’re all grateful. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/25 "2011-07-19T19:42:51Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Technically, when multiple flags are displayed in the US the US flag is always supposed to be the highest flag flying, so the proper way to do it on, say, the flag pole outside a private home is the American flag on top with the others underneath. If the US flag is not in the multiple flag display then it doesn’t matter which, if any, is highest. I thought etiquette was that national flags should all fly at the same level, regardless of which country you are in. How would you feel if, for example, the Canadian flag flew above the U.S. flag in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/26 "2011-07-19T19:43:51Z")
Like I was in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/27 "2011-07-19T19:46:27Z")
Unless it’s in front of an invading army, no. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/28 "2011-07-19T19:53:45Z")
Yes. If you fly the flag of a US enemy on US soil I think you must be some kind of moron. You might be one of several types of moron, or more than one, but clearly a moron. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/29 "2011-07-19T19:53:50Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I thought etiquette was that national flags should all fly at the same level, regardless of which country you are in. How would you feel if, for example, the Canadian flag flew above the U.S. flag in Canada? Like I was a guest and it was none of my business what their protocol was. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/30 "2011-07-19T20:00:33Z")
I’m from Los Angeles. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the Mexican flag flown more frequently than the American flag. Does not perturb. Edit action: > [@Anaamika](#): > > I wonder. I mean, if someone flew a flag of Saudi Arabia or Iraq I bet that would be trouble. Pakistan, too, and this is not even a particularly insular town. I have an Iranian friend who hung a flag in his freshman dorm. His roommate remarked that it made him uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/31 "2011-07-19T20:06:38Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I thought etiquette was that national flags should all fly at the same level, regardless of which country you are in. How would you feel if, for example, the Canadian flag flew above the U.S. flag in Canada? Well… > [@DianaG](#): > > Like I was in Canada. ^ This. > [@hajario](#): > > Like I was a guest and it was none of my business what their protocol was. ^ And this. Really, if I was in a foreign country and saw my flag being flown (for whatever reason) I would _expect_ it to be lower than the flag of the nation I was in. Now, in other nations the etiquette may be “fly all national flags at the same level” but in the US (and I did specify I was speaking of the US in my post) it’s US flag highest. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/32 "2011-07-19T20:06:44Z")
Not at all. The 50’s whitebread house on a 50’s whitebread street where my mother grew up (in the 50’s - go figure) was across the street from a family that has flown their Italian flag for as long as anyone can remember. No one has ever cared, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/33 "2011-07-19T20:08:32Z")
It doesn’t bother me in the least. What does annoy me is when people leave faded, torn, raggedy looking flags flying constantly. Unless, I suppose, your statement is that the nation represented by that flag is a raggedy country. But the way I look at it, regardless of the emotion and symbolism attached, it’s a piece of cloth. You may view it as sacred, which is your right, but it’s also my right to say “whatever.” Honestly, of all the things in the world that upset me, this falls pretty low on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/34 "2011-07-19T20:23:28Z")
I was recently on vacation at a fairly popular chain of lakes in Minnesota. Many of the houses flew what I assume were the flags of their ancestors home countries on their docks. It was neat to see all the Swedish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish flags. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/35 "2011-07-19T20:29:36Z")
I’ve seen many different ones in my travels about the country. Mainly I appreciate the reminder that there _are_ other countries. 😉 I live in rural mountain southwest Virginia now. There are a few Mexican flags about, marking a tienda, a restaurant, and an immigrant household. As far as I know, these are accepted matter-of-factly by all. I’ve seen Italian, Greek, British and Irish flags for restaurants or “pubs” (the former possibly good, the latter sadly not), and an Irish flag or so for family ancestry. Of course Confederate flags are seen somewhat more than any of the above, but those aren’t foreign. 🆒 > [@Anaamika](#): > > I wonder. I mean, if someone flew a flag of Saudi Arabia or Iraq I bet that would be trouble. Pakistan, too, and this is not even a particularly insular town. Yeah, I expect the ones likely to attract ire would be anything with Arabic script and/or anything with pan-Arab colors (the distinctions therein being unclear). I’ve never actually seen those except on consular buildings up in Washington or as components of world-of-flags type displays. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I’m thinking if someone flew an Ulster flag July 12, a Vietnamese flag April 30, or perhaps a UK/Canadian Flag February 18 (and especially these are not flown any other day of the year), then that may be a bit much. Okay, July 12 is the Battle of the Boyne, and yes, being a dick about that is pretty much the whole point of the “Ulster” banner (white field, with crown) on that day. April 30 is the Fall of Saigon, or Liberation Day from the Vietnamese perspective–though not the Vietnamese-American. Presumably somebody flying a Vietnamese flag in the United States this day is some sort of disaffected American (though a nostalgic mind would probably choose a VC flag). February 18? What the hell is that? I looked it up and found the _proclamation_ of the Treaty of Ghent, as I suppose **hogarth** is thinking, but I’m not quite working out how a British flag on that day would be intended or interpreted. It’s not as if they _won_. And Canada didn’t even exist as such. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/36 "2011-07-19T20:36:36Z")
Had an expat neighbor once who flew the Union Jack on the 4th of July, just to be contrary. I found it amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/37 "2011-07-19T20:38:23Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > … February 18? What the hell is that? I looked it up and found the _proclamation_ of the Treaty of Ghent, as I suppose **hogarth** is thinking, but I’m not quite working out how a British flag on that day would be intended or interpreted. It’s not as if they _won_. And Canada didn’t even exist as such. It’s Independence Day for Gambia, so I can imagine Gambians being upset about the Union Jack being flown on that day, but I don’t think they’d worry too much about Canada. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/38 "2011-07-19T20:41:56Z")
I like flags. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/39 "2011-07-19T20:55:25Z")
I like chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608/40 "2011-07-19T20:58:30Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Really, if I was in a foreign country and saw my flag being flown (for whatever reason) I would _expect_ it to be lower than the flag of the nation I was in. Now, in other nations the etiquette may be “fly all national flags at the same level” but in the US (and I did specify I was speaking of the US in my post) it’s US flag highest. Actually, I believe it is not “US Flag highest” but “no flag higher.” [see 36 USC Section 175(c)](http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#175) Flying at equal posture is also acceptable. Usually though, and in any event at all times when you only have one flagpole to use, the US flag is topmost when in the US. If I saw the Canadian flag being flown above the US flag in Canada, I would assume I was in Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-dopers-does-it-annoy-you-when-people-fly-foreign-flags/589608.md?page=3)