# Do you care about disrespect to the flag?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-about-disrespect-to-the-flag/653354>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 19, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-about-disrespect-to-the-flag/653354 "2013-03-19T15:02:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-about-disrespect-to-the-flag/653354/81 "2013-03-21T13:52:08Z")

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I think everyone having a flag just to show some pointless jingoism is distasteful. But if you are going to go so far as to cover yourself in the flag and use it as a prop to convince yourself or others of some shallow value, then you’re a douchebag if you don’t also take on the responsibilities that come with it. If you’re going to try to use whatever advantages you see in flag-showing, you should take the responsibility to treat it in line with what would be expected of you.

Waving flags and then failing to take care of them just highlights that you’re a douchebag that doesn’t actually give a shit but feels like they can the jingoism club by setting it up one day and forgetting about it.

I’m not saying all people that fly flags are douchebags, by the way. If it has some real meaning to you, for example if you’re a veteran or whatever, that’s fine. But then I’d expect those people who it actually meant something to would take care of it. It’s the WHEE I’M GONNA BAKE AN AMERICAN FLAG CAKE pointless jingoism crowd that’s the most irritating.

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-about-disrespect-to-the-flag/653354/82 "2013-03-21T19:49:56Z")

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> [@Saraya](#):
>
> …Cowards.
> 
> I don’t sweat it though, because for every big mouth liberal who talks a talk, there’s some old sixty something military vet that will walk straight out over and knock your ass out.  
> Balance is key to life…

So you think that violence is an appropriate reaction to people expressing opiniong with which you don’t agree?

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-about-disrespect-to-the-flag/653354/83 "2013-03-23T09:27:39Z")

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> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Meh, low miff. It’s like if somebody called me a name. I get that they’re trying to insult me, but I don’t really care.

Pretty much how I feel, and said better than I could. At least, with the burning.

With just plain mistreatment, it’s the same level, but a different reason: the incongruence bugs me. They venerate the flag by showing it, but desecrate it by not taking care of it. It feels like they are trying to be manipulative. But, without further actions, it just a small feeling.

Also, I agree with **kaio** about those who whine about flag burning.

And I thought Saraya was Indian for some reason.

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