# Does the display of American flags have some "hidden meaning" these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270 "2023-09-17T17:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/201 "2023-09-25T17:33:44Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > True Patriots Embrace Peaceful Transfer of Power? Not even this really works. MAGA fully endorse the peaceful transfer of power to their chosen dictator, if others are willing to allow that to happen. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/202 "2023-09-25T17:46:53Z")
Remember, in their world they won in 2020. What they were willing to do was use violence to prevent the constitutional orderly transfer of power to a fake victor. They weren’t ready to do Evil, they were ready to thwart Evil. Of course they were utterly deluded about the reality of the situation. But that was the idea in (most of) their heads. But we need to be a bit careful poking fun at this because in the presence of brazen actual election fraud and vote counting shenanigans and courts willing to rule along party lines we may someday soon be facing the choice of accepting a false but legal-looking charade, or starting a civil war to stop the totalitarian takeover of our country. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/203 "2023-09-25T18:02:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But we need to be a bit careful poking fun at this because in the presence of brazen actual election fraud and vote counting shenanigans and courts willing to rule along party lines we may someday soon be facing the choice of accepting a false but legal-looking charade, or starting a civil war to stop the totalitarian takeover of our country. Yes, I wasn’t just poking fun. “Peaceful transfer of power” is only a virtue in a functioning democracy that has not been corrupted and subverted. The problem with MAGAs is the propaganda-driven doublethink that it’s their opponents who are corrupting and subverting democracy. I think any MAGA would claim that they _are_ a supporter of democratic values and the peaceful transfer of power. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/204 "2023-09-25T18:23:54Z")
Moderating: > [@Derleth](#): > > you and a few other ignoramuses try. This is MPSIMS. Don’t insult other posters. And pedantry is a popular pastime on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/205 "2023-09-25T18:25:03Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And pedantry is a popular pastime on the Dope. But being pedantic and getting it wrong merits comment. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/206 "2023-09-25T18:30:06Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > But being pedantic and getting it wrong merits comment. And (to be pedantic) I’d say pedantry requires that you actually _are_ correct, but just annoying. Many people who are accused of “pedantry” over language (or claim that they are “technically correct”) are simply wrong. They are wannabe pedants who just want to fit in with the true pedants at SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/207 "2023-09-25T18:34:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Okay sign is not a white power sign. It started out as a hoax, but turned into a real problem. [When the O.K. Sign Is No Longer O.K. - The New York Times (nytimes.com)](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/15/us/ok-sign-white-power.html) "“We must flood twitter and other social media websites with spam, claiming that the OK hand signal is a symbol of white supremacy,” one of the users posted, going on to suggest that everyone involved create fake social media accounts “with basic white girl names” to propagate the notion as widely as possible. The 4chan hoax succeeded all too well, and ceased being a hoax: Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen and other white nationalists began using the gesture in public to signal their presence and to spot potential sympathizers and recruits. For them, the letters formed by the hand were not O and K, but W and P, for “white power.” When made upside-down and/or flashed about waist high, it is pretty well known to be a symbol of white power. Does you really think this White House aide is just saying “o.k.” in this video? [A White House adviser Zina Bash throwing up the “white power” sign during the Kavanaugh hearings. - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnUmgjqFSW8&ab_channel=BestAFRICANmoviecriticever) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/208 "2023-09-25T18:36:47Z")
Comment yes, insults no. Also do not argue moderation in thread. **Moderating:** ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/209 "2023-09-25T18:42:47Z")
Moderating: A comment is fine. Insults (“ignoramus”) are not. Neither is arguing moderation in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/210 "2023-09-25T19:27:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It started out as a hoax, but turned into a real problem. Yep. The NY Time was even trolled. Sure, some racists use the Okay sign. So? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/211 "2023-09-25T19:49:42Z")
3 years ago, I wrote a review of a Trump flag for Amazon. I had to submit it three times before it was accepted, but it eventually was. It got close to 200 helpful ratings before Amazon took it down. I guess someone complained, but it came up in a friend’s “memories” recently and he reposted it, so I managed to screenshot it. One of the comments was someone complaining because I implied the flag came with a pole, and it didn’t. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/bLLu0Pq.png?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/wguqEmA) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/212 "2023-09-25T19:52:58Z")
Priceless! I stand in awe. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/213 "2023-09-25T19:53:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, some racists use the Okay sign. So? So that makes it a racist symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/214 "2023-09-25T19:58:35Z")
Any comments on _how_ it is being used (held low and sometimes upside down for a longer period of time, as in the video I provided)? Is this how someone normally flashes the “o.k.” sign? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/215 "2023-09-25T20:08:58Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So that makes it a racist symbol. Many racists eat food- does that make it racist? They wear shoes- racist? They get haircuts racist? They get married- racist? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/216 "2023-09-25T20:36:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Many racists eat food- does that make it racist? Context matters. > **[Fried chicken, watermelon, and the origins of racist food stereotypes - The...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/13/opinion/fried-chicken-watermelon-origins-racist-food-stereotypes/)** > > How some foods have been weaponized against Black people. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/217 "2023-09-25T20:41:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Many racists eat food- does that make it racist? They wear shoes- racist? They get haircuts racist? They get married- racist? What a bizarre counterargument. Are they using these things to signal that they are racist? In addition to the food examples noted by @Skywatcher, if someone shaves a swastika into their head, then that’s a racist haircut, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/218 "2023-09-25T20:44:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, some racists use the Okay sign. So? They use the sign to signal their racism. They don’t eat food to tell everyone they’re racist, or wear shoes to prove their racism, so those actions are in the clear. But the upside down OK symbol when you are clearly not indicating “Okay” to the people around you? That’s pretty racist. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/219 "2023-09-25T20:51:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They wear shoes- racist? > **[Boots and Laces](https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/boots-and-laces)** > > Racist skinheads prefer wearing steel-toed workboots, typically with red or white shoelaces laced a certain way. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/220 "2023-09-25T20:54:27Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > if someone shaves a swastika into their head, then that’s a racist haircut, yes. Or if a racist shaves a swastika into someone else’s head. [Vincent Kee, for example.](https://navajotimes.com/news/2011/0811/082511swastika.php) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270.md?page=12)