# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/81 "2023-09-19T16:48:28Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Also non-USian, but I’ve never heard of a restriction about only flying a flag on a national holiday. Sounds like an odd marker to me? I’ve had European friends say similar things to me regarding US flag display habits. They, meaning specifically these friends who of course don’t speak for the entirety of their countries, have the attitude that it’s appropriate to display the national flag on the one annual holiday that’s specifically about celebrating the existence of your nation-state, or the date of its founding, or whatever. Flying the national flag as a private individual at any other time is just weirdly ostentatious, according to them. (Although of course they accept that you can paint it on your face during World Cup games and similar. “Weird ostentation” can take many forms, I guess. 😄 ) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/82 "2023-09-19T16:48:42Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve never heard of a restriction about only flying a flag on a national holiday. Sounds like an odd marker to me? To clarify, I don’t mean “national holiday” as in a holiday recognized by the government that everyone gets off; I mean a holiday whose significance is one of national rather than religious importance. So in the US that would be Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and the 4th of July; maybe you could add Juneteenth (if we think of it as celebrating abolition nationwide) and similar holidays. In Israel, it was Memorial Day/Independence Day - they’re back to back, which I always thought was a poweful message. In other words, flags are an appropriate decoration for holidays celebrating what the flag stands for; they are not appropriate for everyday use. (In my personal opinion based on my upbringing etc etc). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/83 "2023-09-19T16:52:27Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > I’ve had European friends say similar things to me regarding US flag display habits. They, meaning specifically these friends who of course don’t speak for the entirety of their countries, have the attitude that it’s appropriate to display the national flag on the one annual holiday that’s specifically about celebrating the existence of your nation-state, or the date of its founding, or whatever. > > Flying the national flag as a private individual at any other time is just weirdly ostentatious, according to them. (Although of course they accept that you can paint it on your face during World Cup games and similar. “Weird ostentation” can take many forms, I guess. 😄 ) I swear I didn’t read your post before podting the same exact thing upthread 😛 Yes, in Israel we (used to at least, when I was growing up) share the European attitude on this. Including the flag face painting at football games 😛 Last time I was there I did see a big uptick in flags. My cousins assured me that things hadn’t really changed and these were just leftover decorations from Independence Day (think of the people who leave their Chrismas decorations up until it’s nearly February) but I did see that a few were accompanied by displays expressing support or disdain (mostly support, among the flag waving crowd) for Netanyahu’s judicial reform. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/84 "2023-09-19T16:54:55Z")
Now then, I think we can all agree that Punisher flags and decals are no good. Especially the American-flag colored ones. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/85 "2023-09-19T17:11:26Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > But it sure seems like a lot of you have surrendered the US Flag to the racist idiots. ⁢ I think that’s a misunderstanding. What I see in this thread is mostly acknowledging the current reality. And that reality is that the **increase** of US flag flying is largely driven by MAGA types.\* And the numbers are high enough in many areas that such flag displays are more likely to be from a MAGA type than others. It doesn’t mean we have to surrender the symbol. But I agree with @Kimstu that you can’t fight back simply by using the flag in the same way the MAGA types do. I like the idea of flying it with another symbol. Sure, that might be an invitation to vandalism in some areas, but that would be true of the other symbol by itself. Obviously you have to decide if it is safe or if the risk is worth it. \*This isn’t unexpected in general. MAGA types are authoritarian, and authoritarians love their state symbols, and showing how “patriotic” they are. Hence why the biggest MAGA symbol is excessive patriotic displays. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/86 "2023-09-19T18:20:09Z")
Ever been to Switzerland? There’s a Swiss flag flying from nearly every building in that country. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/87 "2023-09-19T18:50:08Z")
Well yeah, that flag is a big plus. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/88 "2023-09-19T19:05:11Z")
I observed a whole lot of people flying the UK flag outside their homes in Northern Ireland as well. Of course there are certain historical reasons as to why people in Northern Ireland would choose to publicly display their loyalty to the UK. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/89 "2023-09-19T19:45:22Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I saw the flags come back first with Desert Storm and then with 9/11. I don’t see more today than in 2002 for sure. Right after 9/11/2001 there were several news stories about people whose flags had been stolen. So many people wanted to fly the flag then that stores ran out. I suspect that those who stole flags to show how patriotic they were are flying Trump flags today. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/90 "2023-09-19T19:48:19Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > “Behind the Thin Blue Line flag stands a devout Christian, possibly additionally guarded by a watchdog and/or attack dog of such-and-such a breed.” Behind the Thin Blue Line flag stands God. Or maybe a dog. I’m not sure – I’m dyslexic. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/91 "2023-09-19T19:56:44Z")
This is what I was trying to say, love the way you explained it. Any neighborhood where all the houses were flying the American flag year-round was to be avoided. They were making a statement, 35 to 40 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/92 "2023-09-19T20:14:15Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The flag does not belong to MAGAts. This is ridiculous. > I fly it on some National Holidays. I’m a vet as was my Dad. I will not surrender the Stars & Stripes to the assholes. Right. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > It’s my flag too, damn it. It’s my country too. I’m not ceding it to any specific political position. I’m definitely not ceding it to fascists. > > If somebody else is flying the American flag – I look at the context. In some contexts, yes, it’s worrisome. Exactly. Hell in some context wearing hawaiian shirts is white supremacy. > [@Babale](#): > > To me, originally coming from a cultural context outside the US, “_Flying the Flag Over One’s Personal Property At Times Other Than National Holidays_” (hereafter FTFOOPPATOTNH for short) has _always_ been an activity reserved for people who are very nationalistic. To _you._ But we fly the flag every day, And we are in a Congress district that (narrowly) elected a MAGA. I dont see them just flying an American flag. Either is is a trump flag or it goes beyond the bounds of simply flying a regular US flag on one house- like a huge flag on the bed of a oversized gas guzzling pickup. And so you are wrong. Flying the flag on ones house is just a gesture of being an American, and often a vet or child of a vet. > [@Kimstu](#): > > If you’re engaging in the same actions that the racist idiots espouse and promote as a deliberate assertion of their racist idiot ideology, without taking any accompanying action that clearly distinguishes you from the racist idiots, then how is a reasonable observer supposed to be able to tell that you’re not one of the racist idiots? Like say, wearing hawaiian shirts? (One group of white nationalists wears hawaiian shirts) Or just wearing clothes. Every racist idiot I have seen wears clothes, and gasp! even shoes. They also drive cars, post on the internet, buy groceries, and vote. Do you vote? Buy groceries? Wear clothes? T_hen you are engaging in the same actions as the racist idiots!!_ Flying the flag is just as routine for many of us are voting. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Also non-USian, but I’ve never heard of a restriction about only flying a flag on a national holiday. There is no such restriction. That poster made it up. It’s like going to church only on Easter and Christmas. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Protecting society by disobeying the law. And the Commission based their order on misinformation-"_What we are asking here is that our police service not wear a known hate symbol whose origins are buried in hateful thoughts and hateful deeds when they serve the public," he said._ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/93 "2023-09-19T20:16:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What I see in this thread is mostly acknowledging the current reality. And that reality is that the **increase** of US flag flying is largely driven by MAGA types.\* And the numbers are high enough in many areas that such flag displays are more likely to be from a MAGA type than others. > > It doesn’t mean we have to surrender the symbol. But I agree with @Kimstu that you can’t fight back simply by using the flag in the same way the MAGA types do. I I do not agree on either point. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/94 "2023-09-19T20:19:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And the Commission based their order on misinformation-"_What we are asking here is that our police service not wear a known hate symbol whose origins are buried in hateful thoughts and hateful deeds when they serve the public," he said._ Therefore the police can disregard a lawful order that they don’t like? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/95 "2023-09-19T20:21:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Therefore the police can disregard a lawful order that they don’t like? No, I dont fully agree with that. However, civil disobedience is a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/96 "2023-09-19T20:26:10Z")
Yes, but as I understand it, the justification that the police give for wearing the blue line is to symbolise how they are the guardians of the law, protecting citizens from the unlawful. And they’re prepared to disobey lawful orders to make that point. Sure. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/97 "2023-09-19T20:30:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Like say, wearing hawaiian shirts? You keep bringing this up, but that never really caught on with the white supremacists. If it had, it might be a different story. ---
**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 19, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/98 "2023-09-19T20:33:29Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Ever been to Switzerland? There’s a Swiss flag flying from nearly every building in that country. > [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Well yeah, that flag is a big plus. That is far, far, **FAR** too excellent to go unapplauded. You totally win 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 19, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/99 "2023-09-19T20:37:07Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > You keep bringing this up, but that never really caught on with the white supremacists. If it had, it might be a different story. > **[Hawaiian Shirts Have Become an Unlikely Symbol of White Supremacy](https://www.instyle.com/fashion/hawaiian-shirts-alt-right-white-supremacy-protestors)** > > The degradation of one of our favorite summer styles is complicated, so we're breaking it down. > **[Why the Extremist ‘Boogaloo Boys’ Wear Hawaiian Shirts](https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-extremist-boogaloo-boys-wear-hawaiian-shirts-11591635085)** > > Aloha shirts have become a disconcerting signature for members of a gun-toting, anti-government faction. > **[How white nationalists hijacked the Hawaiian shirt](https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/07/31/how-white-nationalists-hijacked-the-hawaiian-shirt)** > > On the genealogy of florals But see- some here are willing to give up the American flag (and the Ok sign, and… and …)to the MAGAs, but they ignore the shirt thing, as they want to wear those comfortable summer shirts. We call this hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270/100 "2023-09-19T20:42:33Z")
How many people does it take to co-opt something? The WSJ article says it was three guys of a an anti-government faction. The thin blue line flag is a universal symbol for supremacists. I am not so sure Hawaiian shirts have gotten there yet. (but I am not plugged in to those communities so I may be wrong) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-display-of-american-flags-have-some-hidden-meaning-these-days/990270.md?page=6)