# I wish the American flag wasn't co-opted by the right wing **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081 "2022-04-19T20:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/1 "2022-04-19T20:52:40Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Show support for Ukraine by generating trash!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-support-for-ukraine-by-generating-trash/963080/3): > [@Show support for Ukraine by generating trash!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-support-for-ukraine-by-generating-trash/963080/3): > > And yeah - I found the flying of US flags following our invasions repugnant. Took a LONG TIME before I was willing to fly my flag again. I’m a liberal who thinks we’ve got a lot of work to do before America can come close to fulfilling its promise, but I still love my country, and I wish I could fly an American flag without people making the assumption that I’m a right-wing, gun-nut, Trump supporter. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/2 "2022-04-19T20:55:06Z")
Nah, it’s easy. Fly another flag alongside (or beneath). Pride, BLM, etc. Take your pick. The message will be clear. They said, the racists and loons around here don’t fly the American flag to signal their conservative virtue. That’s what the confederate flag is for. Or MAGA gear. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/3 "2022-04-19T20:55:25Z")
If you want to fly an American flag, do it to show that you don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks of your motives. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/4 "2022-04-19T20:55:29Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I wish I could fly an American flag without people making the assumption that I’m a right-wing, gun-nut, Trump supporter. For what it’s worth, **I** don’t assume that of people flying the American flag. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/5 "2022-04-19T20:56:27Z")
I think you’re exaggerating the situation. I am a liberal and I fly an American flag in front of my house because it’s not just a Republican thing. If someone thinks that means I’m a MAGA person that’s their problem, and they’re wrong. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/6 "2022-04-19T20:59:34Z")
It isn’t. **Don’t let them.** Fly the Flag when you want to. The Republicans shouldn’t be allowed to co-opt it or hide behind it. Nor should Dems. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/7 "2022-04-19T21:04:41Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > If you want to fly an American flag, do it to show that you don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks of your motives. Isn’t the point of flying any flag that you care what somebody else thinks of your motives? I mean, they’re a symbol, and only a symbol. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/8 "2022-04-19T21:06:51Z")
OP wanted to fly a flag, but was concerned about what other’s would think, so I said… Oh, nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/9 "2022-04-19T21:07:06Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Isn’t the point of flying any flag that you care what somebody else thinks of your motives? I I think that’s right. If you just enjoy the pretty colors, you’d hang it in your living room instead of your front yard. I have generally positive feelings about this country (U.S.A.) but not any special feelings about the flag. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/10 "2022-04-19T21:20:45Z")
I don’t agree with the comments in this thread that you can just hand-wave away society’s interpretation of a symbol and substitute your own. Like it or not, some symbols are simply irreversibly hijacked. A Buddhist may lament the fact that the swastika is now a Nazi symbol, but you can’t take it back. Waving a swastika flag in public is going to get you condemned regardless of your intention. You may want the word “gay” to mean its original definition of happy or cheerful, but if you go about in public telling people “I’m gay,” they will certainly take it to mean as a statement of homosexuality rather than its old meaning. Someone may want to wave the rainbow flag “because Noah’s Ark was followed by God’s covenant not to flood the Earth again” but if they do, people will take it to be an LGBT message. I don’t know if the American flag has been hijacked to **that** extent yet, but we can’t just pretend society’s interpretation doesn’t matter. It would be like wearing a MAGA hat but claiming, “It means Make Apricots Good Again!” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/11 "2022-04-19T21:28:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > For what it’s worth, **I** don’t assume that of people flying the American flag. I do. Without a secondary signal that they _aren’t_ assholes, I’m going to default that way every time. It’s an easy read, just like MAGA hats, lifted pickups and the like. I’m correct in my call way more often than I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/12 "2022-04-19T21:31:03Z")
I would like to point out that both in Germany and in Spain the respective national flags have been more hijacked that merely co-opted by the right wing. They seem to be very good at that kind of cultural appropiation, it comes naturally to them. One of the tell tales of fascism is identifying the nation with its symbols and a leader. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/13 "2022-04-19T21:32:24Z")
So how about a house with American Flag for National Holidays but a Prius out front? What is your interpretation of that? Why should I need to show some anti-MAGA thing to fly my flag occasionally? I would think just not having a Trump related thing would be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/14 "2022-04-19T21:33:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I would think just not having a Trump related thing would be enough. It’s going to be very community dependent, I’m sure. I don’t mind taking ekedolphin’s word that in their community, flying an American flag is viewed as conservative signaling. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/15 "2022-04-19T21:34:01Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > If you want to fly an American flag, do it to show that you don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks of your motives. Yeah, co-opt 'em right back. And consider flying a second flag to help create the desired impression. [![](https://www.crwflags.com/art/miscflags/pirate-commitmentexcel.gif) ](https://www.crwflags.com/art/miscflags/pirate-commitmentexcel.gif) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/16 "2022-04-19T21:39:11Z")
My town is pretty divided. Almost 50-50 between Dems and Repubs. The Trumpites are a smaller percentage and usually the biggest idiots. I don’t assume a flag = MAGA. We do have a very large vet community for some reason and I added to that. So flags are common here, and almost universal on July 4th. But this town is a little crazy on the decorating side. I’ve never lived anywhere else with so many decorations for most Holidays. Even Valentine’s Day. Easter was pretty elaborate as was St. Paddy’s. We actually have a St Paddy’s parade as a fundraiser for the Fire Dept. But I do not associate the American Flag with the Right Wing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/17 "2022-04-19T21:39:31Z")
As noted, it can be very community based. Most of the flags in this area are strictly “virtue signaling.” 8’ flags mounted in the bed of a pickup. Flags displayed 24/7 outside without independent lighting. Tattered, torn flags waved in the faces of anybody that doesn’t hate everybody that isn’t them. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/18 "2022-04-19T21:42:17Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > A Buddhist may lament the fact that the swastika is now a Nazi symbol, but you can’t take it back. Waving a swastika flag in public is going to get you condemned regardless of your intention. The Nazi symbol is backwards. Not that it would matter to a nice Jewish grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/19 "2022-04-19T21:43:15Z")
My neighbor sometimes flies a US flag, and he’s a normal guy, aside from that damn basket ball hoop next to my kitchen. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081/20 "2022-04-19T21:52:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Nah, it’s easy. Fly another flag alongside (or beneath). Pride, BLM, etc. Take your pick. The message will be clear. I love this. Practical and to the point. If you want to reclaim a symbol that is being coopted, use it with a symbol with a stronger tie to the opposite. I honestly hadn’t considered this third option that isn’t just using it or avoiding it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-the-american-flag-wasnt-co-opted-by-the-right-wing/963081.md?page=2)