As far as I know, the “Thin Blue Line Flag” was originally (and may still be) a symbol of respect and condolence for police who are killed in the line of duty. It then got co-opted to be a political symbol.
In the small farm town where I live, a cop got shot and killed on the morning after Christmas at about 01:30 – I think this was three years ago. It was right on my corner - I heard the shots.
There was an outpouring of “Thin Blue Line Flags” all over this town, and many blue light bulbs around town, and blue ribbons everywhere, many of which are still on display. Under the circumstances, I don’t think it would have been taken as a right-wing political statement.
It’s context-dependent, for me. A 3’ x 5’ Stars and Stripes on a staff in front of your house: You probably disapprove of immigrants or gays or liberals, but the only thing you really hate is crabgrass.
Oversized flag displayed from the bed of a jacked-up dualie with twin exhausts: Where were you on January 6th?
I don’t think the UN flag as a protest was a big trend. However, one man in Indianapolis was arrested for waving one while VP Dick Cheney was doing a local fund-raiser. I seem to remember the matter was dropped after Cheney left town.
What I get mad about is people flying the “thin blue line” flag in place of the American flag, as if it’s acceptable stand-in.
Of course private citizens can do what they wish. But this is now part of the livery of my local police department, and it pisses me off. If a police car must have a flag, it should be their city’s flag, or the American flag. Not this bullshit cop supremacist flag.
In Calgary, the police union has decided it doesn’t have to obey a legal directive from the Calgary Police Commission so that “thin blue line” patch cannot be worn on uniforms.
Just a very clear indication that Calgary police believe that they are above the law, and that displaying the blue wall is the most important part of their uniform.
When 9/11 happened, I was happy and honored to be able to fly an American flag from my apartment window. (Note that I’m in Canada.) My neighbours liked it.
Now? I don’t dare fly it, not even on the Fourth of July. It’s an American right-wing symbol, and even though we’re in Alberta, supposedly the most conservative province of Canada, the vast majority of Albertans do not agree with the American right-wing.
I hope that someday, the American flag returns to just being the American flag, and I can return to flying it on the Fourth of July, to celebrate with our southern friends.
Well in Canada, yeah, because it’s not your flag so by flying the flag of another nation you are sending a certain message. In the US, I don’t automatically assume a flag outside someone’s home makes them a Trump supporter because the flag belongs to all of us not just them. (If they are flying it from their car, that’s a different story.)
There are a lot of older vets that fly small flags from their cars. They started right after 9/11 and kept it up. Some may also be Trumpers, but I don’t assume they are.
Sigh. And I LIKED the “Betsy Ross” flag - if only from a design perspective.
I think that the idea of rotating flags is a good one. State flag, National flag, Halloween pumpkin flag, Easter bunny flag, Snoopy flag (I had to get that one in),
The image in your link illustrates the problem I have with the blue-line flags. That is not a Canadian flag with a blue line on it, as there is no sable in the Canadian flag. The same is true of the version used in the US. It is not the flag of the nation, it is a parody of the flag. In other words, they see the country in black and white, which seems a bit problematic.
If I were a Black man, and a crowd of fat guys in cammo waving trump 2024 flags and confederate flags gave me the “OK” sign, should I just assume they are complementing me on my outfit?
