# If an immigrant disrepects your flag. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2010, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673 "2010-07-31T11:15:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/41 "2010-07-31T18:42:21Z")
A friend of mine has an aunt who lives in the US - she has two flags on her house, a US one and a UK one. Someone once knocked on her door and started having a go at her because the US one had slipped and was lower than the UK one. If it had been me getting harangued like that for something so trivial I probably would have punched the bitch in the face to show her just how unimpressed I was. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/42 "2010-07-31T18:48:26Z")
No it doesn’t bother me. It’s a piece of cloth for crying out loud! Why should I care? Half of my neighbors have flags flying from other countries and don’t have the American flag at all. They’re just representing their heritage or nationality. No biggie for me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/43 "2010-07-31T19:09:41Z")
I like the flag (and have one in front of my house). But I don’t sweat the details of flag ritual. If you put a flag on a flagpole, I’m going to assume it was done with a respectful intent and not worry that you disrespected the flag by flying it the “wrong” way. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/44 "2010-07-31T19:20:47Z")
I care more about hearing ‘disrespect’ used as a verb than I do about the Elbonian and his flags. The difference between the levels of caring would amount to ‘not a lot, unless I’m teaching him English’ versus ‘not at all’. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/45 "2010-07-31T19:45:19Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I care more about hearing ‘disrespect’ used as a verb than I do about the Elbonian and his flags. The difference between the levels of caring would amount to ‘not a lot, unless I’m teaching him English’ versus ‘not at all’. In Elbonia they prefer descirptive grammar over the prescriptive variety. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/46 "2010-07-31T19:48:14Z")
On the other hand, dickwads who feel the need to show their immense patriotism by flying an American flag from their car, allowing it become tattered and worn in **gross** violation of flag etiquette, offend me. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/47 "2010-07-31T20:02:15Z")
I probably wouldn’t even notice. (The only flag I notice in my neighborhood was the one woman who started flying her’s upside-down after Obama was elected) ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/48 "2010-07-31T20:29:45Z")
> [@Unregistered\_Bull](#): > > Flying… with mine on top…somehow wouldn’t bother me at all. so you’re not an equal opportunity flag code stickler, I see… ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/49 "2010-07-31T20:35:38Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > A friend of mine has an aunt who lives in the US - she has two flags on her house, a US one and a UK one. Someone once knocked on her door and started having a go at her because the US one had slipped and was lower than the UK one. If it had been me getting harangued like that for something so trivial I probably would have punched the bitch in the face to show her just how unimpressed I was. this is symptomatic of a deep, deep seated “low self-esteem by proxy” issue. Or epic douchebaggery. (your aunt’s visitor, not you) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/50 "2010-07-31T20:39:32Z")
Some people in this country get really weird about flags. Although possibly this is rooted in the fact that every schoolchild is supposed to get up and pledge allegiance to the fucking thing before class starts each day. From the thread title, I thought this was going to be about an immigrant burning the flag or sewing it into the seat of his trousers or something, and even then I wouldn’t give two rips in the wind about it. Displaying it in a technically incorrect fashion? Would not even register with me. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/51 "2010-07-31T20:49:35Z")
US flag etiquette: [http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf](http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf) Unfortunately, I am the guy that would get a bit butt hurt by that damn Elbonian neighbor. He’s probably taking a job from someone I know and banging all our women, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/52 "2010-07-31T21:21:00Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > US flag etiquette: [http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf](http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf) Your government tells you how and when to fly the flag? That seems remarkably… inconsistent with being “land of the free”. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/53 "2010-07-31T21:26:43Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Your government tells you how and when to fly the flag? That seems remarkably… inconsistent with being “land of the free”. They’re just guidelines. Chillax. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/54 "2010-07-31T21:33:48Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > > [@Steophan](#): > > > > Your government tells you how and when to fly the flag? That seems remarkably… inconsistent with being “land of the free”. > > They’re just guidelines. Chillax. Fair enough. It’s just an alien concept, and I’m trying to understand, in my own slightly obnoxious way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/55 "2010-07-31T21:34:50Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I care more about hearing ‘disrespect’ used as a verb than I do about the Elbonian and his flags. The difference between the levels of caring would amount to ‘not a lot, unless I’m teaching him English’ versus ‘not at all’. You’re lucky I didn’t write “dissing”. But I’m pretty sure using disrespect as a verb is proper English. Respect can’t be properly used as a noun or a verb. In fact, I believe the word originated as a verb and was adapted into use as a noun. And the prefix dis- is also standard. So while you may dislike the word you can dismiss its use or disinherent it from the English language. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/56 "2010-07-31T21:50:54Z")
It is a change that has happened in my lifetime. My copy of ‘The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English’, Eighth Edition published in 1990, shows the following - P. 338 - disrespect, n. P. 1025 - respect, n. & v. Over the last thirty years, it has become common to the point where people do not even remark on the change. I try not to care, but that is one change that I don’t particularly like, so I notice. As a thing that bugs me, I’d put it somewhere around the level of ‘so and so always makes weak, bitter coffee when it’s his turn.’ I try to accept that I got outvoted years ago, as opposed to the flag, where it does not bother me at all, not even a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/57 "2010-07-31T22:00:40Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > > [@toofs](#): > > > > US flag etiquette: [http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf](http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf) > > Your government tells you how and when to fly the flag? That seems remarkably… inconsistent with being “land of the free”. I can beat that. Observe… [Finnish flag law](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/fi-law.html). The Americans have recommendations regarding the flag, we make it an actual crime to “desecrate the flag, treat it in disrespecting manner or remove it from a public place without permission”.. and other stuff. Although I think that law is about enforced as the one about being fined 2 pieces of silver for leaving a pasture gate open. It’s actually a pretty common idea… [Flag desecration - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_desecration) ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/58 "2010-07-31T22:13:45Z")
Thanks for the links **GHO57**. It seems the UK is unusual in not having this idea, at least to some extent. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/59 "2010-07-31T22:15:00Z")
Does the Elbonian let his dogs crap in my yard? Does he play his tinky-dinky Elbonian music at a high volume with his windows open when I’m sleeping? Does he cook smelly Elbonian cuisine and never invite me over to sample some? If not, then who gives a rip what else he does? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/60 "2010-07-31T23:48:14Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > This was in the eighties, of course - hopefully things may have changed. For the worse, yes. Didn’t you hear? 911 changed everything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=4)