# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/81 "2010-08-01T11:49:20Z")
The British flag can be flown upside down? Are there any more important factoids like this I’ve not been told about? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/82 "2010-08-01T11:58:06Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The British flag can be flown upside down? Yep - take a look at [this](http://uwlib5.uwyo.edu/blogs/dustyshelves/files/2008/02/union-jack2.jpg) and note that the diagonal red cross is not centered in the white space. This image correctly has the thicker white part at the top left. If the top left has a thinner white part, the flag is upside down. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/83 "2010-08-01T12:13:01Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > The British flag can be flown upside down? Are there any more important factoids like this I’ve not been told about? Two more factoids: flying the British flag upside down is a distress signal (not a great signal if many people do not know that there is such a thing as upside down) and the reason it is asymmetric is that the cross of St. Andrew is higher to reflect the fact that it was added to the flag before the cross of St. Patrick. So if you care about flag rank stuff, then the Union Jack/Flag permanently disses Northern Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/84 "2010-08-01T12:25:03Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > > [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > > > The British flag can be flown upside down? > > Yep - take a look at [this](http://uwlib5.uwyo.edu/blogs/dustyshelves/files/2008/02/union-jack2.jpg) and note that the diagonal red cross is not centered in the white space. This image correctly has the thicker white part at the top left. If the top left has a thinner white part, the flag is upside down. Hey, I got a 403 forbidden with that link. I bet it’s because of those damn Elbonians! First Old Glory and now the Union Jack WHERE WILL THIS END? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/85 "2010-08-01T12:32:54Z")
> [@CWN](#): > > > [@amarone](#): > > > > > [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > > > > > The British flag can be flown upside down? > > > > Yep - take a look at [this](http://uwlib5.uwyo.edu/blogs/dustyshelves/files/2008/02/union-jack2.jpg) and note that the diagonal red cross is not centered in the white space. This image correctly has the thicker white part at the top left. If the top left has a thinner white part, the flag is upside down. > > Hey, I got a 403 forbidden with that link. I bet it’s because of those damn Elbonians! > First Old Glory and now the Union Jack > > WHERE WILL THIS END? It works for me. Maybe you are forbidden because you are not British. We keep details of our flag secret then we can act all superior and turn our noses up at you when you get it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/86 "2010-08-01T14:13:59Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I wouldn’t care a bit. > > Even if he is saying he thinks Elbonia is way better than America, what do I care? …well, for one thing, that would mean he’s clinically insane (or likes mud)… possibly making him someone you really don’t want to live next to. Nasty people, Elbonians; I personally say weasels are too good for them. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/87 "2010-08-01T14:43:51Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Two more factoids: flying the British flag upside down is a distress signal (not a great signal if many people do not know that there is such a thing as upside down) and the reason it is asymmetric is that the cross of St. Andrew is higher to reflect the fact that it was added to the flag before the cross of St. Patrick. So if you care about flag rank stuff, then the Union Jack/Flag permanently disses Northern Ireland. It permanently disses Ireland, not just Northern Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/88 "2010-08-01T14:54:24Z")
If he is flying a large Elbonian flag over a small American flag I’m going to assume that he is trying to piss in my cornflakes so yeah, I’m going to at least ask him what’s up with that? Sorry that’s just the way I roll. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/89 "2010-08-01T14:59:58Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > …he is trying to piss in my cornflakes… That’s an Elbonian delicacy, you should be grateful. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/90 "2010-08-01T15:11:28Z")
I don’t see how that’s disrespectful or why the hell I should care. But then, the only thing I know about flag etiquette is “Don’t put them on the floor.” ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/91 "2010-08-01T16:03:50Z")
> [@These are my own pants](#): > > Let’s put it this way, my father didn’t lose an arm and three legs in the two Elbonian wars for them to fly a flag next door to me. Let’s be fair, here. If your father was better with the morgue’s paperwork, he wouldn’t have misplaced so many body parts. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/92 "2010-08-01T20:08:46Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > > [@amarone](#): > > > > So if you care about flag rank stuff, then the Union Jack/Flag permanently disses Northern Ireland. > > It permanently disses Ireland, not just Northern Ireland. And completely ignores Wales. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/93 "2010-08-01T20:23:07Z")
Nah; there’s a tiny dragon right in the middle of the Cross of St. George. You just can’t see it. You know, because it’s also red. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/94 "2010-08-01T21:07:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nah; there’s a tiny dragon right in the middle of the Cross of St. George. You just can’t see it. You know, because it’s also red. Hmm, thinking about that, I wonder if the story of George and the dragon is a metaphor for England conquering Wales? ---
**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:** [August 2, 2010, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/95 "2010-08-02T09:53:15Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > > [@These are my own pants](#): > > > > Let’s put it this way, my father didn’t lose an arm and three legs in the two Elbonian wars for them to fly a flag next door to me. > > Let’s be fair, here. If your father was better with the morgue’s paperwork, he wouldn’t have misplaced so many body parts. _Applauds politely_ ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/96 "2010-08-02T10:35:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > > [@Steophan](#): > > > > Thanks for the links **GHO57**. It seems the UK is unusual in not having this idea, at least to some extent. > > I’m very surprised that there isn’t flag etiquette in the UK. Naval etiquette (flags, salutes, etc.) is, or was, extremely specific and detailed there. I’m in the UK and we try to teach our Cub Scouts basic flag etiquette. The main points are: - don’t let the flag touch the ground\* - on campsites ensure the flag is lowered before sunset To be honest though the concept of Respect For The Flag is so alien to most of the lads’ everyday experiences that it’s about as relevant and meaningful as teaching the correct way to address an Emissary from the Court of Austro-Hungary. \*Although on Remembrance Sunday flags are lowered to the ground, so this just confuses things! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/97 "2010-08-02T13:00:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > 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. Given how many calendars I’ve seen in the US where the flag was, in fact, worn as a tiny bikini (back when bikinis had seats, this included the seat), and how many articles of clothing figure the flag prominently over there, I would find it extremely funny if an American got offended about a non-American doing it. OTOH, apparently quite a few Chinese euro-store owners have been surprised that underwear with the Spanish flag isn’t popular here. Would I be offended if a foreigner bought those? No. I’d be surprised if a Spaniard did, but whatever. We only wear the flag to show support for the Spanish national team in sports, and then it tends to be caps or scarves, or the jersey of said team. Cups with the flag are for the tourist trade, whereas in the US and UK I’ve seen locals using them. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/98 "2010-08-02T13:12:43Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > _What if_… the Elbonian in the OP took down the American flag, made a loin-cloth out of it, and began wearing it for bbq’s in the yard? That’d be awesome! Someone should make flag loin cloths! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/99 "2010-08-02T13:13:13Z")
Sorry, I forgot another occasion where one may wear the flag here, but it’s local flags: berets, bandannas and sashes in Sanfermines red’n’whites are for Navarra, and some people wear bandannas or berets in green which is for Pamplona (I don’t think I’ve seen anybody with a full set of green’n’whites, although IIRC some of the councilors wear green sashes with their fancy-day uniforms). There is a peña whose bandanna is blue, I haven’t seen any other colors, nor have I seen the flags of other towns used for bandannas (but the bandannas often have a coat of arms printed or embroidered, and this coat of arms may be of the region, the province, Euskal Herria, or any town). Again, it’s a very limited and specific usage. I wouldn’t be offended by an outsider wearing these clothes, y’all are welcome to it, but if he wasn’t doing it properly I might correct him on it (seriously, if you’re going to wear a beret put it on straight, 'tain’t so difficult!). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/100 "2010-08-02T13:38:23Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > > [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > > > _What if_… the Elbonian in the OP took down the American flag, made a loin-cloth out of it, and began wearing it for bbq’s in the yard? > > That’d be awesome! Someone should make flag loin cloths! Maybe that’s why the Elbonian flag needs to be bigger? Its less absorbent? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=6)