# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/141 "2010-08-05T20:12:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Yes, the flag Code is technically a law, Good! We’re making progress. In return, I’ll respond to your question about why I’d call the cops for an improper flag display. I’m a veteran. I love my country, and I respect my country’s flag. It displeases me when the flag is improperly displayed, whether out of ignorance or out of spite. I’d like the person to display the flag correctly, or at least understand how he should display the flag correctly. Calling the cops, on the non-emergency number as I specified when I made the statement, seems to be the appropriate way to resolve the situation. If the guy is acting in good faith, then he’ll learn something I consider valuable. If he’s making a statement of some kind, no harm, no foul. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/142 "2010-08-05T20:15:33Z")
There are no penalties for violating anything in the flag code, so what do you think the police are going to do about your complaint? Personally, I think they are going to politely end the phone conversation as soon as possible and then afterwards have a chuckle amongst themselves about concerned citizens who apparently think that the police don’t have real work to do. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/143 "2010-08-05T20:20:30Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > What’s with the whole American “respect the flag” thing anyway? I’ve never been able to understand that. We get acculturated with it in school, or through Scouting. Of course, some people don’t. > [@madmonk28](#): > > My mother was a vexologist, so all kinds of bad flag etiquette bothers me, but it bothers me regardless of the national flags flown. National flags flown at the same time should be flown at the same height and be of the same size. If they are flown at night, they should be lit up. I notice when flags are displayed wrongly and it does annoy me a little. Seriously, people who burn an American flag as a protest are showing more respect for the symbol than people who leave their unlighted flags up at night, or out in the rain. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Exactly, so why would anybody feel the need to involve themselves in what somebody else was peaceably doing with his own property? If I felt neutral or kindly towards my Elbonian neighbor, I might mention to him it would be better to put the US flag above the Elbonian one. Lest he run into assholes like somebody’s aunt did upthread. I don’t think it would ever occur to me that my neighbor was doing it as an intentional sign of disrespect, any more than I think my local car dealership is when they fly the California flag slightly higher than the US flag. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/144 "2010-08-05T20:24:45Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > There are no penalties for violating anything in the flag code, so what do you think the police are going to do about your complaint? > > Personally, I think they are going to politely end the phone conversation as soon as possible and then afterwards have a chuckle amongst themselves about concerned citizens who apparently think that the police don’t have real work to do. Sigh. I’ve already answered that, in post #133. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/145 "2010-08-05T20:28:16Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Yes, the flag Code is technically a law, > > Good! We’re making progress. > > In return, I’ll respond to your question about why I’d call the cops for an improper flag display. I’m a veteran. I love my country, and I respect my country’s flag. It displeases me when the flag is improperly displayed, whether out of ignorance or out of spite. I’d like the person to display the flag correctly, or at least understand how he should display the flag correctly. Calling the cops, on the non-emergency number as I specified when I made the statement, seems to be the appropriate way to resolve the situation. If the guy is acting in good faith, then he’ll learn something I consider valuable. If he’s making a statement of some kind, no harm, no foul. I still don’t understand how you think it’s any of your business, and certainly don’t see how it’s any of the police department’s business since no law is being broken, and he’d be doing you no injury. You don’t have a right to not be offended. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/146 "2010-08-05T20:39:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’d consider it vulgar and indicative of low breeding, but otherwise constitutionally protected expression. Which, incidentally, is the same way I view the improper display of the U.S. Flag. However, with the flag, there is valid law on the books regarding how the flag should be displayed. I live deep in the rural South. We don’t really have a crime wave going on in this area. Cops will respond to non-emergency calls when they can. And something like this would likely draw a response from them. I’d expect them to send an officer over to talk to the improper flag displayer, and educate them on the proper way to display the flag. They are not going to arrest anybody, and if the guy makes it clear that he knows what he’s doing, and he’s making some kind of political statement, the cops will go away. Unbelievable. I guess the SS could learn a thing or two from your cops. Surely there’s a difference between ‘non-emergency’ and ‘non-criminal’?? I’d make an official police complaint if they dared to harrass me over something like this. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/147 "2010-08-05T20:39:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > [ > I still don’t understand how you think it’s any of your business, and certainly don’t see how it’s any of the police department’s business since no law is being broken, and he’d be doing you no injury. You don’t have a right to not be offended. It’s my business because it’s the flag of my country. Do not start on the law thing again, you’ve been proven wrong and acknowledged the error. That part of the conversation is over. The cops will respond, at least in my area, because proper display of the flag is a matter of public concern. If you’re going to do it, you should do it correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/148 "2010-08-05T20:42:12Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Unbelievable. > > I guess the SS could learn a thing or two from your cops. > > . Yeah. A local cop politely instructing a citizen is exactly like a Nazi dragging somebody off to the death camps. Excellent analogy there. Not at all ridiculously over the top or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/149 "2010-08-05T20:43:16Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > [ > > I still don’t understand how you think it’s any of your business, and certainly don’t see how it’s any of the police department’s business since no law is being broken, and he’d be doing you no injury. You don’t have a right to not be offended. > > It’s my business because it’s the flag of my country. Sorry, but no, it’s the flag of your neighbor. His property, his business what he does with it. The cops would have no reason to respond because it would not be a violation of the law (once again, the flag code only says “should”), and it’s not a matter of public concern just because you say so. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/150 "2010-08-05T20:45:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Oakminster](#): > > > > It’s my business because it’s the flag of my country. > > Sorry, but no, it’s the flag of your neighbor. His property, his business what he does with it. The cops would have no reason to respond because it would not be a violation of the law (once again, the flag code only says “should”), and it’s not a matter of public concern just because you say so. Yeah. OK. Tried to be nice to you. This ain’t the pit, so we’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/151 "2010-08-05T20:45:44Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > > [@SanVito](#): > > > > Unbelievable. > > > > I guess the SS could learn a thing or two from your cops. > > > > . > > Yeah. A local cop politely instructing a citizen is exactly like a Nazi dragging somebody off to the death camps. Excellent analogy there. Not at all ridiculously over the top or anything. A local cop would have no business “instructing” a citizen about his own lawful expression of speech on his own property. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/152 "2010-08-05T20:56:22Z")
I don’t think the police are going to take this sort of thing very seriously. I have an uncle who is a cop (a police chief, actually) and I’m going to see him at the family reunion on Sunday, so I’ll ask him about this and report back. He’s super-ultra-conservative, by the way, so his answer will not be biased due to having a soft spot for pinko USA-hating incorrect flag displayers. ---
**Author:** ![wipetheclock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b19c9b/32.png) [@wipetheclock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wipetheclock)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/153 "2010-08-05T21:25:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Yes, the flag Code is technically a law, > > Good! We’re making progress. > > In return, I’ll respond to your question about why I’d call the cops for an improper flag display. I’m a veteran. I love my country, and I respect my country’s flag. It displeases me when the flag is improperly displayed, whether out of ignorance or out of spite. I’d like the person to display the flag correctly, or at least understand how he should display the flag correctly. Calling the cops, on the non-emergency number as I specified when I made the statement, seems to be the appropriate way to resolve the situation. If the guy is acting in good faith, then he’ll learn something I consider valuable. If he’s making a statement of some kind, no harm, no foul. Why bother law enforcement with a minor community matter? Why not go over there yourself for a friendly chat? Involving cops seems like a waste of tax dollars. ---
**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 5, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/154 "2010-08-05T23:04:14Z")
**Oakminster,** if possible and appropriate, perhaps you could contact your local police force and ask them about this? I’d be genuinely intrigued to know what they say. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/155 "2010-08-05T23:14:19Z")
And then I’ll “contact” my local “police force” and let you know what they “say” 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:** [August 6, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/156 "2010-08-06T00:01:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And then I’ll “contact” my local “police force” and let you know what they “say” too. Er, good for you? I’m pretty sure you have a point, but I’ve no idea what it is. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/157 "2010-08-06T00:03:37Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yeah. A local cop politely instructing a citizen is exactly like a Nazi dragging somebody off to the death camps. Excellent analogy there. Not at all ridiculously over the top or anything. It is over the top. Almost as over the top as calling the police about someone’s flag. Almost. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/158 "2010-08-06T00:09:09Z")
The mere idea that police would harass some poor immigrant because their display of the flag was somehow improper, based on a complaint from Mrs. Kravitz next door, is bizarre to me. It’s not even like they’re burning the flag while shouting “Death to infidels!” They are attempting to show pride in their new country while also honouring their past. If it really is such a major _faux pas_, and you’re already friends with them, then a polite conversation is all that is warranted _at best_, if only to avoid some other busybody trying to call the cops on them. If you’re not friends, MYOB. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/159 "2010-08-06T03:54:58Z")
**Oakminster** , so what’s stopping you from going over and explaining to your neighbor the proper way to display a flag? Calling 911 only takes time away from REAL EMERGENCIES. Jesus. If someone called the cops on me for such a thing, I’d be tempted to burn the flag on my lawn, just to piss off said neighbor. (Now, if he were displaying a Cleveland Browns or Philadelphia Flyers banner, I might have to go over have a little chat…) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673/160 "2010-08-06T05:02:05Z")
In fairness, **Oakminster** didn’t say he’d call 911, only the non-emergency police number. Still completely unwarranted, in my opinion, but let’s not misstate what he daid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-immigrant-disrepects-your-flag/548673.md?page=9)