There are only two things I hate in this world: People who are intolerant of other people’s cultures, and the Elbonians.
Nah.
This is a minor faux-pas that a good neighbor would point out in a friendly way. I see flags flown inappropriately all the time, probably by US citizens, and I don’t assume they are any kind of protest. I’ve always assumed this was honest patriotism poorly expressed.
If that damned Elbow decided to got in my face about it, then there would be trouble.
So you’d have no problem if he displayed a six foot tall Nazi flag? It isn’t just a “piece of cloth,” it’s a symbol, and people can be very, very touchy about symbols.
Making a display of your nation’s flag on the soil of another nation isn’t necessarily bad manners or a breach of etiquette, but obviously it requires some discretion and taste if you want to be a good neighbor.
Rule of thumb: the bigger and more obtrusive a display is (i.e. the harder it is to simply ignore), the more likely it is to be insensitive and in bad taste.
I’m not saying this is true of you as an individual, but I’ve noticed many people who insist that a flag is “just a piece of cloth” nevertheless get offended at the sight of a Confederate battle flag.
Still none of my business, and none if yours either. It’s still just a piece of cloth no matter how much you stamp your foot about it.
Mr. Godwin on line one! Mr. Godwin on line one!
The flag of another nation is NOT the equivalent of a Nazi flag. And even if someone wants to display a swastika, the law does not forbid it. First amendment, and all that.
(And equating the flag of say, Britain, or France to the Nazis is rather, I dunno, fascist?)
Rule of other thumb: Insensitivity and bad taste are not illegal.
So go yell at those people then. I don’t think there are any in this thread. I doubt you’ll find anyone who would call the cops about it.
Dio & Guin: Where did I say the police should be involved?
FWIW, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Israel all prohibit the public display of Nazi flags: Bans on Nazi symbols - Wikipedia
Thank you for the link, but judging from the OP, the thread is about manners and etiquette, not legality.
I would not care if a neighbor flew a Confederate flag (I’m originally from Louisiana and have also lived in other parts of the south where confederate flags were ubiquitous. I don’t give them a second thought) I would be more concerned if they were flying a Nazi flag, not because of the flag itself, but because it could be an indication of mental instability or posible violence, and those things would still be there whether the flag was up or not. I wouldn’t want any of it to be illegal for citizens to do. If thegovernment is doing it (as some states have done with the Confederate flag), then that’s a different issue.
I appologize – I thought you were saying that you were in agreement with Oakminster.
Like I said, I have a neighbor around the corner who was flying her flag upside down. I just rolled my eyes. (She’s also the dumbass who parks her motorcycle almost in the middle of the street)
Flying the flag upside down is a distress signal. It’s probably some teabagger way to protest Obama.
The arsehole next door has a row of flagpoles with different signal flags on them.
I translated them with a flag guide and it spells out “Flood the runway theres a seaplane landing”.
The bastards, I don’t know if they are actually Elbonians but I have my suspicions.
I don’t know if she’s a teabagger (although I wouldn’t be surprised), but she started doing so right after the election. Plus she has “Michael Savage for President!” stickers on her SUV and stuff like that. (You know, the guy who told a homosexual caller that he should get AIDS and die?)
Now she has a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag and some other one. (Not that there’s anything wrong with the first, mind you, I’m just saying at least she no longer flies that upside down flag – it was embarassing to look at!) It might be a Marine flag – she also has Marine stickers on her car.
Note: I am NOT bashing Marines. I’m bashing people who fly upside down flags after Obama got elected and people who listen to Michael Savage and take the jackass seriously.