# Ignorant Bigots Raise Racist Flag Yet Again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2016, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644 "2016-07-11T12:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/41 "2016-07-12T00:58:50Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > A Jolly Roger? WTF would be wrong with that? Clear lack of respect for our Somali brethren. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/42 "2016-07-12T01:35:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > . . . A Jolly Roger? WTF would be wrong with that? According to one reference I found, by case law (international law) a skull-and-crossbones flag indicates an intention to commit piracy, and can be met with force by government ships … on the open seas. Within U.S. waters, the Coast Guard can make a minor fuss over it, but generally it’s a free speech issue. Beyond the territoriality limits, someone could take it sufficiently amiss to open fire on you. (My uncle flew a Jolly Roger in international waters, and was advised by a U.S. Navy officer that it was a bad idea, and that he should not do it. No cite available.) [Here’s a link to a discussion board taking on the matter.](http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/jolly-roger-legal-or-not.74700/) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/43 "2016-07-12T02:09:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > According to one reference I found, by case law (international law) a skull-and-crossbones flag indicates an intention to commit piracy, and can be met with force by government ships … on the open seas. Within U.S. waters, the Coast Guard can make a minor fuss over it, but generally it’s a free speech issue. Beyond the territoriality limits, someone could take it sufficiently amiss to open fire on you. > > (My uncle flew a Jolly Roger in international waters, and was advised by a U.S. Navy officer that it was a bad idea, and that he should not do it. No cite available.) > > [Here’s a link to a discussion board taking on the matter.](http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/jolly-roger-legal-or-not.74700/) Wait. If you have a reference to case law, why not post a link to the actual case law, instead of a link to a hobbyist website, where the last post in the thread you quoted was more than 10 years old? :smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/44 "2016-07-12T02:26:23Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The USA has been at war with Great Britain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and Spain in its history, the last 3 more recently than the Civil War. Should flying any of those flags be illegal? Nope. But the Confederate battle flag today represents no one except those adhering to enemies of the United States, deservedly dead and in obloquy, true, but that isn’t in the language. Every other flag you name may be allied with or opposed to the U.S. for any reason: only the flag of white-supremacy treason is unalterably opposed to the national reason for our existence as a free country ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/45 "2016-07-12T02:30:50Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > A Jolly Roger? WTF would be wrong with that? It’s not the flag of the government the office represents. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/46 "2016-07-12T02:35:54Z")
> [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](#): > > Nope. But the Confederate battle flag today represents no one except those adhering to enemies of the United States, deservedly dead and in obloquy, true, but that isn’t in the language. Every other flag you name may be allied with or opposed to the U.S. for any reason: only the flag of white-supremacy treason is unalterably opposed to the national reason for our existence as a free country Please. Bullshit from those who want to pretend their hands aren’t bloody. This country was built on slavery. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/47 "2016-07-12T03:07:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > When The North surrenders! OK, OK – we surrender! Let the Confederate states go away\*. It’d be the best move for our economy in the past 75 years. Even if we have to build a wall across the Mason-Dixon line to keep refugees from that poverty-stricken hellhole from wetbacking into the USA. - And they can take the cow states with them! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/48 "2016-07-12T03:20:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I can legally fly a swastika if I wish too, as long as I’m on my own property. Won’t your parents get angry? ---
**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 12, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/49 "2016-07-12T03:25:02Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > It’s not the flag of the government the office represents. Well then I suppose most of Pittsburgh is gonna be considered traitors. 😃 (My neighbor’s got a huge one hanging next to his door) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/50 "2016-07-12T03:26:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Objectionable, sure, but objectionable doesn’t mean illegal, necessarily. Ccross burning has gone in front of the supreme court [before](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._Black), and the SC ruled that cross burning can be outlawed if intent to intimidate is demonstrated, but not if such intent to intimidate is not proven. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > I’m saying it doesn’t matter what the meaning is _ **SNIP** _ I suppose I was less than clear but I didn’t suggest flying the Stars & Bars should be illegal. My problem was the word “equivalent”. I see it as being something used today primarily to intimidate and be inflammatory, particularly since the decision to remove it from a variety of public places over the last year. You wanna fly it on your property? I could care less. On public property my tax dollars support? I’m going to object. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/51 "2016-07-12T03:28:22Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Wait. If you have a reference to case law, why not post a link to the actual case law, instead of a link to a hobbyist website, where the last post in the thread you quoted was more than 10 years old? :smack::smack::smack: That was the reference, you doofus. ETA: Oh, wait, it’s D’Anconia. You twisted sick shit-faced gob of buzzard puke, you lying sack of dung, you toad-felching pustule, you imbecile. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/52 "2016-07-12T03:32:41Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Please. Bullshit from those who want to pretend their hands aren’t bloody. This country was built on slavery. No. It’s bullshit from those who no longer want to enshrine or celebrate the actions of a horrible past generation. ‘This country was built on slavery’ - Agreed. Seems appropriate the full extent of that fact is taught in schools then. How about more than just during February. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/53 "2016-07-12T03:38:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Well then I suppose most of Pittsburgh is gonna be considered traitors. 😃 (My neighbor’s got a huge one hanging next to his door) No, that’s fine. As I’ve been saying all along, _people_ can wave whatever flags they like. Free speech. Actual public institutions, on the other hand, should display only the symbols they actually embody. United States federal buildings should fly the United States flag, period. State buildings should fly the correct national and state flags, and no other. Take the job seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/54 "2016-07-12T03:40:56Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > You do realize that in America it is legal to wear and display _actual_ KKK emblems in otherwise legal demonstrations? And I read plenty of Europeans and Americans who are stunned (the former, mostly) and confounded by this. I do sometimes wonder how Europeans have such trust in their government that they reject the “slippery slope” idea, and why this particular “slippery slope” isn’t more derided (ie more like the usual invocation of the fallacy) in average discussion. ETA: I also know that some consider the KKK to be an actual terrorist group. Who determines that kind of status for the sake of exceptions to laws? ---
**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 12, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/55 "2016-07-12T03:46:05Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > No, that’s fine. As I’ve been saying all along, _people_ can wave whatever flags they like. Free speech. Actual public institutions, on the other hand, should display only the symbols they actually embody. United States federal buildings should fly the United States flag, period. State buildings should fly the correct national and state flags, and no other. Take the job seriously. Oh, during baseball season, you’ll see it on government property too. 😃 We take our civic pride VERY seriously. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/56 "2016-07-12T03:59:30Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > That was the reference, you doofus. I realize that cites are not required in the BBQ Pit, but what you posted was in no way, shape, or form a “reference”. Do you have an **actual** cite that flying the Jolly Roger is against international law? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/57 "2016-07-12T04:36:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Objectionable, sure, but objectionable doesn’t mean illegal, necessarily. Ccross burning has gone in front of the supreme court [before](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._Black), and the SC ruled that cross burning can be outlawed if intent to intimidate is demonstrated, but not if such intent to intimidate is not proven. Burning a cross in another person’s yard, which the KKK did during the 50s, 60s and 70s, was also surely a violation of trespassing laws. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > The USA has been at war with Great Britain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and Spain in its history, the last 3 more recently than the Civil War. Should flying any of those flags be illegal? Well, the flag Germany flew when we were at war with them is no longer the flag of the nation, and FWIW, I think it’s the case that you can’t actually fly the swastika flag in Germany. We have officially reconciled with the UK, and have allied with them during several wars, and they have embassies and consulates here. I have an Israeli flag that I put in my window in Israeli Independence day, and Holocaust Remembrance Day, but I also put up a US flag on US holidays. My husband earned one in Iraq, so we might as well use it. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we hang both flags, because the US was one of the countries that liberated the camps, and we hang it higher than the Israeli flag. (Yes, I know Israeli was not a country yet, but the flag looks like a tallit with a Magen David, so it’s a good symbol of the Jewish people.) Anyway, I get flying other flags, but I can’t believe people who fly the Stars & Bars aren’t, on some level, hoping to offend. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/58 "2016-07-12T04:52:21Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > …Anyway, I get flying other flags, but I can’t believe people who fly the Stars & Bars aren’t, on some level, hoping to offend. Or at the very least, intimidate anyone who may have been a bit “uppity” of late. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/59 "2016-07-12T04:52:56Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > And I read plenty of Europeans and Americans who are stunned (the former, mostly) and confounded by this. > > I do sometimes wonder how Europeans have such trust in their government that they reject the “slippery slope” idea, and why this particular “slippery slope” isn’t more derided (ie more like the usual invocation of the fallacy) in average discussion. > > ETA: I also know that some consider the KKK to be an actual terrorist group. Who determines that kind of status for the sake of exceptions to laws? What part of free speech is confounding? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644/60 "2016-07-12T05:04:23Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Anyway, I get flying other flags, but I can’t believe people who fly the Stars & Bars aren’t, on some level, hoping to offend. Just spent the weekend with a friend from ‘Dahn Sah’th’. Based on his attitudes on everything from Uppity Wimmens to The Gummint, I know what he’d say. He’d say “Heee-yah, you _bet_ we’re offending! And the more you PC Yankees getcher britches in a twist, the more we sit on back with our coon dogs and our flag and just _smahhhhhhle…_” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorant-bigots-raise-racist-flag-yet-again/759644.md?page=4)