The Red, White and Blue flies high!

by AK - Jeff 20 Replies latest jw experiences

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  AK - Jeff

  When it is dark, you take it down, or have lights on it....and if it gets tangled up....you try to fix it soon.

  Mine is lit pretty well all night, as it resides in close proximity to my porch light which shines directly on it - it makes it look nice at night, better than in the daylight. My house is flag red, so it is camoflauged during the day - at night is nicely visible and proud.

  I was never patriotic before - in fact my definition of patriotism is most likely an individual feeling more than a group dynamic. Those who never had the privilage of showing honest respect for the symbol of freedom that the US Flag stands for IMO, most likely appreciate it far less than I do. As Blondie said, if you are not deprived you don't look at things the same way, perhaps.

  Jeff
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  rwagoner

  I was never patriotic before - in fact my definition of patriotism is most likely an individual feeling more than a group dynamic. Those who never had the privilage of showing honest respect for the symbol of freedom that the US Flag stands for IMO, most likely appreciate it far less than I do. As Blondie said, if you are not deprived you don't look at things the same way, perhaps

  I agree totally. I am very patriotic on a personal level. When I won elected office for the first time, the first ordinance that I got passed was requiring all local boards and committees to begin their meetings with the pledge. The local jw's were horrified because now anytime they had business before the zoning or planning or whatever MY evil apostate rule would serve as a reminder that they no longer had power over me.

  RandyW
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  blondie

  Just to be fair, my husband and I travel a great deal through Canada, we have only 4 eastern provinces left to see.

  I noticed that Canadians had out the red maple leaf about as frequently as we see in the states.

  Also, I don't think patriotism is a function of visibly flying a flag at one's home.

  I have seen people fly flags that drive while drunk, steal, lie to their spouse and children, are bigoted, beat their wives and children, etc. (amazing what having been in law enforcement makes you see)

  I think we all love our homes, our communities, where we live, and are proud to invite people to come see us.

  If being patriotic only can be measured by whether a person flies their country's flag, there are many people in the US that don't qualify.

  Blondie
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  rwagoner

  (amazing what having been in law enforcement makes you see)

  26 YEARS FOR ME....where were you on the job ?
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  Narkissos

  Kwin,

  Sorry, couldn't help myself.

  Then I'm sorry for you too...

  (Btw I meant blue, white & red, of course.)

  There's a basic ambiguity in both flags (and national hymns etc.), in that they can stand either for freedom (or more exactly liberation, in reference to the foundational act, Independence in the USA, or Revolution in France) or for institution and order (nation, state, homeland). Dynamic vs. static. And as time goes by the latter tends to overcloud the former. Since the 1960s the national French symbols have been overwhelmingly waved by the conservative, in spite of a few artificial and half-hearted attempts from the left to reclaim them in the last few years. It's interesting that this did not (yet?) happen in the US. I noticed the same thing in Ireland but it is more understandable there in view of the ongoing conflict with the former UK masters over Ulster.

  This difference also explains that the WT stance was perceived as much less scandalous and problematic here...
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  Clam

  Interesting observations Narkissos. In the UK the primary flag was always the Union Flag. Indeed going back many years to 1966 when England hosted the Football (soccer) World Cup, the Union Flag was flown at Wembley practically without exeption. Now it would almost be exclusively English St.George Cross flags. As an Englishman living in Conwall I'm surrounded by Cornish St Piran flags, which to the Cornish is a strong rallying symbol: cultural if not political. When I've visited the States I've always been impressed by the number of flags everywhere. I have only visted the North though. Do the former confederate states tend to fly the flag as much or do many of them still favour the old "rebel" flag?

  Respectfully

  Clam
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  Narkissos

  Yes, Clam, I think the federal/federative aspect must be important in the US too. I didn't immediately think about that because it is quite foreign to the French perspective. With over two centuries of a highly centralistic Republican rule, we tend to see the nation as made of individual citizens rather than regions (which btw may also account, at least in part, for our reluctance to the American concept of "communitarian democracy"). Only the regions with a significant linguistic difference (Britanny, Pays Basque) have maintained some sense of identity along with a minoritary claim to autonomy (not to mention Corsica, which is an obvious geopolitical exception).
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  AK - Jeff

  Clam -

  I suspect that the 'stars and stripes' get less play in the south, at least in some regions. In Texas, the lone star flag predominated in some areas I noticed, kind of a 'rebel symbol' I suppose. I have seen the US flag all over the country of course, but have no idea if anyone has ever done a study on the matter of regional vs. national flag waving - good question though.

  Jeff
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  Clam

  Cheers Jeff and good to see the tiger back! It suits your image more than a drive off the tee.
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  AK - Jeff

  Thanx Clam - I was kinda missin' the old guy anyway, so your suggestion was timely. This time he is sticking out his tongue at everyone, especially the borg.

  Jeff