Keep it to yourself!
By Riptide
@Riptide (2756)
United States
June 27, 2009 8:45pm CST
Driving through town today, I saw a house which had a Jamaican flag flying outside. Now,correct me if I am wrong, but are we not in the USA? I seem to see a lot of this lately. Foreign flags flying and no Old Glory in sight anywhere.
Am I the only one that is bothered by this?I feel that if you live in this country, the only flag you should be flying is Old Glory. I would never hang a german flag outside, I would find that very disrespectful.
I think that there is nothing wrong with having national pride for the country you come from, but your first loyalty should be to this country who welcomed you and took you in.
If you must fly your national flag, then at least have the decency to fly Old Glory ABOVE it, to show your loyalty to this country.
What do you think about this?
2 people like this
15 responses
@countrysun2sea (161)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Keep in mind this is the "land of the free". People come to our great country because they have more freedom and rights than anywhere else...they have the freedom to fly THIER own country flags....thats what makes the good ol US of A so special.
@jordyway97 (15)
• Australia
28 Jun 09
Yes, America is the land of the free but i will have to disaggree with you when you say everyone has more freedom then anywhere else because flock to Australia to get away from war aswell
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jun 09
I have the flag of Scotland, The Lion Rampant, at my home NOT the Union Jack because even although I am an American citizen I am still very pround of my Scottish Hertitage. I also have the same Scottish flag decal on my car. Hoever as a national flag it is of course Old Glory.
Here is a picture of my Scottish Flag:
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
28 Jun 09
Actually the flag of Scotland is the Cross of St Andrew. A white diagonal cross on a blue background.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jun 09
I am very well aware of what the St. Andrew's Cross flag denotes. Typical Limey trying to cause trouble with a real Scotswoman! Wha daur meddle wi' me?" No wonder we always fought with the Sassenachs!
In the days when flags and banners were important to identify opposing elements in battle, King William I "the Lion" who lived from 1143 to 1214, adopted a heraldic device showing a rampant lion, the king of beasts, rearing up with three paws stretched out. This became the royal coat of arms in Scotland. The lion was also incorporated into the Great Seal of Scotland which was placed on all official documents.
When the royal coat of arms was being designed, the lion rampant was obviously incorprated, with the Latin motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" meaning "No one attacks me with impunity". In Scots, that became "Wha daur meddle wi' me?"
The lion rampant flag strictly speaking belongs solely to the monarch - though a Royal Warrant has been issued allowing it to be displayed as a token of loyalty to the crown.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2052454.aspx?p=1#2_19626638
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 09
I absolutely agree!
I don't care what else you fly, but a flag is a symbol of allegiance and anyone living in this land should be flying the flag of this land above any other.
If you remain loyal to another country I say don't let the door hit you on the way out.
@saw2207 (1359)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Riptide . .
I agree with you that we are in the USA. . but a flag isnt as bad as what I encountered today . .
While driving thru a McDonalds . . i get to the window to pick up the food. . and I ask the girl as she is handing me my bag for some extra bbq sauce. .she looks at me and says "gyyeez" and so I say again may I please have some extra bbq sauce and once again I get that look . .so I say to her . .do you speak english .. and that she understood . .cause she didnt speak anything other than "gyyeez" . .so I said please may I speak with someone in English! Someone else comes over and has somewhat of an attitude . . my friend then realizes they didnt give us the "happy meal" we ordered . .so girl number 2 . .goes and gets it. .
anyway .. I start to pull out of the driveway when we look inside the kids meal and there is no hamburger in it. . .so I stop the car and get out and start walking back to the window. . (I apologize to the car behind me . .and the driver of that car . .says to me oh no they got your order wrong) .. they always do that! Anyway I get back to the window .. and I see the entire staff . .about 5 people standing around looking as if they are having a meeting . .and sure enough .. not one of them was surprised that I was standing there. . cause it was my missing hamburger they were obviously discussing. . .
so all I said to the manager was. . .you know if you have someone dealing with customers . .i think it is pretty important that they speak English!
No sooner was my back turned that they were all mimicking me!
So in answer to the flag .. we got bigger problems if we all cant speak the same language!
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Yup, that is another one of my pet peeves. People who serve the public not speaking english. The whole service industry seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.
What I think is bad too, is when employers require their employees to be bilingual just to work a regiter or service desk. Last I looked, this is an english speaking country and english should be the only language I should need to get a job, go shopping or do anything else.
English is not my mother language either, but I am in the US and would never expect anybody to speak my mother language.
@darkstormy1 (264)
• United States
28 Jun 09
I may say this with alot of repruccusions but I do not see anything wrong with it yes we are america born under the basis of being a free nation then why is this person dictated what flag to hang up to me for us to be free and yet they keep taking away this little thing and this other item sooner or later and is happening slower where do we draw the lines or what they can not dictate this person is on thier property property they bought I say we are a free country let them be free otherwise dont claim ideals that are not true
But then that is my opinion but then I probably not free to say against the norm anyways so oh well
@jordyway97 (15)
• Australia
28 Jun 09
Even though I live in AUSTRALIA I still think its discrasful because I have been seeing italian, jamacian, irish, maltese and scottish flags with nothing aussie in their front yards.
@jordyway97 (15)
• Australia
28 Jun 09
meaning that they should have at least 1 thing in their front yard that you can see that respects the country.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
29 Jun 09
It doesn't bother me at all. I think it is covered under the freedom of speech, I think it is great that Every country is represnted here in the U.S.A. Just because they fly the flag of their homeland doesn't make them disloyal to the U.S.and I think of the reverse. Would an american be jailed for flying Old Glory overseas? Isn't our fredoms make us better than any other nation?
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
28 Jun 09
During football (American Football) season, I see alot of people displaying their team flag alone. True that every once in a while it will be on a pole under Old Glory, but what of those that just put out their team colors? It is not unpatriotic because it is not the flag of another nation, but it does display divided loyalty. Even worse can be said about flying the Southern Cross or any other Confederate Flag.
Perhaps some people just think, "I'm in America and of course I love America, but here's something else I like", with Old Glory just "assumed", even if it is not showing?
@browneyedgirl (1264)
• United States
28 Jun 09
I agree completely with you. The American flag should be flying above any other flag in this country. America is the melting pot; we are ONE NATION made up of MANY. Each one of us should be proud of his/her heritage, culture, nation of origin, but each one of us should be much more proud of the fact the we all belong and that we all are free to be proud of where we come from and to express that. As long as you live in this country, the American flag should be flown above the flag of any other country's flag.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
28 Jun 09
Well I'm born and raised in America and I'm proud to be American, but we have to realize that this is a free country, and people have the right to do what they choose as long its not hurting anyone or braking any laws, so I think that if you live in another country and you came to the USA you should be able to show love for your country and America too, so why not just display both flags, meaning the flag of America and the flag of whatever country your from, it would not really bother me if I saw both flags up, but if they only showed respect for there own country's flag then I would find that a bit offensive, becuse why would someone from another country come to America if they didnt love or respect it? its just a bit strange to me.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
28 Jun 09
I agree with you but also the law is you can hang your flag from your country but you then also have to have the US Flag hanging next to it. That is suppose to be the law but I guess its just not inforced.
@douglasdedwards (120)
• United States
28 Jun 09
yes where in the usa but i find it refreshing that people are allowed to express thereself joke couldnt do it in north korea. i remind you land of the free and home of the brave freedom of expression