I don’t understand this weird American obsession with flag. I was looking at some photos of Trump’s rallies. Flags everywhere - on shirts, hats, glasses etc. And this bizarre cult of the flag - “it cannot touch the ground” etc.

At the end of the day the flag is just a piece of cloth. If you worship any flag or take offense to any flag, you need to get a life.

You are viewing a single thread.
View all comments
47 points

I’m no nationalistic fanatic of the flag, but is it really so difficult to understand that the flag is a symbol?

Obviously each flag, be they for nations or other groups, represents more than just a piece of cloth to many people. Taking offence at someone else’s identifying with what a flag symbolizes is not okay. But, I tend to look skeptically at worship of any kind of idol, be it flag, cross, or text. That still doesn’t mean it’s okay to hate or persecute people for their beliefs, even if they appear silly to you and as long as they don’t hurt others.

One group can demonstrate their respect for the nation by physically following some rules around the flag and others can demonstrate their loyalty to their ideals of the nation being violated by flying the flag upside down or burning a flag.

A flag or banner is not just a piece of cloth, never has been.

permalink
report
reply
8 points

you’re absolutely right, and reminds me of the George Carlin bit, hopefully I’ve remembered it right:

“flags are symbols for the symbol-minded”

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

IMHO human beings are more important than stupid symbols. If you don’t respect humans and their non violent choices, the symbol lost all its meaning, especially the one about being the “land of the free”.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points
*

IMHO human beings are more important than stupid symbols.

At no point did I make anything close to a claim like this. In fact I very clearly stated that hurting others was NOT OK.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

Very well put.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Unpopular Opinion

!unpopularopinion@lemmy.world

Create post

Welcome to the Unpopular Opinion community!


How voting works:

Vote the opposite of the norm.

If you agree that the opinion is unpopular give it an arrow up. If it’s something that’s widely accepted, give it an arrow down.



Guidelines:

Tag your post, if possible (not required)
  • If your post is a “General” unpopular opinion, start the subject with [GENERAL].
  • If it is a Lemmy-specific unpopular opinion, start it with [LEMMY].


Rules:

1. NO POLITICS

Politics is everywhere. Let’s make this about [general] and [lemmy] - specific topics, and keep politics out of it.


2. Be civil.

Disagreements happen, but that doesn’t provide the right to personally attack others. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Please also refrain from gatekeeping others’ opinions.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.

Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Shitposts and memes are allowed but...

Only until they prove to be a problem. They can and will be removed at moderator discretion.


5. No trolling.

This shouldn’t need an explanation. If your post or comment is made just to get a rise with no real value, it will be removed. You do this too often, you will get a vacation to touch grass, away from this community for 1 or more days. Repeat offenses will result in a perma-ban.



Instance-wide rules always apply. https://legal.lemmy.world/tos/

Community stats

  • 1.5K

    Monthly active users

  • 306

    Posts

  • 5.4K

    Comments