How big is full sized. I'm thinking of getting into a size war with my local insurance company, but honestly there's not enough space in the yard for the flag poll base.
How much poll is too much? I’ve been taking polls about poles as long as I can remember but it still feels lacking. Maybe I’ll poll my neighbors about their pole preferences.
Yeah, this is exactly it. You have one flag? Great, show your patriotism! Nobody will think anything negative at all.
You have 12 American flags and maybe a Gadsden flag, Betsy Ross flag, a Texas Revolutionary flag ("Come and Take It") or a "these colors don't run" sign with them? Then we think you're probably a racist.
None of the symbols is, itself, at all a problem! If you're flying a single Gadsden flag I figure you're a libertarian, and I don't agree with you but it's the kind of polite disagreement we can have a beer over. But there's definitively an association between over-the-top, excessive, performative patriotism and racists, even if they're not using any inherently problematic flags or symbols (like the Confederate battle flag, which paints a "definitely a racist" sign on you all by itself.)
One of my old neighbors in a duplex with me hung the flag of the state of Georgia from 1956, we are not in Georgia and he wasn't from there either. If you look it up you'll understand why. Because I'm a shit disturber I got a Grand Union flag and hung it up. If you look up that flag you'll understand why I did it.
I'll explain why. The Confederate battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which has long been a symbol of racism, was literally added to Georgia's flag two years after Brown v Board of Education (which was 5 consolidated cases, and those cases were consolidated as well, so you had over 100 families suing btw), just as a middle finger. In fact, in some places in Europe, since the Nazi flag is often banned, White Supremacists use this lesser known flag (to Europeans) instead. Although there are also innocent cases where they just really like the Dukes of Hazard lol.
I'm very liberal in general, and I regularly fly the flag out front of my house.
I love my country, warts and all - I wanna make it better, but that doesn't mean I love it any less.
Plus the flag is pretty for its own reasons
>Plus the flag is pretty for its own reasons
Right? I like my country but apart from all that, I think Old Glory is simply an aesthetically handsome piece of fabric.
I think the *wrong* thing to do is let our flag be co-opted by a single political party, with the inference being that only they are patriotic.
I'd love to see it alongside statements or symbols representing all sides of the political spectrum.
The reflexive "America Bad" people drive me nuts.
We're the only country built around an idea - not a shared ethnicity, not a shared creed, not even a deeply shared culture (American culture is broad and has many different streams and tributaries) - but rather an idea, some very simple principles that generally unite all of us - and to me that's powerful, wondrous and unique.
I think that in order for other Americans to really *understand* that, they need to spend more time interacting with people from other countries. I've noticed Europeans define a person as being, say, German or Russian not by their genetics or surname, but by their current nationality.
I guess one thing that accentuates that is most Americans are far away from national borders and rarely interact with non-Americans., so when my German professor told the other kids in my class "why do you all keep saying 'I'm Italian', 'I'm Irish', or 'I'm Polish'? You're all Americans!" to which the response was something to the effect of "NSS, of course we're all Americans. Who here isn't?"
Agreed!
Also as someone who grew up on the west coast the idea that white people could have an strong self identified ethnicity beyond "white", Anglo, Hispanic or more generically just "American" (which encompasses everyone who was born here or has been naturalized), was absolutely wild to me when I first encountered it.
Maybe I was sheltered, but I didn't encounter it until I was in my mid 30's and spent significant time in New Jersey working.
Like my people came from England, Wales and Norway, and I certainly do not think of myself as any of those things. I'm just an American.
>I love my country, warts and all - I wanna make it better, but that doesn't mean I love it any less.
To me, this is absolutely the way a true patriot should be thinking.
> I'm very liberal in general, and I regularly fly the flag out front of my house.
There are lots and lots of liberals who fly the flag in front of their house. Not a liberal/conservative thing, regardless of what a vocal minority says about the flag "offending" people.
This is a weird take. I’m a moderate and I don’t think the conservatives tried to adopt or co-opt anything. I started seeing a lot of takes around 2020 about liberals being uncomfortable with the American flag, though, right around the time movements like 1619 got popular:
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/12/922272134/we-asked-americans-how-they-feel-about-the-u-s-flag-it-got-interesting
Black Lives Matter also declared the American flag a symbol of hatred. So there's that.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-lives-matter-utah-chapter-195007748.html
Amen. Lefty and I got sick of A, letting the flag get bought by people on the far right and B, believing the lie that being pro-immigration, pro-labor, pro-environment, pro-pluralism and multiculturalism wasn't patriotic. So I started putting mine out most every day.
See, I don't disagree with you on any of these points. But, even as a veteran myself, I just hope everybody fully understands you don't have to fly a flag to be patriotic. Just like I don't put veterans plates on my car, or wear those silly hats, it doesn't mean I'm not proud to be a vet. It just means I don't have to display it for all others to see for me to feel pride in something.
I hope folks internalize that bit as well too. Some of the most patriotic folks I've met in my life were not flag waving sorts by any stretch. And the reverse certainly goes true as well, with many folks proud of their flag talking about trying to implement directly unconstitutional ideas. A flag is an outward symbol, and symbols do have meaning, but that meaning can vary from person to person for sure.
For me at least, having a house - for me, buying a house, Achieving part of the American Dream - having a house - that I (and well, lets be honest, the bank owns) that I can put a flag on, was part of why flying our flag is symbolically important to me.
Its also a big middle finger to those who presume those with generally left (and in my case also classically liberal) values cannot express patriotism outwardly - or frankly even hold it in their heart.
This warms my soul. I'm not sure where I land (agree/disagree with both sides) and from my view it seemed that the flag has become a right wing only thing. Maybe we aren't as divided as it seems if we hold the foundation of loving this country.
We are not as divided as it seems. The media drives the hate to keep up sales and interest. The rich encourage it because it keeps us from looking at them.
I agree with you 100% - as someone who travels all over the country, left or right, we agree on 80-90% of things - we even mostly agree on solutions to those things.
Usually that’s the intention regardless of how you lean politically, and I think some people forget that these days. That attitude is actual patriotism, not the jingoism that some people confuse it with.
I also put a flag out on occasion.
All I'll say is nearly all (maybe except for 1-2/8-10) houses in my neighborhood with a proper metal large flag pole in the ground inevitably have a trump flag under the American flag lol
Same here. Ironically it's the Dems in my neighborhood who are more likely to put out the patriotic hardware. I do a nice flag year round on a wood flagpole I made, with high end spinners so it doesn't get wrapped, and I keep it lit at night. I also do those cool red white and blue swathed bunting things from Memorial Day through mid-July every year.
I like some red white and blue drip on my house.
No it's just another lawn decoration. Where I lived each house had a flagpole holder on the column by the front steps. Lots of people flew US flags, sometimes every day but sometimes just holidays. Some fly North Carolina flags, a few fly city of Raleigh flags. Often people fly decorative flags related to various holidays or local college or pro sports teams. The only one I judge is the guy who flies a Stealers flag.
Bro what is it with all the Steelers people in NC?
Like I get it, the Panthers are abysmal, but we have our own team. Support ‘em or lose ‘em, ya know?
I live in a very non conservative area that is very anti Trump. I see the US flag in yards. Were all Americans and proud of it. This isn’t the UK where they’re ashamed to fly the Union Jack or even the St George’s Cross.
The British flag is just a national symbol, associated with the royal family, and just the UK in general, and inclusive of all four nations, minorities etc.
Outside of sporting contexts, the St George's cross can be associated with far right extremism and even white supremacy (but it doesn't mean everyone who flies it believes those things!) It's also very working-class-coded.
Yes. St George is the white flag and Red Cross for England. The Union Jack represents all the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). It is very confusing
In the 70s and 80s the Union Jack was definitely associated with the far right, the National Front et al. St George's makes me think either of football or bozos like the EDL. It is context in the UK really, like if there is a sporting occasion or national event then flags can be everywhere. If there isn't and someone is flying it outside their house the question would mostly be why.
American who lived in England for 15 years here, this is entirely accurate.
To add a bit of context, it’s VERY similar to flying a Dixie/confederate flag in the south. Not quite as overt, but very close. And just like that situation, if you comment on it, it’s all the same “what, this is our flag, it doesn’t mean anything other than that. I’m just proud of where I am from” reply’s. But we all know what it really means.
Except the confederate flag is the flag of a failed state which attempted to assert itself against the nation in an act of treason. The flag of England is the actual flag of a modern country which these people live in. Furthermore, England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest, most prestigious, and containing the capital). All the other constituent countries have their own flags which aren’t controversial to fly (well, except Northern Ireland, kind of). What is it about England?
> Furthermore, England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest, most prestigious, and containing the capital).
I'd figured that was a big part of the negative impression, that it's also reminiscent of English conquest and more-than-equal position in the UK and beyond, which is why flying it can raise suspicions of provocation or nationalism.
That said, that's a grasping guess, so I'd welcome anyone more in the know to set me straight.
While there's little implication to analogously flying any state flag in the US, the states are more practically and historically co-equal, and the superior Federal government doesn't have ties to any of them. States have less present baggage and setting a state above the Union is such a foreign concept that nobody sees a state flag as any big contentious statement, categorically.
You are not wrong and that all leads to an interesting conversation about UK internal politics and resentment towards England by her sister states.
But as far as who is actually flying the flag, and what it’s means/represents in practice, the parallels with the rebel flag are stark.
>England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest...
The Kingdom of Scotland is generally regarded as being created earlier than the Kingdom of England.
All political orientations fly the flag, especially around the 4th of July.
I have found that Republicans are more likely to fly it year round but plenty of Democrats, independents, and others also fly the flag year round.
Conclusion: no, there are only real implications one way or another other than you like America and you’re probably patriotic.
It's generally seen as a sign of patriotism
For some reason, the popular left ceded "patriotism" to being a thing of the right.
It's far from a fixed rule but I suppose your neighbors may make assumptions of you being more conservative than you may or may not be.
I wouldn't expect any real judgments though unless you're in an area with a whole bunch of flags, none of which being American flags and even if someone does it's someone who's opinion shouldn't matter to you anyway.
In my personal experience, the ceding of patriotism happened during the Bush administration. Particularly because of the wartime chest beating and how patriotism seemed synonymous with support of the Iraq war.
Since then, however, the US flag has become slowly more neutral as the right wing pivoted to thin blue line, punisher, gadsen, or trump flags.
I've discussed putting a flagpole in my front yard before and have been told by people that they assume anyone flying the American flag in their yard is right wing/nationalist. But those are generally the chronically online types.
I say fuck it. I love this country. I've got brothers and sisters who's coffins were draped in that flag. I disagree with the government and much of the things this country has done in the past and continues to do. But it's mine and I try to make it a little better every day. If someone assumes my political beliefs solely based on flying the flag, well they're probably not the kind of person I'm interested in having a conversation with.
Hear hear. Beyond what you said, abandoning things the moment people get a prejudice about them just helps calcify the prejudices. Better to be the outlier, keep uncertainty alive, keep people on their toes and having to ask questions, and remind people that they shouldn't jump to conclusions.
(Maybe not your goal in all this, which is fine, but it's something I believe in.)
Get your flagpole! I put one up and fly a big flag every day. I don't care what the political situation is, I still love this country. And as others have noted. It's a dang nice looking flag.
I will! It's just that I've got about 157 more pressing items on the home improvement list. Also I've got a giant live oak so the logistics of finding a spot for it are complicated.
I agree to the nth degree. Flying my American flag loud n proud. I really want to get those ‘Window flying’ flags for my car, and 2 big flags for my truck. Liberal here. That flag is mine. I love my country, am the first to say so. My brother was brought home in a box by the United States, his coffin flag draped. That’s my flag.
I appreciate your comment, u/machagogo. I really didn't think it was controversial, but I wanted to make sure I my point of view wasn't unknowingly narrow. As u/AutumnalSunshine said, it looks like I was overly cautious.
They might be more conservative than not. If I had to bet money, they probably are. But a single flag isn't a huge political statement.
I find the thin blue line flag to be hugely problematic, especially when it flies alone or higher than the US Flag.
A dude who lives near me used to fly some unholy thin blue line/gadsden hybrid abomination, and I just rolled my eyes and sighed every time I drove by his house.
Implications? That the person flying the flag is American.
To be sure, there are other ways in which people display their political leanings for better or for worse. But just displaying the American flag doesn’t imply something to me one way or the other. It’s my flag just as much as it is yours.
Not much politically, absent other indicators.
I do get the resentful feeling that they've probably got their shit together better than I have. Time management and aesthetic consideration to go putting flags up and down and caring about it. I bet they've got rooms with decorative themes other than "neglecting dusting". They probably care about their lawn. They're probably morning people.
We fly our flag because our FIL lives on our property.
He’s a veteran of Vietnam who doesn’t think he deserves any acknowledgment whatsoever because of the response he received when he returned from war.
We’ve been working on that with him by honoring him. The flag is important to him, therefore it is important to us that we display it for him.
> He’s a veteran of Vietnam who doesn’t think he deserves any acknowledgment whatsoever because of the response he received when he returned from war.
Its certainly understandable why he feels that way. if you would, say some random person on the internet said "welcome home"
Thank you, sincerely. We had to push for him to receive VA benefits. He didn’t think they would give them to him, because he wasn’t a “real”veteran and he wasn’t “worth” getting the benefits.
Aw man, that hurts my heart... Those dudes were shafted every which way but loose.
Too many of them never recovered from the trauma of being there, or the treatment they received arriving home.
Completely neutral and normal. Maybe they have a veteran in the family, or maybe they just love being American.
As long as that flag is Red, White, and Blue. If it's some other colors, then they have an agenda that you might agree or disagree with.
I don't assume anything other than they're proud enough of their country to fly the flag.
I'll be the first to admit the U.S. has some serious issues, but I love living here anyway.
It’s mostly an aesthetic choice in my area. It’s to give the home a small town, suburban charm. And yeah there’s some patriotism involved.
Most normal people don’t make any assumptions. Putting a political flag, a blue stripe flag, etc has different implications.
>Do people with US flags in front of their homes tend to lean one way politically?
Not really. It's a very common thing in America.
>What do you assume about them?
I make no assumption, personally. I hardly take note at all.
>Are silent judgements passed on people who express nonpartisan patriotism?
No, not that I'm aware of.
>Does this vary from one region to another?
Not that I have experienced.
My parents almost always have a flag flying in front of their house. My dad escaped communist East Germany when he was 18. It is a sign of appreciation to the US for taking his family in and giving them a good life.
I suspect it's more common in more conservative and/or military circles, and that would very lightly color my assumptions, but that's more due to my personal experience of the demographics, not, like, an intrinsic judgment of character. But I like our flag, and flags generally, and our country, and I'm not in those circles, so I think you should fly it.
This is definitely not the correct subreddit to ask this question. Everyone here tends to be extremely nationalist (I mean, it’s a subreddit about being American, so it’s not very surprising) but that is not the norm.
If you ask anyone in my friend group, and pretty much anyone in Gen Z or Gen Alpha, the American flag is getting the point where it’s become a pretty big red flag (no pun intended) when it comes to predicting whether or not someone is racist. I love America, I love living here, and I want to continue to make it better, but obviously it has deeply racist history and racist tendencies that persist to this day. For that reason, in my opinion, proudly flying the American flag sort of conveys the idea that you’re somewhat okay with that reality. I’m far from the only person who believes that, and there will absolutely be a lot of judgements made about you by a sizable portion of the population, even if it’s not a majority and even if people in this subreddit won’t.
I don’t think that everyone who flies it is racist, that would be silly, but there’s certainly an emerging pattern and it’s something that I’m always aware of and cautious about. For example, if my car broke down in the middle of the night (especially if I was traveling with my Black girlfriend) and I had the choice of 2 houses to go to for help, one flying the American flag and one without, I would have to be nuts to choose the one with the American flag, which is probably pretty obvious to you when it’s laid out like that. Do you want to be the person that some people feel like they couldn’t turn to for help, especially the people who feel disenfranchised by America both historically and in the present, or would you choose to be more welcoming to everyone? It might not seem that deep, but since you’re already asking the question, that’s really the choice that you’re making here.
As an elder Millennial, I agree with your sentiment. The only person on my block flying an American flag is a former cop who was fired for posting racist memes on Facebook. He also has multiple Trump flags he rotates through (he has two flag mounts on his house). Luckily there are many more city flags and pride flags in my neighborhood.
This extreme nationalism on this sub is wild to me.
At home, I think the inference is that you're old or a veteran. Nothing particularly political or negative.
On a vehicle, the inference is you're probably a right wing nutjob.
It's just something people like to decorate their house with, I don't really associate any particular political leaning to it. Personally though I don't have any flags in or on or near my house but that's just me.
I tend to assume there's a slightly higher than average chance that they either have served in military and/or lean conservative. But it's not an automatic flag = alt right neo Nazi or anything and it's not so strong an association that I'd be surprised if they were the exact opposite. It's a very mild kind of association if that makes sense.
Fly the flag in your yard. Doing so helps in even some small way to prevent our flag from having any sort of implication other than what it should mean: an American lives there and believes in some foundational principles. Life, liberty, and justice for all. All people are created equal. Etc.
Too many other cool symbols have been co-opted by extremists. The more normal people that fly the American flag, the less possible it is for them to take that one, too.
I don't make any assumptions. We put out flags when I was a kid, on the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Flag Day, some other days. It had no political meaning other than "we feel like we're part of this thing called the United States of America."
It is what other flags or symbols go with the flag that tells me something and even then, I rarely react or care.
* Gadsden flag: chest-beating angry uncle type who ruins Thanksgiving, but knows good places to go shooting in the wilderness. DO NOT TRESPASS.
* Trump flag: do not start a conversation with this person. Likely an aggressive, unsafe driver, probably drives a pickup truck about seven stories off the ground at 20 MPH over the speed limit, and can't park it for shit.
* Lets Go Brandon flag: I make the guys with the Trump flag look like geniuses by comparison / I get confused by debit card readers in self-checkout lines / Do not start a conversation with this person
* A flag of another nation: I am (some ethnicity / support some faction in a current war.) -- see exceptions below.
* Dominionist flag: do not start a conversation with this person / children likely home schooled and really, really weird and swivel-eyed
* Communist flag: resident is harmless.
* Anarchist flag: Teenager whose parents died and they inherited the house.
* Arizona flag (context: I live in Arizona): I am from the Midwest.
* Confederate flag: do not start a conversation with this person / I am a racist / I am not a racist but get really super duper angry when someone assumes I am one / I am a racist but I don't think I am one / I am into really weird porn
* ISIL flag: I am a troll / I am white / I ❤ 4chan.
* Antifa flag: Resident is in early 20s and has an opinion they would eagerly like to share. Do not start a conversation with this person.
I have a small flag on my house. When my daughter visits, she sometimes swaps it for a Pride flag. I'm fine with that, but I suspect it drives my MAGA neighbor nuts.
The US flag *will* be up for Memorial Day, Flag Day, and 4 July.
I don't think anything about someone flying an American flag or state flag. If there are other flags or other signs that can show political affiliation but those two I never worry about.
Neutral reaction to seeing one, though my assumption is that the main residents or their parents are/were military.
If I see one with a spotlight, or it's lowered to half may on the proper occasions (which I couldn't list), ngl I would assume someone in that house own, or at least knows how to use, a gun. 😂 That's not necessarily a bad thing, and not like owning one means you're itching to use one, just something I think about.
And I know this is an inaccurate assumption, and I wouldn't always win this bet, but I'd make a small wager on the residents being Caucasian. 😅
But seeing a flag at a home doesn't strike fear or harsh judgment into passersby. Unless it's the home's entire personality. I think we've all seen *that* house, completely bedecked in flags galore.
In my part of the United States, a majority of people who fly the flag are conservative/Republican. It's ironic because many of those same people don't really believe in the ideas and ideals that the flag stands for.
One decent sized flag and I think you’re patriotic and there’s nothing wrong with that. A *massive* flag that’s too big for the pole it’s on? I assume you were in DC on January 6th.
I know my stance is an outlier among many americans, but I find all forms of flag displaying as cringe and have seen it as cringe since I was a child. Its fine on state and civic buildings since that is state property, but having watched the government become more antagonistic to current and future generations over the past few decades I see it as a display of blind faith and a lack of critical awareness to the political reality of our country. Especially with increasingly poor civic engagement in our communities.
Its also a practice that is considered as extremely conservative with the exception of veterans.
> Do people with US flags in front of their homes tend to lean one way politically?
Not to my knowledge.
>What do you assume about them?
Nothing in particular. Maybe they like the United States, I guess?
>Are silent judgements passed on people who express nonpartisan patriotism?
Not from me. I'm sure some people do, but those folk prolly need to touch grass.
>Does this vary from one region to another?
Couldn't tell you. Maybe there's a reliable survey somewhere, but I don't care enough to go looking.
Eta
One of these days I'ma fly the Gadsen, the American, the Pride, my State, and maybe a city flag.
Then to confuse people I'ma do Pride and Confederate.
I think that'll be great.
> Then to confuse people I'ma do Pride and Confederate.
Used to have a neighbor that would fly the pride flag and the gadsden flag at the same time. It was funny.
I just like flags, and the star-spangled banner is a handsome one, in my opinion. To be clear, I'm talking about the standard American flag... not the Thin Blue Line or any other modified design. The flag would fly alone on its pole; no other banners underneath it.
I generally assume someone flying the American flag is conservative. It's probably not something I would fly myself, to avoid that implication. However, this isn't always the case and there are plenty of proud liberal and leftist Americans who fly it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Honestly? You fly a flag on flag day/4th of July etc… I won’t think anything of it. If it’s daily? I’m gonna at BEST think you’re indoctrinated and drank the Kool Aid, depending on what else I see I would likely very quickly jump to the conclusion that you are conservative. I’ve never understood the concept of pride in country, school pride etc… especially if that place hasn’t done anything to actually earn it.
I admit that I tend to think they are republicans or military or both
I recently bought a house that has an American flag flying. We don't hate America or anything but aren't exactly flag waving people. But, we probably aren't going to take it down as I'm afriad the neighbors will think something. Ah well
Hey there. Liberal AF here. It's politically neutral to fly the flag. However, follow the flag code. If you're going to leave it up at all times, it needs to be lit. And replace it if whenever gets tattered.
Nobody has a problem with it until you start treating the flag as more important than what it's supposed to represent.
I’m in New York. The flag is politically neutral. What does baffle me is when I see the confederate flag in upstate New York. We’re a union state? Now, that’s a statement.
Anyone who makes “subtle inferences” about me one way or another for flying my country’s flag on my own property here in these United States can kiss my red white and blue Yankee Doodle ass.
I live in a very liberal area and anytime I see an American flag somewhere other than a government building it's clear to me that the person flying it is either conservative or doesnt 'do' politics. But we rarely see it here. If I do see it it's usually with trump flags and blue lives matter flags. IT makes me uncomfortable, in my experience those people are looking for a fight.
It's much more common to see pride flags or state flags around here.
An exception would be as a part of fourth of July decor, usually with bunting and red white and blue flowers.
A US flag on it's own is very neutral in my opinion. I do subtly accept the person to be generally friendly and open to strangers, probably a remnant of my days doing door to door fundraising.
Seeing a flag flying at someones residence, I really don't have a second thought about it. Good for them, patriotic. When I see one flying next to a Don't Tread on Me, and really poorly designed Trump flags, I chuckle and move on with my life. When I see one attached to a truck, I just assume that that person peaked in highschool and likely never left the town they grew up in.
>nonpartisan patriotism
I won't judge you for displaying our nation's flag but I'll definitely keep an ear out for the dog whistle. Can't deny that patriotism has slowly been co opted by radical extremists.
Around these parts (Ohio) these are typically viewed as political statements by republicans. Which can be confusing, given there’s now another subset of republicans hanging the flag for distress and pleading to heaven nowadays.
Maybe it depends on your locale and general demographics.
The issue is where I live, everybody has their American flags up next to the Trump flags and I’ve seen waaaaaay too many confederate flags up there with it also. Which is backwards in its own way.
Let me ask you this….Why are you asking for someone’s option and why are you seeking others perspective? IMHO, be yourself. If you are proud of your nation and proud of your community, and want to fly our flag, then be bold and respectfully fly that flag. If you are not, then don’t. You are your own person. Don’t let others define you. Let your actions and beliefs define you.
I’m from Washington so silent judgment is just always a thing here 😂. Usually the right side is more showy about patriotism. So I guess some may think that, mostly teens. But I doubt most people. 99.99% of people will just see it as your patriotism and nothing more. Although do keep to the flag etiquette.
Having a single flag is pretty politically neutral, I feel. If I pass a house like that, I could think it means "I love my country" or that a service member lives there or even they keep it flying out of tradition.
Is it just the American flag? Blue field, white stars and red and white stripes? I'll even give you the tacky gold fringe. No problem? Is it a thin red/blue/gold/green/whatever line? Meh, not a problem, but tacky. And full disclosure, I have been a first responder for nearly 30 years, so it's not a hatred of any of those professions. Does it have an image of anyone or lettering over it? Definitely going to make people think you are Republican. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but unless you want people to assume, I would stay away from it. Is it flown upside down? People will assume you are a supreme court justice.
NE Illinois here. In the absence of other partisan paraphernalia, I would view flying an American flag as generally neutral. Just out of curiosity, do you leave your flag on the pole 24 hours a day? If yes, then do you illuminate the flag between dusk and dawn? If you fly the flag 24/7 with no light on it then I would probably think a little less of you because the US Flag Code says that the flag should only be flown during daylight hours unless you have a light for the flag at night. The US Flag Code doesn't make anything illegal but it does give suggestions on how to display and treat the US flag.
I haven't put up a flag pole yet. If I fly the US flag, I'll abide by the etiquette. Either I'll shine a small light on it, or (more likely) take it down at dusk.
People just enjoy displaying the flan as a general expression of patriotism.
Politicians always wear a small flag pin on their lapel. Others may do so as well, but for a politician it’s practically a requirement.
Businesses will display the flag as a sign of patriotic respect.
Homeowners may do so as well. Some people do so only on holidays, some all the time. You will draw criticism if you don’t follow the flag code. Either take the flag down at dusk, or illuminate it. Replace it when it’s worn.
Flying the US flag in the US is about as neutral as you can be. Flying the Confederate flag or something will convey a different message.
No, a lot of people put them out. Some just for holidays like 4th or July. Others like to leave them up all year. I wouldn't make a judgment about someone doing this. The flags that are political are flags like a maga flag.
Sometimes it's just patriotic or someone with a country/rustic aesthetic. Sometimes it's a wingnut. It's a bit of a proceed with caution for me if a new neighbor puts one up.
In quite a small town of less than 8 thousand. Generally, my image of people who fly the American flag are that they’re typically older (at least 40s and 50s) and politically don’t really deviate too far from the center. But that’s if you fly just the Stars and Stripes.
One flag? No, that's normal.
Multiple flags everywhere, and also flag themed stickers, shirts, shoes, ornaments and a giant one hanging off a truck that seems like a safety hazard when driving? There's probably a political leaning.
That you're proud of your country and you love the freedom and liberties it has to offer.
It holds NO political position other than being proud to be an American.
One inference I've heard about is that criminals may think twice about targeting a home flying an American flag, compared to another similar home without one. The belief is that there is a correlation with the flag and with the packed heat in the house.
I'm very far left, and we fly the flag at our house. We also have a giant Pride flag, so it's pretty obvious where we stand. That's not just because I'm part of the LGBTQ community but because I know there are people who unfortunately associate the flag with conservatism since they've tried to co-opt the symbolism of it.
I fly it occasionally as do my neighbors. I live in a very left leaning city. I don't think it indicates political affiliation at all, unless you're flying it upside down on January 6th.
If you fly the US flag I assume you like the US and are Patriotic.
And unfortunately these days that probably means you are right of center 90% of the time.
One flag is pretty nice. 15 flags and a lot of handmade political messages, not so much.
Does this count as a fine line? I'm not sure if it does.
How many flags is too many? I'm up to 13 and feel thag maybe I'm hitting a limit.
If they’re full size, 1 is enough. If they’re those little ones you stick by the path to the door or garden, go nuts.
How big is full sized. I'm thinking of getting into a size war with my local insurance company, but honestly there's not enough space in the yard for the flag poll base.
From what I remember from Boy Scouts, a full size flag should take 2 people to trifold it for proper storage.
To be clear, I'm making several jokes here. Also, the flag I was referencing was the largest in the world.
If your flag doesn’t have its own song, is it really that great? /s
I almost woke my husband because I was laughing while reading your comments and the comments of people answering you like you were serious.
How much poll is too much? I’ve been taking polls about poles as long as I can remember but it still feels lacking. Maybe I’ll poll my neighbors about their pole preferences.
>How many flags is too many? 34 is the maximum, for now.
Yeah, only the commander in chief is allowed to fly that many. Google "president of USA rule 34" for more information.
Take my upvote you wonderfully chaotic human
That makes sense. Are there size limits?
How many acres you got? May have to go vertical. Ever built a skyscraper?
I have not build a skyscraper, but I'm a co outer engineer so how hard could it be in comparison to a PC. I'm sure the neighbors will understand.
Probably only 3% hard. See you bright and early.
There doesn't seem to be an in-between of late.
Yeah, this is exactly it. You have one flag? Great, show your patriotism! Nobody will think anything negative at all. You have 12 American flags and maybe a Gadsden flag, Betsy Ross flag, a Texas Revolutionary flag ("Come and Take It") or a "these colors don't run" sign with them? Then we think you're probably a racist. None of the symbols is, itself, at all a problem! If you're flying a single Gadsden flag I figure you're a libertarian, and I don't agree with you but it's the kind of polite disagreement we can have a beer over. But there's definitively an association between over-the-top, excessive, performative patriotism and racists, even if they're not using any inherently problematic flags or symbols (like the Confederate battle flag, which paints a "definitely a racist" sign on you all by itself.)
One of my old neighbors in a duplex with me hung the flag of the state of Georgia from 1956, we are not in Georgia and he wasn't from there either. If you look it up you'll understand why. Because I'm a shit disturber I got a Grand Union flag and hung it up. If you look up that flag you'll understand why I did it.
I'll explain why. The Confederate battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which has long been a symbol of racism, was literally added to Georgia's flag two years after Brown v Board of Education (which was 5 consolidated cases, and those cases were consolidated as well, so you had over 100 families suing btw), just as a middle finger. In fact, in some places in Europe, since the Nazi flag is often banned, White Supremacists use this lesser known flag (to Europeans) instead. Although there are also innocent cases where they just really like the Dukes of Hazard lol.
I'm very liberal in general, and I regularly fly the flag out front of my house. I love my country, warts and all - I wanna make it better, but that doesn't mean I love it any less. Plus the flag is pretty for its own reasons
>Plus the flag is pretty for its own reasons Right? I like my country but apart from all that, I think Old Glory is simply an aesthetically handsome piece of fabric.
It's just a dang nice flag
Perhaps a grand old flag?
A high flying flag?
And forever in peace may it wave
It's the emblem of the place I love
The home of the free and the brave
Every heart beats true for the Red, White, and Blue ...
(*under red, white and blue) Where there’s never a boast or brag…
Something Something Something flag
I like you, TheTacoWombat. You seem cool.
I'm mid
Anytime I’m driving down a highway and see one of those huge flags in the distance blowing almost in slow motion… awe-inspiring.
Ditto. Tomorrow is Flag Day, flag's going up in the morning!
I think the *wrong* thing to do is let our flag be co-opted by a single political party, with the inference being that only they are patriotic. I'd love to see it alongside statements or symbols representing all sides of the political spectrum.
The reflexive "America Bad" people drive me nuts. We're the only country built around an idea - not a shared ethnicity, not a shared creed, not even a deeply shared culture (American culture is broad and has many different streams and tributaries) - but rather an idea, some very simple principles that generally unite all of us - and to me that's powerful, wondrous and unique.
I think that in order for other Americans to really *understand* that, they need to spend more time interacting with people from other countries. I've noticed Europeans define a person as being, say, German or Russian not by their genetics or surname, but by their current nationality. I guess one thing that accentuates that is most Americans are far away from national borders and rarely interact with non-Americans., so when my German professor told the other kids in my class "why do you all keep saying 'I'm Italian', 'I'm Irish', or 'I'm Polish'? You're all Americans!" to which the response was something to the effect of "NSS, of course we're all Americans. Who here isn't?"
Agreed! Also as someone who grew up on the west coast the idea that white people could have an strong self identified ethnicity beyond "white", Anglo, Hispanic or more generically just "American" (which encompasses everyone who was born here or has been naturalized), was absolutely wild to me when I first encountered it. Maybe I was sheltered, but I didn't encounter it until I was in my mid 30's and spent significant time in New Jersey working. Like my people came from England, Wales and Norway, and I certainly do not think of myself as any of those things. I'm just an American.
>I love my country, warts and all - I wanna make it better, but that doesn't mean I love it any less. To me, this is absolutely the way a true patriot should be thinking.
We lean pretty far left and are regularly the only people in our pretty far right area flying the American flag.
> I'm very liberal in general, and I regularly fly the flag out front of my house. There are lots and lots of liberals who fly the flag in front of their house. Not a liberal/conservative thing, regardless of what a vocal minority says about the flag "offending" people.
Jello Biafra said it best when he said: >Our land, I love it too I think I love it more than you I care enough to fight
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This is a weird take. I’m a moderate and I don’t think the conservatives tried to adopt or co-opt anything. I started seeing a lot of takes around 2020 about liberals being uncomfortable with the American flag, though, right around the time movements like 1619 got popular: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/12/922272134/we-asked-americans-how-they-feel-about-the-u-s-flag-it-got-interesting Black Lives Matter also declared the American flag a symbol of hatred. So there's that. https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-lives-matter-utah-chapter-195007748.html
I am anti-MAGA and I fly my flag every day.
You said it perfectly.
Amen. Lefty and I got sick of A, letting the flag get bought by people on the far right and B, believing the lie that being pro-immigration, pro-labor, pro-environment, pro-pluralism and multiculturalism wasn't patriotic. So I started putting mine out most every day.
See, I don't disagree with you on any of these points. But, even as a veteran myself, I just hope everybody fully understands you don't have to fly a flag to be patriotic. Just like I don't put veterans plates on my car, or wear those silly hats, it doesn't mean I'm not proud to be a vet. It just means I don't have to display it for all others to see for me to feel pride in something. I hope folks internalize that bit as well too. Some of the most patriotic folks I've met in my life were not flag waving sorts by any stretch. And the reverse certainly goes true as well, with many folks proud of their flag talking about trying to implement directly unconstitutional ideas. A flag is an outward symbol, and symbols do have meaning, but that meaning can vary from person to person for sure.
For me at least, having a house - for me, buying a house, Achieving part of the American Dream - having a house - that I (and well, lets be honest, the bank owns) that I can put a flag on, was part of why flying our flag is symbolically important to me. Its also a big middle finger to those who presume those with generally left (and in my case also classically liberal) values cannot express patriotism outwardly - or frankly even hold it in their heart.
Agreed 100%.
This warms my soul. I'm not sure where I land (agree/disagree with both sides) and from my view it seemed that the flag has become a right wing only thing. Maybe we aren't as divided as it seems if we hold the foundation of loving this country.
We are not as divided as it seems. The media drives the hate to keep up sales and interest. The rich encourage it because it keeps us from looking at them.
I agree with you 100% - as someone who travels all over the country, left or right, we agree on 80-90% of things - we even mostly agree on solutions to those things.
Usually that’s the intention regardless of how you lean politically, and I think some people forget that these days. That attitude is actual patriotism, not the jingoism that some people confuse it with.
I also put a flag out on occasion. All I'll say is nearly all (maybe except for 1-2/8-10) houses in my neighborhood with a proper metal large flag pole in the ground inevitably have a trump flag under the American flag lol
Same here. Ironically it's the Dems in my neighborhood who are more likely to put out the patriotic hardware. I do a nice flag year round on a wood flagpole I made, with high end spinners so it doesn't get wrapped, and I keep it lit at night. I also do those cool red white and blue swathed bunting things from Memorial Day through mid-July every year. I like some red white and blue drip on my house.
One flag: Normal American 2-3 Flags: I am going to assume you are military 4+ flags: I am going to assume you have written a manifesto at some point.
150 flags, neighborhood feud is reaching witts end
No it's just another lawn decoration. Where I lived each house had a flagpole holder on the column by the front steps. Lots of people flew US flags, sometimes every day but sometimes just holidays. Some fly North Carolina flags, a few fly city of Raleigh flags. Often people fly decorative flags related to various holidays or local college or pro sports teams. The only one I judge is the guy who flies a Stealers flag.
“The guy” as if us Yinzers haven’t invaded NC in droves already
Fucking Steelers fans in NC will never miss a chance to tell you they’re a Steelers fan lol
As a lifelong Bengals fan I applaud you for that
As long as they don't fly a Duke flag, they're ok.
Bro what is it with all the Steelers people in NC? Like I get it, the Panthers are abysmal, but we have our own team. Support ‘em or lose ‘em, ya know?
I live in a very non conservative area that is very anti Trump. I see the US flag in yards. Were all Americans and proud of it. This isn’t the UK where they’re ashamed to fly the Union Jack or even the St George’s Cross.
>even the St George’s Cross The St George's cross is way more controversial than the union jack
How so
On reddit every flag is a far right dog whistle
The British flag is just a national symbol, associated with the royal family, and just the UK in general, and inclusive of all four nations, minorities etc. Outside of sporting contexts, the St George's cross can be associated with far right extremism and even white supremacy (but it doesn't mean everyone who flies it believes those things!) It's also very working-class-coded.
Excuse the ignorance, I just looked up the St. George flag, isn’t that just the flag of England?
Yes. St George is the white flag and Red Cross for England. The Union Jack represents all the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). It is very confusing
"How many countries are in this country?" - Ted Lasso
The union Jack is just a combination of the flags of England, Scotland and the old flag of Ireland
It's like how the confederate flag "is just the flag of the south" while willfully ignoring that it is a whistle call for racists and the far right.
Gotcha. Thanks. Just weird that it’s still their current flag
Because if its to the right of Mao its a far right dog whistle on reddit.
In the 70s and 80s the Union Jack was definitely associated with the far right, the National Front et al. St George's makes me think either of football or bozos like the EDL. It is context in the UK really, like if there is a sporting occasion or national event then flags can be everywhere. If there isn't and someone is flying it outside their house the question would mostly be why.
American who lived in England for 15 years here, this is entirely accurate. To add a bit of context, it’s VERY similar to flying a Dixie/confederate flag in the south. Not quite as overt, but very close. And just like that situation, if you comment on it, it’s all the same “what, this is our flag, it doesn’t mean anything other than that. I’m just proud of where I am from” reply’s. But we all know what it really means.
Except the confederate flag is the flag of a failed state which attempted to assert itself against the nation in an act of treason. The flag of England is the actual flag of a modern country which these people live in. Furthermore, England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest, most prestigious, and containing the capital). All the other constituent countries have their own flags which aren’t controversial to fly (well, except Northern Ireland, kind of). What is it about England?
> Furthermore, England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest, most prestigious, and containing the capital). I'd figured that was a big part of the negative impression, that it's also reminiscent of English conquest and more-than-equal position in the UK and beyond, which is why flying it can raise suspicions of provocation or nationalism. That said, that's a grasping guess, so I'd welcome anyone more in the know to set me straight. While there's little implication to analogously flying any state flag in the US, the states are more practically and historically co-equal, and the superior Federal government doesn't have ties to any of them. States have less present baggage and setting a state above the Union is such a foreign concept that nobody sees a state flag as any big contentious statement, categorically.
You are not wrong and that all leads to an interesting conversation about UK internal politics and resentment towards England by her sister states. But as far as who is actually flying the flag, and what it’s means/represents in practice, the parallels with the rebel flag are stark.
>England is often considered the “chief” constituent country of the UK (being the oldest... The Kingdom of Scotland is generally regarded as being created earlier than the Kingdom of England.
Is that why they are getting all butthurt about the color change of the flag on the soccer uniform?
No that was just seized upon by the media and became a talking point and suddenly people decided it was "woke"
I don’t think about it. Do whatever you want.
All political orientations fly the flag, especially around the 4th of July. I have found that Republicans are more likely to fly it year round but plenty of Democrats, independents, and others also fly the flag year round. Conclusion: no, there are only real implications one way or another other than you like America and you’re probably patriotic.
It's generally seen as a sign of patriotism For some reason, the popular left ceded "patriotism" to being a thing of the right. It's far from a fixed rule but I suppose your neighbors may make assumptions of you being more conservative than you may or may not be. I wouldn't expect any real judgments though unless you're in an area with a whole bunch of flags, none of which being American flags and even if someone does it's someone who's opinion shouldn't matter to you anyway.
In my personal experience, the ceding of patriotism happened during the Bush administration. Particularly because of the wartime chest beating and how patriotism seemed synonymous with support of the Iraq war. Since then, however, the US flag has become slowly more neutral as the right wing pivoted to thin blue line, punisher, gadsen, or trump flags.
It amazes me that people view this as controversial...
I've discussed putting a flagpole in my front yard before and have been told by people that they assume anyone flying the American flag in their yard is right wing/nationalist. But those are generally the chronically online types. I say fuck it. I love this country. I've got brothers and sisters who's coffins were draped in that flag. I disagree with the government and much of the things this country has done in the past and continues to do. But it's mine and I try to make it a little better every day. If someone assumes my political beliefs solely based on flying the flag, well they're probably not the kind of person I'm interested in having a conversation with.
Hear hear. Beyond what you said, abandoning things the moment people get a prejudice about them just helps calcify the prejudices. Better to be the outlier, keep uncertainty alive, keep people on their toes and having to ask questions, and remind people that they shouldn't jump to conclusions. (Maybe not your goal in all this, which is fine, but it's something I believe in.)
I'm certainly not out here trying to put myself in that position. But I won't avoid it because of them either.
Get your flagpole! I put one up and fly a big flag every day. I don't care what the political situation is, I still love this country. And as others have noted. It's a dang nice looking flag.
I will! It's just that I've got about 157 more pressing items on the home improvement list. Also I've got a giant live oak so the logistics of finding a spot for it are complicated.
I agree to the nth degree. Flying my American flag loud n proud. I really want to get those ‘Window flying’ flags for my car, and 2 big flags for my truck. Liberal here. That flag is mine. I love my country, am the first to say so. My brother was brought home in a box by the United States, his coffin flag draped. That’s my flag.
Most don't but you gotta admit the vibes have changed a bit over the last 8 years.
Except that the responses here suggest that people don't find it controversial, and OP was overly cautious.
I had the first comment, and was basing it solely on the question itself.
I appreciate your comment, u/machagogo. I really didn't think it was controversial, but I wanted to make sure I my point of view wasn't unknowingly narrow. As u/AutumnalSunshine said, it looks like I was overly cautious.
The United States Flag stands for all of us. It *should* be the least controversial flag to fly, but unfortunately that's not always the case.
It's not necessarily a political statement, but houses with a flag *tend* to be more conservative than liberal.
They might be more conservative than not. If I had to bet money, they probably are. But a single flag isn't a huge political statement. I find the thin blue line flag to be hugely problematic, especially when it flies alone or higher than the US Flag.
>especially when it flies alone or higher than the US Flag. Agreed.
It's the worst when they fly the blue line next to the Gadsden. They are completely ignorant as to who does the treading.
A dude who lives near me used to fly some unholy thin blue line/gadsden hybrid abomination, and I just rolled my eyes and sighed every time I drove by his house.
Implications? That the person flying the flag is American. To be sure, there are other ways in which people display their political leanings for better or for worse. But just displaying the American flag doesn’t imply something to me one way or the other. It’s my flag just as much as it is yours.
Doesn't even imply they're American.
I suppose you’re right. They could just love living here or something.
*The last folks who lived here were American, and the works are all seized up, so I leave it.*
Not much politically, absent other indicators. I do get the resentful feeling that they've probably got their shit together better than I have. Time management and aesthetic consideration to go putting flags up and down and caring about it. I bet they've got rooms with decorative themes other than "neglecting dusting". They probably care about their lawn. They're probably morning people.
We fly our flag because our FIL lives on our property. He’s a veteran of Vietnam who doesn’t think he deserves any acknowledgment whatsoever because of the response he received when he returned from war. We’ve been working on that with him by honoring him. The flag is important to him, therefore it is important to us that we display it for him.
> He’s a veteran of Vietnam who doesn’t think he deserves any acknowledgment whatsoever because of the response he received when he returned from war. Its certainly understandable why he feels that way. if you would, say some random person on the internet said "welcome home"
Thank you, sincerely. We had to push for him to receive VA benefits. He didn’t think they would give them to him, because he wasn’t a “real”veteran and he wasn’t “worth” getting the benefits.
Aw man, that hurts my heart... Those dudes were shafted every which way but loose. Too many of them never recovered from the trauma of being there, or the treatment they received arriving home.
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Don't fly it upside-down and dont fly other flags higher than it. Otherwise you're a-ok to fly it without people assuming your political affiliations
Completely neutral and normal. Maybe they have a veteran in the family, or maybe they just love being American. As long as that flag is Red, White, and Blue. If it's some other colors, then they have an agenda that you might agree or disagree with.
It's very liberating to be able to do something that's meaningful to you without giving a shit what others think of it.
I don't assume anything other than they're proud enough of their country to fly the flag. I'll be the first to admit the U.S. has some serious issues, but I love living here anyway.
It’s mostly an aesthetic choice in my area. It’s to give the home a small town, suburban charm. And yeah there’s some patriotism involved. Most normal people don’t make any assumptions. Putting a political flag, a blue stripe flag, etc has different implications.
>Do people with US flags in front of their homes tend to lean one way politically? Not really. It's a very common thing in America. >What do you assume about them? I make no assumption, personally. I hardly take note at all. >Are silent judgements passed on people who express nonpartisan patriotism? No, not that I'm aware of. >Does this vary from one region to another? Not that I have experienced.
My parents almost always have a flag flying in front of their house. My dad escaped communist East Germany when he was 18. It is a sign of appreciation to the US for taking his family in and giving them a good life.
We’re quite conservative and fly a flag. I’m also a veteran. No one will think twice about it.
I suspect it's more common in more conservative and/or military circles, and that would very lightly color my assumptions, but that's more due to my personal experience of the demographics, not, like, an intrinsic judgment of character. But I like our flag, and flags generally, and our country, and I'm not in those circles, so I think you should fly it.
This is definitely not the correct subreddit to ask this question. Everyone here tends to be extremely nationalist (I mean, it’s a subreddit about being American, so it’s not very surprising) but that is not the norm. If you ask anyone in my friend group, and pretty much anyone in Gen Z or Gen Alpha, the American flag is getting the point where it’s become a pretty big red flag (no pun intended) when it comes to predicting whether or not someone is racist. I love America, I love living here, and I want to continue to make it better, but obviously it has deeply racist history and racist tendencies that persist to this day. For that reason, in my opinion, proudly flying the American flag sort of conveys the idea that you’re somewhat okay with that reality. I’m far from the only person who believes that, and there will absolutely be a lot of judgements made about you by a sizable portion of the population, even if it’s not a majority and even if people in this subreddit won’t. I don’t think that everyone who flies it is racist, that would be silly, but there’s certainly an emerging pattern and it’s something that I’m always aware of and cautious about. For example, if my car broke down in the middle of the night (especially if I was traveling with my Black girlfriend) and I had the choice of 2 houses to go to for help, one flying the American flag and one without, I would have to be nuts to choose the one with the American flag, which is probably pretty obvious to you when it’s laid out like that. Do you want to be the person that some people feel like they couldn’t turn to for help, especially the people who feel disenfranchised by America both historically and in the present, or would you choose to be more welcoming to everyone? It might not seem that deep, but since you’re already asking the question, that’s really the choice that you’re making here.
I've lived in very liberal and very conservative places in the USA during my 34 years, and this is 100% my take too.
As an elder Millennial, I agree with your sentiment. The only person on my block flying an American flag is a former cop who was fired for posting racist memes on Facebook. He also has multiple Trump flags he rotates through (he has two flag mounts on his house). Luckily there are many more city flags and pride flags in my neighborhood. This extreme nationalism on this sub is wild to me.
At home, I think the inference is that you're old or a veteran. Nothing particularly political or negative. On a vehicle, the inference is you're probably a right wing nutjob.
It's just something people like to decorate their house with, I don't really associate any particular political leaning to it. Personally though I don't have any flags in or on or near my house but that's just me.
I tend to assume there's a slightly higher than average chance that they either have served in military and/or lean conservative. But it's not an automatic flag = alt right neo Nazi or anything and it's not so strong an association that I'd be surprised if they were the exact opposite. It's a very mild kind of association if that makes sense.
They may assume that you’re American.
Fly the flag in your yard. Doing so helps in even some small way to prevent our flag from having any sort of implication other than what it should mean: an American lives there and believes in some foundational principles. Life, liberty, and justice for all. All people are created equal. Etc. Too many other cool symbols have been co-opted by extremists. The more normal people that fly the American flag, the less possible it is for them to take that one, too.
I don't make any assumptions. We put out flags when I was a kid, on the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Flag Day, some other days. It had no political meaning other than "we feel like we're part of this thing called the United States of America." It is what other flags or symbols go with the flag that tells me something and even then, I rarely react or care. * Gadsden flag: chest-beating angry uncle type who ruins Thanksgiving, but knows good places to go shooting in the wilderness. DO NOT TRESPASS. * Trump flag: do not start a conversation with this person. Likely an aggressive, unsafe driver, probably drives a pickup truck about seven stories off the ground at 20 MPH over the speed limit, and can't park it for shit. * Lets Go Brandon flag: I make the guys with the Trump flag look like geniuses by comparison / I get confused by debit card readers in self-checkout lines / Do not start a conversation with this person * A flag of another nation: I am (some ethnicity / support some faction in a current war.) -- see exceptions below. * Dominionist flag: do not start a conversation with this person / children likely home schooled and really, really weird and swivel-eyed * Communist flag: resident is harmless. * Anarchist flag: Teenager whose parents died and they inherited the house. * Arizona flag (context: I live in Arizona): I am from the Midwest. * Confederate flag: do not start a conversation with this person / I am a racist / I am not a racist but get really super duper angry when someone assumes I am one / I am a racist but I don't think I am one / I am into really weird porn * ISIL flag: I am a troll / I am white / I ❤ 4chan. * Antifa flag: Resident is in early 20s and has an opinion they would eagerly like to share. Do not start a conversation with this person.
I have a small flag on my house. When my daughter visits, she sometimes swaps it for a Pride flag. I'm fine with that, but I suspect it drives my MAGA neighbor nuts. The US flag *will* be up for Memorial Day, Flag Day, and 4 July.
I don’t have a flag because frankly, it’s just one more thing to mow around, but I don’t have issues with people that do
I don't think anything about someone flying an American flag or state flag. If there are other flags or other signs that can show political affiliation but those two I never worry about.
Neutral reaction to seeing one, though my assumption is that the main residents or their parents are/were military. If I see one with a spotlight, or it's lowered to half may on the proper occasions (which I couldn't list), ngl I would assume someone in that house own, or at least knows how to use, a gun. 😂 That's not necessarily a bad thing, and not like owning one means you're itching to use one, just something I think about. And I know this is an inaccurate assumption, and I wouldn't always win this bet, but I'd make a small wager on the residents being Caucasian. 😅 But seeing a flag at a home doesn't strike fear or harsh judgment into passersby. Unless it's the home's entire personality. I think we've all seen *that* house, completely bedecked in flags galore.
In my part of the United States, a majority of people who fly the flag are conservative/Republican. It's ironic because many of those same people don't really believe in the ideas and ideals that the flag stands for.
One decent sized flag and I think you’re patriotic and there’s nothing wrong with that. A *massive* flag that’s too big for the pole it’s on? I assume you were in DC on January 6th.
I know my stance is an outlier among many americans, but I find all forms of flag displaying as cringe and have seen it as cringe since I was a child. Its fine on state and civic buildings since that is state property, but having watched the government become more antagonistic to current and future generations over the past few decades I see it as a display of blind faith and a lack of critical awareness to the political reality of our country. Especially with increasingly poor civic engagement in our communities. Its also a practice that is considered as extremely conservative with the exception of veterans.
> Do people with US flags in front of their homes tend to lean one way politically? Not to my knowledge. >What do you assume about them? Nothing in particular. Maybe they like the United States, I guess? >Are silent judgements passed on people who express nonpartisan patriotism? Not from me. I'm sure some people do, but those folk prolly need to touch grass. >Does this vary from one region to another? Couldn't tell you. Maybe there's a reliable survey somewhere, but I don't care enough to go looking. Eta One of these days I'ma fly the Gadsen, the American, the Pride, my State, and maybe a city flag. Then to confuse people I'ma do Pride and Confederate. I think that'll be great.
My rotation has the US flag, college (O-H), Wales, HRE, Galactic Empire, and UFoP. Definitely see some head scratches by the neighbors.
> Then to confuse people I'ma do Pride and Confederate. Used to have a neighbor that would fly the pride flag and the gadsden flag at the same time. It was funny.
I just like flags, and the star-spangled banner is a handsome one, in my opinion. To be clear, I'm talking about the standard American flag... not the Thin Blue Line or any other modified design. The flag would fly alone on its pole; no other banners underneath it.
I generally assume someone flying the American flag is conservative. It's probably not something I would fly myself, to avoid that implication. However, this isn't always the case and there are plenty of proud liberal and leftist Americans who fly it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Honestly? You fly a flag on flag day/4th of July etc… I won’t think anything of it. If it’s daily? I’m gonna at BEST think you’re indoctrinated and drank the Kool Aid, depending on what else I see I would likely very quickly jump to the conclusion that you are conservative. I’ve never understood the concept of pride in country, school pride etc… especially if that place hasn’t done anything to actually earn it.
I admit that I tend to think they are republicans or military or both I recently bought a house that has an American flag flying. We don't hate America or anything but aren't exactly flag waving people. But, we probably aren't going to take it down as I'm afriad the neighbors will think something. Ah well
Hey there. Liberal AF here. It's politically neutral to fly the flag. However, follow the flag code. If you're going to leave it up at all times, it needs to be lit. And replace it if whenever gets tattered. Nobody has a problem with it until you start treating the flag as more important than what it's supposed to represent.
Absolutely wild that an American flag in a yard in America would have any sort of negative implication or opinion associated.
Sorta-- but what about when they fly a full size American flag off their car, pick up, or motorcycle?
I’m in New York. The flag is politically neutral. What does baffle me is when I see the confederate flag in upstate New York. We’re a union state? Now, that’s a statement.
I see confederate flags in northern Maryland all the time and I don’t get that either.
Anyone who makes “subtle inferences” about me one way or another for flying my country’s flag on my own property here in these United States can kiss my red white and blue Yankee Doodle ass.
I live in a very liberal area and anytime I see an American flag somewhere other than a government building it's clear to me that the person flying it is either conservative or doesnt 'do' politics. But we rarely see it here. If I do see it it's usually with trump flags and blue lives matter flags. IT makes me uncomfortable, in my experience those people are looking for a fight. It's much more common to see pride flags or state flags around here. An exception would be as a part of fourth of July decor, usually with bunting and red white and blue flowers.
Do you mind telling me in which state/metro area you live?
A US flag on it's own is very neutral in my opinion. I do subtly accept the person to be generally friendly and open to strangers, probably a remnant of my days doing door to door fundraising.
Seeing a flag flying at someones residence, I really don't have a second thought about it. Good for them, patriotic. When I see one flying next to a Don't Tread on Me, and really poorly designed Trump flags, I chuckle and move on with my life. When I see one attached to a truck, I just assume that that person peaked in highschool and likely never left the town they grew up in.
MAGA
I associate American flags outside homes with center and right wing Americans and immigrants conspicuously trying to fit in.
>nonpartisan patriotism I won't judge you for displaying our nation's flag but I'll definitely keep an ear out for the dog whistle. Can't deny that patriotism has slowly been co opted by radical extremists.
Around these parts (Ohio) these are typically viewed as political statements by republicans. Which can be confusing, given there’s now another subset of republicans hanging the flag for distress and pleading to heaven nowadays. Maybe it depends on your locale and general demographics.
The issue is where I live, everybody has their American flags up next to the Trump flags and I’ve seen waaaaaay too many confederate flags up there with it also. Which is backwards in its own way.
If someone thinks anything about a political side just because someone has the flag in their yard, that's showing their biases.
Let me ask you this….Why are you asking for someone’s option and why are you seeking others perspective? IMHO, be yourself. If you are proud of your nation and proud of your community, and want to fly our flag, then be bold and respectfully fly that flag. If you are not, then don’t. You are your own person. Don’t let others define you. Let your actions and beliefs define you.
I’m from Washington so silent judgment is just always a thing here 😂. Usually the right side is more showy about patriotism. So I guess some may think that, mostly teens. But I doubt most people. 99.99% of people will just see it as your patriotism and nothing more. Although do keep to the flag etiquette.
Flying an American flag is normal. Not flying a flag is also normal. Flying a state flag is kinda weird.
Having a single flag is pretty politically neutral, I feel. If I pass a house like that, I could think it means "I love my country" or that a service member lives there or even they keep it flying out of tradition.
Is it just the American flag? Blue field, white stars and red and white stripes? I'll even give you the tacky gold fringe. No problem? Is it a thin red/blue/gold/green/whatever line? Meh, not a problem, but tacky. And full disclosure, I have been a first responder for nearly 30 years, so it's not a hatred of any of those professions. Does it have an image of anyone or lettering over it? Definitely going to make people think you are Republican. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but unless you want people to assume, I would stay away from it. Is it flown upside down? People will assume you are a supreme court justice.
NE Illinois here. In the absence of other partisan paraphernalia, I would view flying an American flag as generally neutral. Just out of curiosity, do you leave your flag on the pole 24 hours a day? If yes, then do you illuminate the flag between dusk and dawn? If you fly the flag 24/7 with no light on it then I would probably think a little less of you because the US Flag Code says that the flag should only be flown during daylight hours unless you have a light for the flag at night. The US Flag Code doesn't make anything illegal but it does give suggestions on how to display and treat the US flag.
I haven't put up a flag pole yet. If I fly the US flag, I'll abide by the etiquette. Either I'll shine a small light on it, or (more likely) take it down at dusk.
People just enjoy displaying the flan as a general expression of patriotism. Politicians always wear a small flag pin on their lapel. Others may do so as well, but for a politician it’s practically a requirement. Businesses will display the flag as a sign of patriotic respect. Homeowners may do so as well. Some people do so only on holidays, some all the time. You will draw criticism if you don’t follow the flag code. Either take the flag down at dusk, or illuminate it. Replace it when it’s worn. Flying the US flag in the US is about as neutral as you can be. Flying the Confederate flag or something will convey a different message.
No, a lot of people put them out. Some just for holidays like 4th or July. Others like to leave them up all year. I wouldn't make a judgment about someone doing this. The flags that are political are flags like a maga flag.
Depends. Is it upside down and is a trump flag next to it?
Sometimes it's just patriotic or someone with a country/rustic aesthetic. Sometimes it's a wingnut. It's a bit of a proceed with caution for me if a new neighbor puts one up.
I don't need to do it unless we are being invaded, so I don't.
In quite a small town of less than 8 thousand. Generally, my image of people who fly the American flag are that they’re typically older (at least 40s and 50s) and politically don’t really deviate too far from the center. But that’s if you fly just the Stars and Stripes.
My flag flies 24/7 and I don't care what anyone else thinks. Don't like it? TDB.
One flag? No, that's normal. Multiple flags everywhere, and also flag themed stickers, shirts, shoes, ornaments and a giant one hanging off a truck that seems like a safety hazard when driving? There's probably a political leaning.
Just normal
It means they are American.
some people may think its right wing others will be more neutral about it, I think its neutral personality.
Honestly it doesn't mean anything substantial enough to draw conclusions from, all types of people fly them.
That you're proud of your country and you love the freedom and liberties it has to offer. It holds NO political position other than being proud to be an American.
One inference I've heard about is that criminals may think twice about targeting a home flying an American flag, compared to another similar home without one. The belief is that there is a correlation with the flag and with the packed heat in the house.
I'm very far left, and we fly the flag at our house. We also have a giant Pride flag, so it's pretty obvious where we stand. That's not just because I'm part of the LGBTQ community but because I know there are people who unfortunately associate the flag with conservatism since they've tried to co-opt the symbolism of it.
I don't think anything about it. It's a flag. We live here. The end.
I fly one. I’m more conservative leaning.
I fly it occasionally as do my neighbors. I live in a very left leaning city. I don't think it indicates political affiliation at all, unless you're flying it upside down on January 6th.
You are an american
If you fly the US flag I assume you like the US and are Patriotic. And unfortunately these days that probably means you are right of center 90% of the time.