I found these stickers on my walk home yesterday evening -- an interesting, and encouraging, response to the right-wing, anti-immigrant demonstrations that occurred over the weekend! That flag is the St. George Cross, the national flag of England, and it's often waved by anti-immigrant demonstrators (remember the "Send Them Home" guy in Blackpool?). I like the idea of reclaiming it for everyone.
Flags are weird things, aren't they? A scrap of cloth, and yet a powerful symbol -- and a lot of us disagree about what's being symbolized. I'd argue that the American flag symbolizes rights of expression that could include, ironically, burning the American flag. And yet a lot of people think it symbolizes pride, and that burning it somehow contradicts or offends its message. (Not that I'm about to burn a flag. I'm just using that as an example.)
I've never been a flag-waver. I think I've hung a national flag exactly once, and that was in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Like a lot of my neighbors, I put one in my apartment window in New York as a symbol of unity and recovery. Oh, and I waved the British flag at our citizenship ceremony, with all the other immigrants!
Speaking of which, I applied for my first British passport last night. I'm hoping to get it in time for Tenerife at Thanksgiving. According to the Home Office web site that shouldn't be a problem, though they're making me jump through some hoops -- like I once again have to find someone of professional authority to verify that my picture is in fact me, even though I just jumped this same hurdle for my citizenship application. It's not a big deal -- I can get someone at work to do it easily enough -- but it seems a silly requirement. Don't they have my picture on file in some big computer? Can't they just look at that and see that the passport photo is authentic?
Here are some more stickers and signs I've found posted in recent weeks. Bureaucracy makes me a grumpy cat.
I would like to have seen "an exhibition of giant backlit SX-70 Polaroids," but alas, it was two years ago. The homage to one of my favorite movies was eye-catching, though.
There are several places in the world where kindness is not on display -- Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen -- and Gaza is definitely among them.
Can you stand another garden cam video? More good shots of the fox and our regular visiting cats. At 2:02, the fox appears very agitated and moving fast -- I'm not sure what that was about. Maybe it had a scary encounter with some other animal. And at 2:17, I'm mowing the lawn, so be ready for some engine noise! I was surprised the cats were out wandering around in the rain. I thought cats hated water?
I am not a flag waver, though I did have a small Ukrainian flag and a small Australian flag in the pot plant on my front porch for the first year of that war, then the weather decimated the flags and I haven't replaced them. I had a small Ukrainain flag with the words I stand with Ukraine stuck to my mailbox, but someone ripped it off and stomped on it, I could see the tread marks from the shoes.
ReplyDeleteWow!
DeleteOh dear! Mowing the grass in flip flops is foolhardy Steve. Take my advice and wear steel toe-capped boots or shoes in future. After all, if you lost your toes your walking days would be over and every night you would be torturing yourself with "if onlys": "If only I had taken Wise Pudding's advice. Oh woe is me!"
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you, YP, on the flip flops. On the other hand, correct me if I am wrong, who climbs ladders to clean out the gutters? Presumably with a safety net to catch you.
DeleteWhat does surprise me that you didn't respond to Steve ruminating on flags since - as sure as high water - every so often one of your quizzes will be about flags. What's the fascination?
U
Yeah, you're right about the flip-flops. I should have worn shoes, at least.
DeleteKindness seems to be in short supply everywhere these days. I thought, during the pandemic, that people were becoming more kind and tolerant but I was sorely mistaken.
ReplyDeleteI think too much of our interaction is virtual, where it's too easy to be mean.
DeleteI’ve never been a flag waver. Even the flags on everyone’s car antennas made me uncomfortable after 9/11. It made me worry about the America First mentality. I enjoy your garden cam videos. So many beautiful animals. And so exciting to see the rare Blue-shirted Stevie emerge around 2:17!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the post-9/11 concerns. I also became worried about America-first in short order, especially when George W. Bush began beating the war drums.
DeleteSteve, the only flag I wave is the white one.
ReplyDeleteU
Surrender is not our only option! :)
DeleteFlags flying from flag poles stating a common good is perhaps what should be there, not draped around people. Cats and fox seem to get on well together in the video, the path proving an interesting place to wander through.
ReplyDeleteExactly -- a flag indicating unity is one thing, but too often they are used as symbols of aggression or intimidation.
DeleteIt's always entertaining to see garden video and the foxes are quite lovely. I know some people deplore them, but we have taken over their habitats. Fox paths are traditional.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed at how well foxes can survive in urban environments. It really is pretty remarkable.
DeleteThere may have been a time in the past when I might of waved an Australian flag, but not now. Flag waving has become so loaded in Australia, and no longer acceptable in decent society.
ReplyDeleteYou were mowing the lawn in flip flops? My lawn was very neat and perfectly smooth when I mowed the lawn in sneakers. somehow a wheel went up onto a raised rock surface or something. It was forty plus years ago, and I can't remember the detail now, but the mower came down on my foot and took off my right big toenail. It resulted in a trip to emergency at a hospital.
You know, I did consider whether or not to wear my flip-flops, but it seemed safe enough since the mower is "way up there" and my feet are "way back here." But after your story, I'll think twice!
DeleteBureaucracy is the thing in life that makes me the craziest; nothing is ever simple.
ReplyDeleteAs for the flag, I find it ironic that the people who are anti-flag burning are the same ones who wear flag bikinis and shirts and shorts and overalls.
They don't get it.
The NYT, I think, had an article about wearing the flag the other day, and whether or not it's ever appropriate. My great-grandmother had an apron made from an old flag!
DeleteI don't go in for flag waving, except one day after 9.11, to defy the terrorists. And now I occasionally post a flag on my blog to reclaim it from the right wing. I've been posting flags and memes in support of Ukraine daily since the Russian invasion.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading about freedom of speech and how it works both ways, interesting and sobering thought.
You make me want a camera to spot the comings and goings on my deck. We have foxes and the occasional coyote and there's one local wandering cat. I wonder who comes out at night.
Yes, freedom of speech works in all directions, for better or worse. I like the idea of reclaiming the flag -- the same impulse that drove the posting of those stickers in my top photo. The cameras are a lot of fun!
DeleteFlags have reasons- like in the tale "Not Without My Daughter" when she finally escapes to see the american flag waving , safety and home in that building. As for pride, the only flag is rainbow, otherwise it gets weird... complicated. Scrap of cloth becomes a reason to be an asshole. Looks like the UK is going down the dumb amercan path.-the horror of the orange visit "Welcome, Fascist autocrat". Dignity fallen into theater to save the UK from ridiculous tariffs. A humiliating moment for the KING. No balls.
ReplyDeleteI think the UK is trying to build bridges -- to avoid more tariffs, for one thing. It may be humiliating but it's also practical.
DeleteMike likes to hang the US flag on patriotic holidays because "dammit, it's our flag too!" We REALLY need to get our passports renewed. I think they have officially expired now (last month maybe?). I'll work on that this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good attitude about the flag. Why should be relinquish it to the right-wing maniacs?
DeleteI have never once in my life flown an American flag that i can recall. Although I did participate in flag ceremonies in Girl Scouts. I don't have one ounce of patriotism in me as far as I can tell. I've never understood Americans' constant need to fly flags. We KNOW we live here. Right? Born here entirely by fate. It's like being born into a religion and believing that it's the one true one while if we were born into another, we'd believe in that one. As a device to identify nationalities of ships at sea or something like that, they're pretty handy I guess.
ReplyDeleteI've never felt very patriotic either. The idea of dying for my country seemed insane. Remember Barbara Frietchie? "Shoot if you must this old gray head, but spare our country's flag, she said!" I always thought she was nuts.
DeleteWe have a flag that we generally put out for Memorial Day or Veteran's Day or July 4th when we remember but never during Trump's 1st term or this one. MAGAts have fetishized the flag and turned it into a golden calf. Ironically burning the flag is one of the proscribed ways to destroy an old tattered flag which are not supposed to be flown when they get like that. It's weird some of the place that choose to fly the flag all the time. Like car dealerships. Always giant flags.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if the flag has become so fetishized because so many MAGA types are ex-military. I remember being taught that burning a flag was respectful, but there's a special way to do it ceremonially, as opposed to just lighting it on fire like a protester would.
DeleteAnd yeah, what is up with car dealers and gigantic flags?!
DeleteThat exhibition sounds interesting. Too bad it was so long ago. I always love seeing the wildlife activity in your back garden. I find it fascinating in such a big city.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wish I'd seen that poster much earlier!
DeleteSome countries are flag wavers. I remember at school someone raised the flag every morning. I was always proud when it was my turn to put up the flag.
ReplyDeleteWe said the Pledge of Allegiance, too. Did you have to say something similar in Canada? Is there such a thing?
DeleteI carry a small flag when I go to protests now and I have noticed many others carrying the flag there also. Just taking it back from the MAGAs and saying this is our country, too. Also, I agree - don't mow in flip flops. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a good idea -- reclaiming the flag. As Dana said, it represents ALL of us! Yeah, the flip-flop thing is a good call.
DeleteWhen I was growing up, we spent summer holidays in Denmark where almost every holiday house has a small Danish flag out on a flag post and this was the first time for me to see flags on display by ordinary people. Most people in Germany were flag shy. For reasons, history etc. Still are. If I see a German flag here - apart from an official display - it is either a soccer fan during an international competition or someone with a right wing agenda. Yesterday, I was stuck behind a car with a German flag sticker next to a sticker of the US confederate flag.
ReplyDeleteWe have an Irish flag folded up somewhere, a gift from the Irish embassy. But I have never owned or held or displayed a German flag for any reason.
I am confounded that someone in Germany is driving around with a Confederate flag on their car. That is just mind-blowing.
DeleteI used to have stronger feelings about the flag growing up than I do now. Back then, we were taught to never let it touch the ground, that is wasn't to be worn as a piece of clothing and other such rules of respect. Now athletes wear them as shawls after events, they can often be seen touching the ground, and oh yeah, people burn them in protest. For me, the flag lost its reverence when people stopped respecting it. I will never disrespect one but I no longer bat an eyelid when someone else does.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like many of those flag rules have fallen by the wayside. I also remember the one about never letting it touch the ground. The other day I was moving two big flagpoles in the library and I was making sure the flags stayed off the carpet!
DeleteBecause of this country‘s history, Germans in general are rather reluctant about displays of patriotism such as waving the black-red-gold flag. It‘s become a bit more relaxed over the last 20 years or so, but still far from what goes on in other countries. When we were kids and visited our aunt in Denmark, we found it very strange that every house had a flag pole in the garden and they did indeed fly the Danish flag.
ReplyDeleteThanks for another video of that beautiful fox! Cats aren‘t keen on rain and even less so on wind, but they are alright when they‘re only out for a little and want to check on their territory or get from A to B.
I wonder where those cats live. It must be nearby, but I have no idea who around us owns cats.
DeleteI've never been a flag waver and definitely not now. When John and I go to protests though, I'm glad to see people with it--just to show that we are also Americans and would like to feel proud of our country. (instead of ashamed, angry and terrified) You've been lectured enough about the lawn mowing in flip flops so I'll leave that alone. LOL
ReplyDeleteI never expected to get so much attention or criticism for my mowing footwear! LOL
DeleteMy dad and uncles were all WWII veterans, so we always put out a flag on certain holidays, I've been waiting to see which city is going to be the first to start flying their American flag upside down!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised someone hasn't done it already. Maybe San Francisco?
DeleteDefinitely "toe tectors" ( protectors) for gardening...
ReplyDeleteOr just shoes would have been smart! LOL
DeleteI have never been a flag waver either. When I taught, I would do a lesson on flags and we'd discuss the emotions behind flags and the symbols on flags and their meanings. Then I would have the students design their own "new" American flag. They had to describe what the flag meant and what symbolism they used. I would get some very creative designs.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's an interesting idea. I'm surprised some parents didn't object that you were trying to do away with tradition! Everybody is so prickly about these things now.
DeleteToday, flags invoke people, not always in a good way.
ReplyDeleteTimes change. Long ago, many American schools had a flag in each home room classroom, and it was standard to "pledge allegiance..." followed by repeating the "Lord's Prayer." I have to wonder if this helped unify people toward common good.
Or did it discriminate and provide more division than unification. That said, there could not possibly be more division than there is today.
I have little patience for bureaucracy. Today the process for getting anything done seems full of inefficiency.
From what I remember about the "Pledge of Allegiance," it was just something we said. I'm not sure I ever put much thought into it, though obviously I was aware of the general meaning. In later years I would skip the phrase "Under God," which was added belatedly in the 1950s. We never said the Lord's Prayer -- too religious in the post-Madalyn Murray O'Hair years!
DeleteFlags ARE weird, but they're perfect for provoking emotional reactions; as your examples suggest, they can both reinforce or challenge the predominant ideology.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that they're such a powerful symbol. I guess there's not much else that evokes the essence of nationhood so directly.
Delete