Do you respect your country's flag?

[SwimmingRock]

I don't see the point, to be honest. Maybe it's the fact I always hated my homeland and no longer live there, but I don't see any value in flags or nationality. Hell, I'm 24 and have yet to learn the national anthem of either my current or birth country.

Actually, I'd like to ask you (OP) why you think the flag is a 'sacred icon'. I get that it's the simple representation of your country, but why does that make the flag itself important? To clarify, I get why you'd look to the flag while singing the anthem, but not why the flag itself needs to be cared for. You can just get another one, right? Not trying to diss you or anything. I genuinely don't get it and would like an explanation.

My entire family's military (well on the American side). Three generations of my family lived and died for that flag. So naturally, we feel a little inclined to venerate it.

Right, but that's kind of my point. You respect what it stands for and the people who fought for it, but why the colourful cloth itself? Isn't the best way to show this appreciation to love and respect your country and the ideals they fought for rather than actual, physical flags? I don't get where ones feelings towards ones home are transferred to what, if Bill Hicks is to be believed, costs $4 at Walmart. I don't understand the connection patriotism -> reverence for an actual, individual flag.

 

[Queen Michael]

I don't see the point, to be honest. Maybe it's the fact I always hated my homeland and no longer live there, but I don't see any value in flags or nationality. Hell, I'm 24 and have yet to learn the national anthem of either my current or birth country.

Actually, I'd like to ask you (OP) why you think the flag is a 'sacred icon'. I get that it's the simple representation of your country, but why does that make the flag itself important? To clarify, I get why you'd look to the flag while singing the anthem, but not why the flag itself needs to be cared for. You can just get another one, right? Not trying to diss you or anything. I genuinely don't get it and would like an explanation.

My entire family's military (well on the American side). Three generations of my family lived and died for that flag. So naturally, we feel a little inclined to venerate it.

Surely you don't mean to say that you developed your respect for the flag because of that? Because that would imply that to in the beginning you didn't venerate it yet but still died for it.

 

[SwimmingRock]

I don't see the point, to be honest. Maybe it's the fact I always hated my homeland and no longer live there, but I don't see any value in flags or nationality. Hell, I'm 24 and have yet to learn the national anthem of either my current or birth country.

If you move to another country, you owe it to that nation to integrate with that culture.
Are you expected to know the national anthem?

I've never been asked or expected to sing it, if that's what you mean. As for the culture, I've integrated just fine and speak the language. I'm socially active, on the board of my student group, member of two dance groups and vote in local and national elections. I don't necessarily see national anthems as culturally relevant.

 

[Agayek]

Well, I do own an Irish flag, I'm a nationalist, and I'd say I respect it, yes. But I've never been one for symbolism, it is just some fabric, I try and respect what it represents, that is, Irish freedom and eventual peace, but I just keep it folded up and tucked away unless I need it. I have Palestinian and Basque flags too.

However, I doubt I'd be particularly happy if someone was to burn it, but it doesn't matter that much to me. It's all about what it means. That's what's important.

Still, if my one gets damaged, I'll just buy another one.

Basically this. I'm all for what the flag symbolizes, and I'd probably punch someone out if they tried to burn one in front of me, but I'm not gonna freak out if it's destroyed for whatever reason.

 

[lapan]

The flag is just a symbol, i do respect my ancestors though....at least those who deseverved it.

 

[Earthmonger]

I'm going to have to say no, but solely because flags (and borders) are meaningless to me. The whole planet is mine.

 

[Joe Deadman]

I kinda like the design but I wouldn't be overly angry if someone desecrated one.
I mean damn its not a relatives corpse or something its just a piece of cloth with a design printed on it.

 

[mrhappyface]

My entire family's military (well on the American side). Three generations of my family lived and died for that flag. So naturally, we feel a little inclined to venerate it.

Ah yes, but surely they died more for the idea, then the flag itself?

True, but the Statue of Liberty, the Declaration of Independence, AND the American Flag all stand for liberty and justice for all, no? They are all equally important in my opinion.

 

[Sneaklemming]

Flags are simply symbols

 

[FinalGamer]

I don´t actually own a full flag of my country, but I am proud of my nation of Scotland, of my flag that is St. Andrew´s Cross, not for its religious meaning, but for the history this nation has had and the many things we gave to the world.

 

[Allan53]

Personally, I think people get too stuck on the flag. It is, fundamentally, a piece of cloth with a pattern on it.

That said, I'm individualistic to a fault, and don't place much importance on the country as a country. It's just a piece of land with a group of people living on it, no more or less important then any other.

 

[WolfThomas]

Well as an Australian republican, I don't like our flag, but I do respect it for it's history, good and bad.

So yeah it's the Southern Cross (Eureka Flag) flying at my house.

 

[DethVanXan]

I feel very patriotic, but also betrayed by my country. It was made very clear to us that we (white people) were not welcome. Had we stayed, it is likely that we would have been kicked off our land or killed and then have out land taken. But I still have the flag hanging in my room and feel terrible sorrow seeing my country fall apart.
I keep the flag to remind me who I am, but I do not feel that it itself is precious. It's just cloth, but what it stands for (Or used to stand for) is what makes it special.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Well, some extremists in Afghanistan burned the swedish flag because they thought we should had done something about Dennmarks media for releasing a picture-contest of Muhammed. Twice.

I didn't get offended, I was laughing my ass of. xD

Why do we get all the flack for being indifferent anyway?

You'd think they learned that after WW2.

 

[ethaninja]

No. Not until Australia becomes worthy of my respect.

 

[KILLERTHING]

Not in the slightest
I really dont like the scottish flag or the UK flags

 

[Jaqen Hghar]

I wave it around when our Independence Day is (which is 17th of May, 'cause I'm from awesome frikkin' Norway! )
But respecting the flag? Come on. I'll echo what a lot of posters have said: I don't respect the flag, I respect the idea's behind it. Which in Norway's case, like many other flags, is freedom.
I think Bill Hicks said it the best:

"Hey buddy, my daddy died for that flag."

"Really? I bought mine. Yeah, they sell 'em at K-Mart."

"He died in Korea!"

"Wow, what a coincidence. Mine was made in Korea."

No one - and I repeat, no one - has ever died for a flag. See, a flag is just a piece of cloth. They may have died for freedom, which is also the freedom to burn the fuckin' flag.