Posted by alexandra_k on July 8, 2005, at 22:47:18
In reply to Re: stealing a flag-what does it mean? » smokeymadison, posted by Tamar on July 8, 2005, at 20:48:18
A lot out people (outside the US) aren't so keen on the US flag. Americans seem to really display their flag as a sign of patriotism. But not just at home... I think some people outside the US see such things as
Flags in space...
Flags in Iraq...
As more of a conquering gesture.A while back someone was talking about getting a US flag for someone (from a different country) as a gift. I was really suprised at the very idea of that. Why on earth would a non-american want an american flag????? But maybe americans feel differently about flags in general... I dunno. How would people feel if I came for a visit and gave you a NZ flag? What on earth would you do with it?????
In NZ (and also in other parts of the world, I suppose) it is illegal to burn a flag. I mean, in NZ it is illegal to burn a NZ flag. I don't know whether someone would be prosecuted for burning an American flag in NZ. Do you get prosecuted for burning an American flag in the US? How about another countries flag?
A little while back someone shot holes in a NZ flag. As part of a Maori protest where they were saying they didn't recognise our government / laws etc as authoratative. They were going to prosecute... But he didn't burn it and apparantly the law isn't so clear on shooting it... and given that it was part of a (fairly) peaceful protest they let it go.
Stealing a flag...
Well... Maybe thats a commentry on why they think the person thought enough of the flag so as to display it. I mean if the Vietnam war is going on and the country is divided because some people support the war and others oppose it... And if someone displays the flag round about then then I guess it would be natural for that to be taken as a show of support for the countries policy on the war. To steal that display would be to try and undermine that show of support. Kind of like ripping down your least favoured political parites advertising pre-election.
Maybe later she felt guilty because she is an American too, and (presumably) the flag isn't just about that...
All thats just my opinion.
I'm rather ill informed on stuff like this.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:524948
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050708/msgs/525261.html