CrimsonPermanentAssurance
24840
1026
36
Mar 9, 2026 7:01 AM
CrimsonPermanentAssurance
24840
1026
36
berlinson
Applies to the UK and Germany for sure.
DocWino
Wasn’t always like that. I have a flag themed spinner flag on my cattrike, I’m almost embarrassed to use but it’s my favorite trike flag.
CoconutGoddes
Have you ever been to Russia?
Mountons
Definitely Canada too, since the racist fake trucker rally at least.
HelpfulCorn
Used to be we could all wear our Old Navy flag T shirts on the 4th of July. Now it's the province of MAGATs
Tjitso
They call it patriotic (not just in the USA btw) but it's actually racism.
TyPfhhv
Waving the 1994 South African flag in 2026 = a love and pride for people and country. Waving the pre 1994 South African flag in 2026 = racist "apartheid lover"
Elkku
Wearing your flag and saying you are better than other countries, kinda has baked in idea of you being better than others..
supervillin
"Wearing your flag and saying you are better than other countries" is bad, sure, but in a fictional future USA where we restored and expanded aid programs and actually helped the world again? I'd fly that flag to show support of our govt's actions, doesn't have to be a country comparison thing.
formaples3152
#1 low iq individuals are patriotic. Usually, low iq individuals are racists. Most of the time, the demographics overlap
HappyTimeHollis
Nope, Australia *very much* fits that description as well.
To the point that one of our biggest retailers decided one year that they weren't gonna sell flag-themed merchandise for Australia Day.
Username62611
Yeah my cousin got a southern cross tattoo and...yeah, we're not close. I think he's pretty fucked up on ice these days
Eyeetsass
Flag people are just as creepy as crucifix people. The need to broadcast the malware you’re running is one of the little gifts that the rest of us really appreciate as we decide whether or not to piss on a person that is on fire.
Roqinn
Just had a neighbor move in to the apartment next to me. His big ass lifted black pickup has "Don't Tread On Me" and the American flag on it. I automatically suspected he's a Trumptard.
Dannyalcatraz
I’m an Army brat who was in Scouting for a while. I have an American flag tie & American flag cufflinks. I had a t-shirt with an American eagle & flag design. I even own a Jon Kammerer guitar with a 13 colonies flag motif.
I love my country.
But MAGA’s ascendancy has bumped the tie & cufflinks from being worn. The t-shirt wasn’t replaced when it wore out. My red Texas Rangers hat only gets worn in my backyard. And I barely even wear the red/white/navy color combination anymore.
Nanntuckett
My birthday is Independence Day, so my family (despite years of asking not to) always gets me American flag shirts and merch. I don’t wear them in fear of being seen as a conservative racist. I still love my country, but in the way of trying to save it and not blind patriotism.
CrimsonPermanentAssurance
Politely steer them towards fireworks in a folksy sort of way
IGotMyDreamJobProgrammingGames
I agree but Ron Perlman didn't tweet this. Why do people have to make these fake quotes?
DonaldTrumpsFlaccidHairpiece
You know how far I had to come down to find this? I couldn't find the tweet anywhere and was like "Surely, someone pointed out that it's fake" and you were the only one. I hate that people seem to fall for this kinda shit just because they agree with it :/
IGotMyDreamJobProgrammingGames
Yeah I scrolled through the comments and was surprised no one said anything. I hate these fake tweets. I never trust them. Same goes for the MANY tweets supposedly by George Takei
Hexrowe
To be fair, whenever I see anybody outside international sporting events wearing ANY national flag my first instinct is that they're probably some kinda asshole.
Hexrowe
PS. Including the flag of Finland, and I'm Finnish.
Kargathia
In the Netherlands, the Dutch flag just means it's football season. The old flag (orange, white, blue) is the racist one.
OfallthestupididioticWTF
The overlap between stupid, racist, and never read the US flag code isn't a ven diagram it's a fucking circle
Basically rule 1. Never soil the flag or let it touch the ground (equals surrender)...
Guess what happens to clothes you wear
HandFireWeapon
"We has symbol of pride and code of symbol of pride to follow" is a very silly thing.
jeejeejerrycotton
The flag code is the basis of being able to do whatever the fuck you want with things that slightly resemble the flag but aren't actually the flag.
2074red2074
So are you stupid or just never read the flag code? The flag code applies literally to THE FLAG. A shirt or pair of pants with a pattern on it that reminds you of the flag is not THE FLAG. Also the flag code isn't law and you can legally wipe your ass on the flag if you want, as long as it's a flag that you own or the owner said you could. Maybe not if you're in the military, idk how that works.
Kosjir
I believe that in part the point they were trying to make comes from a debate over a specific article of the flag code.
Specifically line one of Section 8 Article D which states, "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery".
While most people take this very literally to mean the flag itself shouldn't be used as these items, others have argued that what it means is that these things should never be made to resemble or have the image of the flag to not disrespect it.
2074red2074
If that was intended, then it would say "flag-like patterns" instead of "the flag".
Kosjir
I don't disagree with you at all. I was just trying to point out the reason behind people arguing over images of the flag being on clothes. The misinterpretation of this particular article is one of those "facts" that people pick up on the net at some point and keep in the back of their mind in case they ever need it, but never bother to actually look into themselves.
dripstone
According to the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. §8(d)), the flag should not be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. While the code restricts using the flag for clothing, it is not legally enforced due to First Amendment protections. Patches are allowed, but the flag itself should not be converted into clothing.
sfrinlan
That's what I always thought and was taught. It's not appropriate to make the flag into "things". You can wave the flag at a Veteran's Day parade or similar, but it's mostly for flying outside government buildings to indicate that they're government buildings. The government isn't supposed to be a thing who's team you're on or not on. It's just us, coming to agreements on how to manage our society. Or, at least, that's how it's supposed to go.
WigglyBlondeNoodle
My understanding of the flag code was that it provides guidelines on handling literal flags. It does not apply to clothing or other merch with the flag printed on it. For example, the flag code does not allow you to cut up a flag to make a backpack but the flag code doesn't apply to a backpack that has a flag embroidered on it.
dripstone
semantics if you ask me...
laserfork
Canada also since Trump 1. Our pro-Trump types with their qanon stickers and their obstruction convoy were recognized by the dozens of Canadian flags their vehicles would be festooned with. Nationalists around the world have been emboldened and are pursuing fascism in their respective nations.
ThisGuyPostingThings
Yeah, I remember times driving with my roommate and we'd see flags and go "aw", then the convoy hit and it just made us wary, at best.
mikeatike
Canada usually puts their name on scientific and technology achievements, which i think is lovely. Canadaarm/2, CANDU reactor, Canola oil. If your gonna be proud of something, be proud of this.
The US used to be this way, I duno where we went wrong.
HeyThatsMyFetish
+1 for using the word festooned.
ICountFrom0
Discworld:
'Well, NO, Clive,’ said the captain, looking embarrassed. 'I’d be very worried if I saw a man singing the national anthem and waving the flag, sir. It’s really a thing foreigners do.’
'Really? Why?’
'WE don’t need to show WE’RE patriotic, sir. I mean, this is Ankh-Morpork. We don’t have to make a big fuss about being the best, sir. We just KNOW.’
Skuggen
That quote jumped into my mind as well, though it doesn't really fit the context all that well.
Hexrowe
Yeah, it's really illustrating a rather more British attitude. But still.
(GNU Terry Pratchett)
KoalaOnTheJuice
Not just the US. Racists always jangle their countries flags through their own muck.
tinyfootprints
The USA has more flags on display than any other country I know of. It's like they need to remind themselves of where they are. And they force their kids to pledge their allegiance to that flag instead of courting their allegiance. The USA is messed up.
GOAE
It's actually kind of amazing how effective propaganda and shaming can be. If you can step away from American propaganda, you realize how objectively weird the pledge of allegiance is; indoctrinating kids to be blindly loyal to a country before they can even vote. But because politicians frame anyone against the pledge of allegiance as unamerican, they are effectively shaming the entire nation into supporting it despite how it's something you'd expect Russia, North Korea, or China to do.
GOAE
America has long thought ourselves better than the likes of Russia, North Korea, and China; countries we label as undemocratic. Yet we repeat their very same propaganda, just with different wording, and because it's our version it somehow becomes completely okay.
ShaggaLikesAxes1
I remember growing up in the 90s and not seeing the flag quite as much. Then after 2001 they were everywhere.
tinyfootprints
I grew up in the 50s. USA was already over the top with flags then, and, yeah, after 9/11, it got even more flags.
InfocalypseRising
What's the quote? "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel?"
Username62611
According to Samuel Johnson. According to Lisa Simpson, prayer is.
textilelover
Well, the US is doing it's best to conflate the two, soooo...yay us!! ugh.
BenderRodriguz1010
It's true. If you're super patriotic or fly the flag and it's not upside down, I don't want to talk. Or be around you. Upside down is acceptable.
vanishinggirl
I proudly fly my blue state flag (funny side note- it was recently redesigned, the old one being politically incorrect, and you can tell who the conservatives are, cuz they insist on still flying the old style!), and my American flag is waved upside down @ protests!
mormacil
Here upside down is a sign that the nation is under threat by immigrants.
BenderRodriguz1010
No it isn't you sloppy cunt.
BenderRodriguz1010
Even if you're not American, no it doesn't and cite your sources.
mormacil
https://www.nieuwsvandedag.nl/nieuws/maatschappij/artikelen/immigratieprotest-met-vlaggen-nu-ook-in-nederland
mormacil
https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/artikelen/van-feest-naar-protestsymbool-hoe-betekenis-van-nederlandse-vlag-verandert-door-rechts-protest-161639
mormacil
https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2023/ze-zijn-geen-boer-toch-hangen-ze-de-nederlandse-vlag-ondersteboven-waarom~v665360/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
mormacil
I never said over there, I said here where I am.
BenderRodriguz1010
See the follow up comment. You're still wrong.
mormacil
In what way am I wrong about my locale?
Usersubname
I served in the military for 24 years. The flag no longer means what it used to mean to me. I don't fly it any more. I feel safer when I see a pride flag.
EmeRgencyDrD
THIS! I'm a straight guy and I always want to stop in and say "Hi" when I see a pride flag. I dont cause Im already weird enough, but it lets me feel safer knowing these people actually have empathy and care/love.
DinosaursCameFromSpace
Wearing a flag at anything other than an international sporting event is pretty much a sign they’re racist or American
Butterupmybuttcheeks
Not just America, it's a well known sign in the UK as well. Shitty people hiding behind nationalism isn't new. Small minds prefer to gravitate towards things that take no effort, but they see as elevating them.
shehdbeuebw738373
Yup. Why the fuck would you wear your flag inside your own country? If it's for a specific holiday or smt sure. But just every day my house needs a flag pole to display the flag of a government we all know I'm under, and I in no way represent (not like a govt building or anything)? Weird as hell
Elsoyyo
In Australia, from what I hear, it's pretty suspect to 'fly the flag' as if they don't know where they are. If the Eureka Flag flies, those history buffs have a certain take.
burg14
Sometimes when I see people with a southern cross tattoo I ask them why they have part of the New Zealand flag on them
BipedalHumanoidWithSlightlyDifferentNoseRidge
Yobbos and bogans fly the flag. They're not always racist. My elderly mother has a little flag in her garden, held by a gnome wizard....
Not always the case, but you can certainly spot them.
Nukls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Flag
Skevoid
Definitely, the exception is when they fly the Aboriginal flag along side it.
NothingPrince
A bunch of rasist are flying the Australian maritime flag, red background. As there flag. The Maritime is pissed
tinytyrant
correct.
jeejeejerrycotton
No that's pretty much anywhere.
mikeatike
Yeah, any nationalist is likely to also be racist.
Heisanevilgenius
I've never seen a Jamaican wearing a Jamaican flag and thought "they're probably racist" but then again I only see them doing that at like a festival or something
drcookieninja
Canadian flag was fine until (weirdly enough) Americans ruined it for us. (Q anon and alt right nuts flew giant flags in their racist marches along with the swastika and Maga flags).
That and some American tourists wore it to avoid being hated abroad.
redtruck
Still, I don't see many Canadian flag wearers or abusers outside the odd 'convoy' clown. They do exist, but in small appearances.
TacoPoweredHelicopter
Not long ago Canada used to be not like that.... Then it became like that now it's moving away again with the assholes now hating Canada.
CommodusLeitdorf
Ultra Nationalists in all countries area all pretty damn racist. I will say though, in America, we have significantly more flag merch
FacelessAce
Yeah, the funny thing about USA is that our Ultra-Capitalist tendencies to saturate the market with anything that would make money converged with the rampant and systemic nationalism to create a lot of flag merch.
Eatabaggadix
I dont know,man. I spent years working at ski resorts and of all the international workers,Brazilians seemed particularly prone to displaying their flag in some way. And theyre all various shades of brown. Jamaicans too.
jeejeejerrycotton
Lmao that's the most racist thing I've seen yet. "These guys can't be racist---THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME TO ME?!?"
Eatabaggadix
Really reaching for points,huh. I literally said "various shades of brown". But here,have an upvote. Seems important.
VinnieJonesDiary
Not really the same thing though is it? Like displaying your flag because you are away from home and want to show a little pride in your country is fine, but I think the post is more talking about people in their own country with their own flag, it doesn't say it explicitly, but I thought it was implied.
Colopty
Wearing a US flag outside the US is still gonna get you looks of extreme disgust. Most other flags are fine abroad though.
eetsumkaus
that's because the US is an empire, and has military presence in many countries. Displaying the flag is going to have...different implications.
That being said, people around the world love cosplaying Americans.
Colopty
Oh the negative reaction isn't really due to any implications related to the US as an empire, it's because wearing it implies you're American, and Americans have gained themselves a reputation over the last few years. These days it's pretty much a requirement for them to introduce themselves abroad with "I'm American, but like, not one of the shitty ones".
RobErtE87
Germany, too. And UK
AllRepublicansArePedophiles
While I agree I feel like Germany could also just as likely be a football fan
shammael
Spain, too. You still see a lot of flags from the dictatorship around here, but a lot of racists fly the new one as a less"risky" option.
CongratsYouAreHereNow
Japan, China, Saudi Arabia
FoamingToad
Came here to mention the UK, we have our fair share of flag shaggers over here.
Turnsk
It’s happening in some communities in Ireland. 🇮🇪 certain actors have made our proud national identity a vehicle of hate through social media.
Georgebuzzcock
Came to say the same thing
RonnieSoak
Yup: Union flag, or an English flag, they're definitely bigoted
breadedfishstrip
Belgium: Its complicated
slightlybrokenegg
Don’t forget Israel
HandFireWeapon
And Sweden.
SilverNicktail
I'd say more England than the UK. The Nazis do love their St George's Cross. Ironic considering he was from FUCKING PALESTINE.
samwyze
This info will make my next Austin Powers viewing interesting
zombiejedediah
Denmarkia. Big time! 🇩🇰 <- this flag means racism.
We have 3 single platform racist/nationalist parties in our parliament & after the election in 2 weeks, it's going to be even worse.
Dekker3D
If I were to see someone wearing the Dutch flag, I'd... genuinely worry for their sanity, I think? Even our most nationalist assholes don't do that. Maybe football fans might? But then, I'm always worried about their sanity, so yeah.
jayman0123
Without exception, every single person I've ever met that was waving a US flag, wearing one, or had one in their yard, has been a complete asshole. It's a sect of people within the country that just have that as an identifying marker. I'm pretty sure they hand them out at the asshole factory.
LuIu
I think it's more the mentality required to be proud enough of this country to fly it's flag.
FrankGrenadine
I honestly thought the US was one of the few Western counties where this wasn’t the association.
GieopJoze
Same for france
darthnerdus6236
Even the Canadian flag is just a big red flag now.
randomhero13
neighbour of mine had a german flag on a flag pole and got a lot of comments to take it down, he switched to a confederate flag. no one has complained and it has been 4 years :P he thought of switching to an israel flag, but his wife intervened "that would be going to far to prove a point"
RaymondChoppard
France too. Unless you're the day after a bombing or a football world cup win.
Bulmero8
Ireland too. I feel so uncomfortable even driving down those roads with a flag on every pole.
Our tricolour no longers represents national pride. Now the flag says "This place belongs to the white people".
marinate1016
I feel like this is a Western Europe thing in general
Hrafna55
Yep. Exactly the same in the UK. It's felt that way to me my entire life. Not a new thing in the slightest. What is new is how much of it you see.
DarksteelPenguin
Yup. A lot of racists who hide their bigotry behind nationalist pride.
Yasashii93
And Poland
madeejit
Anyone who proudly wears their nation's flag in the form of a pair of underpants is probably a stand-up guy.
bitemark
Canada got that way for a bit, during the "Freedom Convoy" bullshit. It was more if they had a Canadian flag on their car. It's recovered since though
junkgoof
Global propaganda has united on things people reading at a sixth grade level can be convinced of. Crime is a big problem only authoritarians can handle. Trans/gay/nonwhite bad. Rich people shouldn’t pay taxes. Flags good and fun. Genocide not so bad. They are literally dunking on the suckers and getting them to wave flags or wear red hats to show how thoroughly they are suckered. Billionaires owning media and controlling the message is really bad.
SilverNicktail
If it's a black and white flag I still give it a side-eye. Though they usually have the "fuck " stickers to really give away that they're a senseless piece of shit. Don't forget the Punisher skull!
Kilwrath
I dunno man, I still assume a few things when I see a car or house with a flag flying. And my assumptions are usually correct when I run into the owners. I think right wing movements across the globe have been ruining flags for their countries. It’s quite sad, but maybe it’s a sign that it’s getting time for our species to move away from the tribal nature of nationalism. It served its purpose but it’s just preventing us from evolving into a more advanced civilization, IMO.
Orc6000
After the dumbass trucker convoy it was a long time that a vehicle (especially a truck) with a flag was a guarantee that it was a racist pos. Now it’s like 97% depending on what other events are happening.
NothingPrince
And Aus
peruvianfightingmidgets
That and a southern Cross tattoo
BurnieCinders
I've heard the Southern Cross called the Aussie swastika. Especially as a tattoo.
CheeseCoffeeChests
Didn't know that UK also got this problem? At least i dont think of a racist when i see an english guy with a flag. For germany... i think its more of the picture germans got for themself, no? Like... even our neightbors wouldn't mind if germany would be a little bit more proud of their flag.
pumpactionsunshine
https://youtu.be/aTsJjKqTR3Y?si=ETg_OZ0RYbUpZcxk
ravengrl1401
So, for the colonized countries the Union Jack is criticized as a symbol of colonialism, slavery, and far-right nationalism. It is associated with historical oppression, with critics often calling it the "Butcher's Apron" due to colonial-era atrocities. In contemporary Britain, it is sometimes seen as divisive, hijacked by extremists, or a symbol of a declining empire.
Brits are more likely to also see it as a sign of democracy and freedom. It can be both, depends on the context.
Evi1Gav
The people currently putting up union flags on lamp posts in the UK are racists. Almost universally reform voters, doing it as a dog whistle action, so that anyone taking them down can be called out for "hating the UK" or some other such nonsense.
androidshard
They don't even put them up very well. There's (unfortunately) one nearby and it's just ziptied on by the fabric of the flag itself.
Already has it's colour fading too.
marinate1016
You’re probably not online enough. Anyone with the English flag is a right wing nationalist who thinks Muslims are taking over the country
CheeseCoffeeChests
Dude... i could make so much fun now about England for this post. Don't make such a tempting offer to a German!
ParaspriteHugger
Relevant SatW: https://satwcomic.com/evil-flag
afatality
ty
RecurringNightmare
yes but also:
decyfeRtw
Do sheeps' bowel movements indeed affect earthquakes tho?
michiyl
This might've been funny a few years ago, but the right-wing extremist AfD party wants people to raise Germany flags again to show "patriotism" and that they're "not afraid to show it" ... they're the only party who have like 20+ flags whenever they have a press conference.But oh boy, they get angry when you wave the EU flag near them ...
TakuanSoho
Ah yes the ones with that poster... so innocent.
Magnar1183
That's disgusting!
stronomer
Yeah, we Germans have quite a mixed relationship to our flag.
Magnar1183
Kind of helps that it's not the prettiest flag on the planet.
hiyesthisissatan
As will us Americans. I have a flag tattoo. It's 20 years old but maaan, I'm about to laser that shit off me.
delecti
Honestly Germans have probably the *healthiest* relationship to their flag and history. Every country has awful shit in its past, but Germany is just about the only one where people (mostly) recognize it, and are aware of the risk of it happening again.
stronomer
We teach it in school, we remember the origins. Although not as intensively as we used to. In my state the extreme right just got ~20% of the votes yesterday.
RevengeIsIceCream
As a swede, i'd I see someone having a Swedish flag that isn't on a standard flagpole, I'm immediately suspecting racism...
WarlockSniper
I hope the exception is at Ikea when someone has the meatballs?
I really love the Ikea meatballs
RevengeIsIceCream
The meatballs don't have flags on them, so they're all good. :)
WarlockSniper
Oh, they do here in the Netherlands. Well, there is one little flag on one meatball.
Ah well ^^
aloharamada
Germans have successfully swapped their sense of national pride with their allegiance to their favorite football club. It's human nature to want to wave little flags around, wear team colors and take pride in and ownership of others' accomplishments, even if you personally contributed jack-shit.
astralfields
Germany is a bit different than other countries in this regard. Our sense of home and belonging lies in the region or city where we grew up, not the country as a whole. The area that comprises modern Germany used to be split into hundreds of little nations, sometimes as vassal states of a larger empire, sometimes not. There is no deeply ingrained cultural sense of national pride because our nation as it is has only existed for about 100 years (1/2)
astralfields
...and that's still including a period of 30ish years that no decent human being would want to be proud of, which is the reason why said decent human beings are reluctant to have strong national pride.
We do like football though. To the point where world championships are the only time you will see any major displays of national pride, draping the flag over their car bonnets and whatnot. (2/2)
aloharamada
I am German, I've never really seen a private citizen fly a region or city flag, but I see football flags and paraphernalia everywhere. I'm pretty sure the reason we don't show national pride as such is because we have a national shame due to our Nazi past, which makes being a proud German pretty iffy, to put it mildly, not because we feel strongly about our regions or cities.
CheeseCoffeeChests
No but you see these "Berlin" handbags or "Dorfkind" Shirts. Hamburg does it by non-stop telling you about Hamburg. Local traditions, like Fasching. "WIR SIND DAS RUHRGEBIET". And this is our local beer, sausage or something baked. Very important: When you grew up in X you have to hate Y BECAUSE FUCK EM! Allaaaaav! Moin! Dude... people here will fight over potatosalad with or without mayo. Few weeks ago i saw a guy from Berlin totally pissed because of the Bratwurst he got in Duisburg.
astralfields
Read my follow-up comment too, I already covered that.
There is one dude in my neighbourhood who's flying the flag in his front yard. I probably don't have to tell you about his political views. He's really into football too, of course.
And culture matters a lot more than you'd think. Even without the nazi period, most Germans would likely be less patriotic than citizens of other countries.