venting about something I saw/heard yesterday

[mkt]

this is just a vent, nothing more...

Yesterday I was at MK and as I was leaving they were lowering the flag and playing the star-spangled banner.. so I stopped to pay respects. There was a special guest helping lower the flag, an older US war veteran.

anyway, as I'm standing there, these guests from an anonymous foreign country (think of a US ally, which the US has saved before in war) walk by and very loudly say "about time they take that stupid flag down." I look over, and the people saying this are also wearing a US Flag Cap...


?!?!?!

this makes me mad. I've been to their anonymous country and I had the respect to not bash what they hold dear... it would only be common sense to do the same. Whatever... I hope they get detained by customs on the way back and aren't allowed entry back into their home country.

 

[GaryT977]

As infuriating as that is, it doesn't surprise me that every country has their fair share of jerks.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Er, some people are just a____________s. Its totyally disrespectful, it would be like offering the queen 5 pounds for, well, you get the idea.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Some people just have no respect for the stripes of red and white and that great field of blue...

It's sick

 

[Shaman]

I guess the big fish in the pond is always hated....

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by mkt
this is just a vent, nothing more...

Yesterday I was at MK and as I was leaving they were lowering the flag and playing the star-spangled banner.. so I stopped to pay respects. There was a special guest helping lower the flag, an older US war veteran.

anyway, as I'm standing there, these guests from an anonymous foreign country (think of a US ally, which the US has saved before in war) walk by and very loudly say "about time they take that stupid flag down." I look over, and the people saying this are also wearing a US Flag Cap...

In no way do I condone this action, but maybe it's the attitude that you 'saved them in war' before that turns some people against america.

Again, I'm not condoning this, just giving you a different viewpoint.

 

[mkt]

the saved in war attitude is not my belief, but rather being used as a hint to describe the nationality of the offending guests...

 

[tigsmom]

Not all of us were brought up to respect others...but I hear what you're saying.

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by mkt
the saved in war attitude is not my belief, but rather being used as a hint to describe the nationality of the offending guests...

Yes, but the superiority attitude portrayed by america in general (again, not meaning anyone here or anyone in particular) tends to turn people against your country.

This attitude may come (perhaps unfairly) from media portrayal, through sports or something like that, but this attitude is often the one observed by foreigners.

 

[mkt]

and I understand how the rest of the world views the US Tench... you know my citizenships, and you know I've lived on both sides of the mirror... it's still no reason to disrespect the country while they're in it especially during an event as patriotic as the one being observed.

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by mkt
and I understand how the rest of the world views the US Tench... you know my citizenships, and you know I've lived on both sides of the mirror... it's still no reason to disrespect the country while they're in it especially during an event as patriotic as the one being observed.

Definately, I agree.

But you'll get idiots everywhere.

Are you sure they understood the significance of the moment though? A lot of people still live by the old adage 'Ignorance is bliss.'

 

[GaryT977]

Originally posted by WDWFREAK53
Some people just have no respect for the stripes of red and white and that great field of blue...

I don't care if anyone else respects our flag or not. Respect is earned, as they say. I have a problem with the lack of common courtesy and decency.

 

[barnum42]

MKT - Where were these offensive people from?

 

[mkt]

western europe... I'm really not in the mood to specify the country. IM me and I'll tell you

 

[Testtrack321]

Well, I can say this, many countrys don't base all of their emotions on the flag as much as we do, so I can see where they can come, somewhat. I've heard some people vent about how we are 'waving our flag' too much after 9-11. Frankly, if you don't like it, stay there. We can do whatever we want in our country, unless it's against UN ideas.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Re: Just a few thoughts!

Originally posted by Tramp
You bet! The American flag is the sacred emblem of our country, envied by many.

Well perhaps envy is too strong a word, but it is rather a nice looking bit of cloth. I happen to have a rather large one at home, very kindly "donated" to me by the USAF during a NATO tactical air meet. I have looked after it well.

On the serious subject, perhaps many of you are unaware how unpopular the US has become under Dubbya's leadership, a situation fostered by the lefties of the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the general media portrayal of the average US citizen. This is played against a background of increasing fractionalisation of our wonderful multi cultural society a general distrust of government and a fear of being patriotic in case you are described as racist and bigoted. In my experience it is this fear that causes the greatest unease about American patriotism.

Don’t believe me, well the Scottish parliament has made it illegal to fly the British flag for fear of offending the republican element of Scottish society. So weve banned our own state flag

:brick:

 

[BRER STITCH]

The whole point is how silly it is that those words were ever even said outloud....

"about time they take that stupid flag down."

Where in the course of your life would you ever feel the need to form that expression -- about ANYTHING???

That tells me all I need to know about these sad people and their bothered lives!

HOW SAD!

:brick:

 

[JBSLJames]

Re: Re: Just a few thoughts!

Originally posted by Pumbas Nakasak
Well perhaps envy is too strong a word, but it is rather a nice looking bit of cloth. I happen to have a rather large one at home, very kindly "donated" to me by the USAF during a NATO tactical air meet. I have looked after it well.

On the serious subject, perhaps many of you are unaware how unpopular the US has become under Dubbya's leadership, a situation fostered by the lefties of the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the general media portrayal of the average US citizen. This is played against a background of increasing fractionalisation of our wonderful multi cultural society a general distrust of government and a fear of being patriotic in case you are described as racist and bigoted. In my experience it is this fear that causes the greatest unease about American patriotism.

Don’t believe me, well the Scottish parliament has made it illegal to fly the British flag for fear of offending the republican element of Scottish society. So weve banned our own state flag

:brick:

For someone who died fighting for Freedom both here and abroad, the Flag is more than a "Nice looking bit of cloth". As the son of a veteran, the flag we received after my father died 2 years ago is one of the most prized possesions in our house.

Some times I wish America would stop being the World's policeman. Wonder how things would have turned out. I imagine that Europe would be speaking German.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by BRER STITCH
That tells me all I need to know about these sad people and their bothered lives!

Sadly there is a growing yob culture in my country and idiots like these think it's funny to belittle or upset people at any opportunity. I would guess that they did know the reverence of the situation, which is why their pea brains came up with the statement. They would have thought it “a good laugh”.

Pumbas – UK press thrives on attacking anything and anyone, the biggest selling rags over here are full of that sort of junk. They don’t specifically target America, they go for British politicians, sports stars, entertainers, in fact anyone they can rubbish in big print. Don’t take it personally.

Flying of flags over here does not have the patriotic value it does in America (as pointed out by TestTrack321). Political correctness prevents colours being flow in many places for fear of offending minorities. You could not stand up and be proud to be English, as this may offend minorities or be seen a superiority over the Scots, Welsh or Irish. The only times flags seemed to be shown with “pride” were by drunken soccer hooligans. OK- this may not be true everywhere, but it’s common enough.

I think Tenchu has made some great replies on the subject of the “saved in war” comments, so I feel no need to add to that.

I too am saddened by the thoughtless comments, but as someone has said, there are idiots everywhere and I know you good folks won’t tar everyone with the same brush.

 

[mkt]

Re: Re: Just a few thoughts!

Originally posted by Pumbas Nakasak
perhaps many of you are unaware how unpopular the US has become under Dubbya's leadership

I'm fully aware of how unpopular the US has become in the world scene because of him. He's the reason when I travel abroad, I keep my US passport in my suitcase and use my Spanish passport for entry. The only people who hate Spain are the Basque.... Spanish citizens! I don't do this because I'm ashamed to be American... I'm doing it because of the treatment American citizens have been getting at Customs Checkpoints across the world, due to W's unpopular policies worldwide (and to avoid paying the $100 fee american citizens have to pay to enter some countries as a reciprocating fee due to the $100 fee the US charges their citizens)