Hi,
In 4th of July parades, I've seen groups of people of common ancestry marching behind flag bearers carrying both the USA flag and that of their country of origin. I don't remember anyone objecting.
I think that is the crux. "Instead" as opposed to "in addition to". Showing both flags indicates pride in both the country one came from and the one chosen to live in. Showing only the flag of the country of birth is an insult to the country that has accepted you. It is a implicit statement that you reject the culture you've chosen to live in.
That was very common in NYC half a century ago, with all kinds of cultural groups, often in some national costume, marching in Independence Day parades. Seems that about half the police force were wearing kilts.
Vietnam might have changed a lot of that. It polarized a population and gave rise to things like "America, love it or leave it."
I react in exactly the opposite manner. "Hyphenated American" irritates me precisely because it does imply "one's former culture". If a person has chosen to leave their country to move to another, then adopting to the mores and manners of the country of choice should be mandatory. If the person prefers the country of origin, let them go back.
OTOH, pride in origin is natural. I refuse to consider myself as anything other than a citizen of the USA. An 'American', if you will, though I don't like that usage. However, I am proud of my birth and heritage as an Italian and make no attempt to keep it secret (indeed, quite the opposite).
Grin.
Why? The law states how two flags should be displayed if they are displayed together. It does not say they have to be displayed together.
And how is that law applied if, for instance, a parade with flag carriers marches down 1st Avenue from 50th to 40th? Tall flag bearers?
--Pete
(02-01-2011, 09:27 AM){wcip}Angel Wrote: Would it be considered un-American to wave any other flag than The star-spangled banner on July 4th?
In 4th of July parades, I've seen groups of people of common ancestry marching behind flag bearers carrying both the USA flag and that of their country of origin. I don't remember anyone objecting.
(02-01-2011, 09:27 AM){wcip}Angel Wrote: ... instead of the Norwegian flag.
I think that is the crux. "Instead" as opposed to "in addition to". Showing both flags indicates pride in both the country one came from and the one chosen to live in. Showing only the flag of the country of birth is an insult to the country that has accepted you. It is a implicit statement that you reject the culture you've chosen to live in.
(02-01-2011, 09:27 AM){wcip}Angel Wrote: Would this ever happen in the US? Is it common to see Italian, German, Irish flags on the 4th of July?
That was very common in NYC half a century ago, with all kinds of cultural groups, often in some national costume, marching in Independence Day parades. Seems that about half the police force were wearing kilts.
Vietnam might have changed a lot of that. It polarized a population and gave rise to things like "America, love it or leave it."
(02-01-2011, 09:27 AM){wcip}Angel Wrote: The "hyphenated American" (e.g Italian-American, German-American, African-American), denotes the sense of retaining one's former culture and background, but I suspect many in your country would be criticial of Americans showing their heritage on Independence Day... Am I right in that assumption?
I react in exactly the opposite manner. "Hyphenated American" irritates me precisely because it does imply "one's former culture". If a person has chosen to leave their country to move to another, then adopting to the mores and manners of the country of choice should be mandatory. If the person prefers the country of origin, let them go back.
OTOH, pride in origin is natural. I refuse to consider myself as anything other than a citizen of the USA. An 'American', if you will, though I don't like that usage. However, I am proud of my birth and heritage as an Italian and make no attempt to keep it secret (indeed, quite the opposite).
(02-01-2011, 09:27 AM){wcip}Angel Wrote: How would you react if you saw an Italian flag being waved on the 4th of July?
Grin.
(02-01-2011, 01:51 PM)kandrathe Wrote: So, if you wanted to wave a foreign flag, you'd need to also wave the US flag in the other hand.
Why? The law states how two flags should be displayed if they are displayed together. It does not say they have to be displayed together.
And how is that law applied if, for instance, a parade with flag carriers marches down 1st Avenue from 50th to 40th? Tall flag bearers?
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?