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in the days after september 11, 2001, the united states experienced a spontaneous unfurling of our flag. in every neighborhood, many homes had flags flown from them. there was no public call for people to do so, no emailed campaign to spread the idea - it was a natural outpouring of expression of love for our nation after it had been heinously attacked. it lasted for weeks - perhaps more than a month. it wasn't a simpleminded chant of 'USA! USA!' - it was a shared acknowledgement of grief, and it was quite profound and moving.



we have our flag out today. it's the only day i have ever felt comfortable flying our flag. we don't generally fly it on national holidays when others tend to - Independence day, Memorial day, Veterans day. I respect those days as well, but i've always tended to have a 'knee-jerk' reaction to the flying of the flag as falling into that regrettable 'my country, right or wrong' mentality. i love my country, but flag waving has always felt unseemly.



today however is a day i do wish to acknowledge. the US was attacked for being precisely what it is: a Free, pluralistic nation, which is anathema to fundamentalist zealots of any stripe. i want to honor the innocent americans who were killed to make a 'point'. many of those killed in the twin towers were muslims themselves; the irony is tragic.



thus far today, we've seen few other flags flying. i do wish more people would do so. there tend to be three types of homes in this country - the very rare few who fly the flag at all times, the many who never fly the flag, and the few who fly the flag on national holidays.



i hope that september 11th never becomes a "holiday", but i do hope that people will acknowledge it by quietly flying the flag on this day.

Great post anastrphe. A very good point also. I will definetly put mine out when I get home from work even if it is for just a couple of hours.

thanks for sharing that and flying the flag..



salute

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Wonderful and thoughtful post! :yh_clap :yh_clap :yh_flag :yh_clap

We have a small vynal type flag which has been on our front door window since 9/11/01

I love the way that Americans can and do fly their flag.

I hate that flag-waving is banned in the UK and considered non-PC!

Your flag makes you feel patriotic - and that's a good antidote to the poison of terrorism!

Rapunzel wrote: I love the way that Americans can and do fly their flag.

I hate that flag-waving is banned in the UK and considered non-PC!

Your flag makes you feel patriotic - and that's a good antidote to the poison of terrorism!




Wave the flag all you like. Who told you it was banned?

gmc wrote: Wave the flag all you like. Who told you it was banned?


I wasn't sure if it was actually "banned" as such, but why aren't we allowed to fly our flag outside our homes or in the street? It's incredibly rare to see the Union Flag flying, but in the States the Stars and Stripes are everywhere!

gmc - I found this link which clarified people's opinions a little.

http://www.ukipforum.co.uk/about4948-0-asc-0.html

RED- symbolizes hardiness and valor

WHITE symbolizes purity and innocence

BLUE - represents Vigilance, Perseverance, and Justice.

There is nothing jingoistic about flying our colors. It is an honor and a priviledge to live under the freedom represented by this flag and all the men and women who have served proudly under its banner. Many have given their lives and there is no better way to remember them than to proudly fly our flag in remembrance of their selfless sacrifice.

Rapunzel wrote: I wasn't sure if it was actually "banned" as such, but why aren't we allowed to fly our flag outside our homes or in the street? It's incredibly rare to see the Union Flag flying, but in the States the Stars and Stripes are everywhere!

gmc - I found this link which clarified people's opinions a little.

http://www.ukipforum.co.uk/about4948-0-asc-0.html


No way is it banned - it's not even *that* unusual to see it flying.

And hasn't UKIP disappeared up its own fundamental since its founders disowned it?

I have flag in my yard

I fly it every day

I replace it when it gets old

and today it flays at half mast for 9/11

My flag is out front and has been for about 15 years. It gets worn and weary and I replace it every year or so. Just as it says in the old Girl Scout handbook (yuppers, I'm a Scout,) I burn it when it's time and buy another one.

I was rather crabby for awhile today, because, typically, the US media was SATURATING the waves with far too much about 9/11!

We had to look right up the nostrils of children who lost parents/wives who lost husbands/etc, until I felt very cynical and was weary of the WALLOWING IN GRIEF.

Then, driving home from the zoo, I saw a fire engine going past....at top speed, flag flying behind....

And I wondered if any of us can ever see that sight and not remember those valiant rescue workers who raced past at full speed on 9/11...flag flying....running to certain death.

Shweet tatersalad wrote: I have flag in my yard

I fly it every day

I replace it when it gets old

and today it flays at half mast for 9/11
I applaud you. I was very upset when I went to work today, at a VFW, and neither they nor the firehouse had their flags at half mast. I just felt it was very disrespectful to those who lost their lives that day. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

OUCH! All the flags here were at half mast.....

I have a flag that was presented to me when my Father died, it is very special to me. I have it flying at HALF MAST TODAY..:yh_flag