Its a really interesting (and rather American) phenomenon to fly a flag of any kind from your home or a Flagpole in your yard. I am sure a psychologist would form some opinion about insecurity or the need to belong out of it. But you dont see it in other countries...😷
Lots of things you don't see in other countries. Freedom being one of them in quite a lot.
The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, is our national anthem (although not made official by an executive order by President Wilson in 1916 and by legislation signed by President Hoover in 1931) is was our de-facto anthem during most of the 19th century.
Our anthem ends the first verse, not with a declaration of the United States being "the home of the brave," but with a question mark at the end:
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Much of diplaying the flag has to do with the Civil War and its aftermath. The Republican Party waved the flag in subsequent elections, noting "not every Democrat was a rebel, but every rebel was a Democrat."
Then Mark Hanna's mark of genius at the end of the 1896 election.
The explosion of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor brought increased patriotism during our war with Spain.
During the World Series in 1918 and World War I, a tradition began of playing the Star-Spangled Banner before every ball game.
It helped start a tradition that continues to this day.
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And then there was the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This scene from Tora! Tora! Tora! is NOT fictionalized!
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Yes, it is indeed a fact that the Nevada band completed the national anthem (at a faster tempo) before going to the battle stations!
So, having been a big part of helping to win two World Wars for the allies and freedom has a lot to do with it, too.
Original flag raising on Iwo Jima.
While many countries honor their military dead and veterans, we probably do a better job than most (and yet, we should do better, particulary with regards to health care and housing).
One way we've shown our gratitude is displaying the flag on national holidays.
Then came 9/11 and many people realized with our men in women in harms way, why not display our flag to show our love for our country, its ideals and our gratitude for the people protecting us EVERY day.
We revere our flag and the freedom it represents. And that is why the vast majority of Americans are horrified and angry when others try to desegrate or burn it.
@beckyromero I accept all of that. That doesnt make it any less a peculiarly American phenomenon. Maybe its the need for a public display in a way other nations dont see.😷
Don't forget that we are also a young nation when compared to those of Europe. But also one that emerged from a Civil War without the government being toppled. And also a nation that is unconquered in our history by foreign powers.
We don't have a monarch to sing a song to as our national anthem. Nor do we have a president for life as many dictatorial nations do. Nor power by way of religious tyranny.
Our freedoms are cherished thru our constitution.
And our flag, not a person or a religion, is that symbol of our freedoms inshined in that document.
@beckyromero Hmm. Are you sure about that? A lot is said about American "Freedom", yet when you start to disassemble it, most Americans arent very free at all, unless you are rich.. While the flag, the politican leaders and ever religion have become rather incentuously intertwined in recent years.. And America has a song for everyone. Hail to the Chief, Halls of Montezuma. That everyone has a symbol to display and does it there is my point. And please. Lets not get started on the Constitution. As well intended and enlightened as it was at the time, current politicians and religious leadership have turned it into a real pigs breakfast. (And I know thats going to get comment)..😷
@Carazaa And I would completely agree with you. There is so much more freedom possible when one does not feel the need to protect oneself from ones neighbours...😷
"Hail to the Chief" is a tribute to a mere temporary occupant of the head of the executive branch of goverment.
And the Marine Corps hymn is just that. It honors the Marine Corps.
A "national anthem" is for the whole nation.
most Americans arent very free at all, unless you are rich
We have a strong middle class. And if you are not well off, you are better off here than in most places of the world.
Would you rather be poor in Russia? China? India? Africa perhaps? Someplace in the Middle East aside from Israel (where you have something entirely else to worry about)?
Do many Western nations have freedoms like ours? Of course.
Do some of them have better safety nets? Of course.
But have they also had much more to fear over the past century of their freedoms being deviscerated by a foreign occupation? Of course.
@beckyromero Dont get me wrong. I am not saying America is a $h*thole country. Far from it. Its a reasonably prosperous developed nation with a more or less just and Democratic system. (And that places it above average to start with) Thats why so many people from poorere countries still want to come there.. Its just not the Blazing light on the hill of freedom, equality and opportunity it says in the brochures. And I gotta say as a non American, it getting little tiresome listening to Americans cr@p on about this freedom stuff while America throws so many of its own under a bus to keep a few rich..😷
@beckyromero "Especially when you can dial 1-800-AMERICA when neighbors aren't so neighborly" One day I might tell you the story of how badly equipped Australian troops unsupported by Americans stopped the Japanese in the hills of New Guinea and upset MacArthurs plan to let Japan have the top half of Australia.😷
Now, now. You know what would have happened if the U.S. Navy had pulled back to the West Coast after Pearl Harbor.
Australians were badly outnumbered by Japanese troops (although your General Blamey shouldn't escape some of the blame for the strategy).
But Australians were also fighting elsewhere!
The 6th Division captured some 40,000 Italians in Libya, helped capture Tobruk (which led to the diversion of German forces to the Afrika Corps) and fought at the victory at El Alamein.
The greater danger was in the European-Africa front.
Australia (and Canada) do not get the credit they deserve for carrying on the fight against Nazism before Pearl Harbor.
@beckyromero I cant argue with any of that. Its all true. But I would have hoped the people were less "devolved" than those of the Great Depression. Cos thats where this is going..😷
Like Roosevelt, he sees the dangers where most don't.
I'd prefer he be 20 years younger and with no 22nd Amendment - because the Democrats don't have anyone on the horizon capable of picking up the torch in January 2029.
@beckyromero While I see the problems of America as much deeper than the President. Or even the Republican Party. Or Politics. Its Americas relationship with the world that needs to change and its going to hurt..😷
@Wiseacre Good. Because I dont have one in terms of left or right. But economically I am a rationalist and Americas economic policy internally and regarding overseas trade is completely irrational. 😷
@whowasthatmaskedman I would say though that there are many opportunities in the USA that even some European countries don't offer, like studying a subject at university is possible even if there aren't jobs in the field. In the USA education is better I think, and no one will stop you even if there are no available jobs in the field. in the USA from kindergarten to Graduate school level, it's interesting and student centered, not rote and boring like European classes often are. There are also maybe more opportunities in the USA. However many Americans don't take advantage of the education, and are less educated than the average European for some reason.
