If you see an American flag on someone's car, do you assume they are a Republican?

[bryant69]

Assuming they don't have anything else that gives it away one way or the other.

Inspired by this essay at Commondreams --> http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/14/1889/

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[NaturalHigh]

1. No.

[MrModerate]

2. Kinda, because a naked flag -- without any other comment . . .

Suggests blind patriotism, trademarked by Republicans. Otherwise, why put it on your car? We already know what country we're sitting in.

Not fair, perhaps, but that's the vibe I pick up.

[MADem]

15. Only if you allow the GOP to control the meaning of the symbol.

It could also mean someone bought a used car with an old Nahn Wun Wun flag stuck to it.

It's not their flag, that's my attitude.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I have a flag decal on my truck

I'm a proud, law abiding, tax paying citizen who loves our country and cherishes the constitution and considers it a shield for all citizens. No fucking way I could be a republican.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. It depends on where I am

and what the vehicle looks like. I figure that the long hair guy driving the biodeisel car in Newton County is probably not a conservative, for example.

[MNDemNY]

5. I assume only that they are driving a car with an American flag on it.

[ThomWV]

6. And when I see a white stripe on a black cat I presume its a fucking Skunk too.

[ET Awful]

7. While digesting Reader's Digest

In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.

But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.

But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

[bryant69]

10. Good little poem/song. I guess probably a song. n/t

[ET Awful]

13. Ooops, forgot to credit it - John Prine wrote it, nice little ditty

:P

[Alexander]

8. Nope. Yellow "Support the troops" decals cause me to assume that.

Sometimes the person with the flag decal is a recent immigrant trying to fit in, or it could be a lazy person who put the sticker on just after 9/11 and never bothered to take it off.

[gollygee]

9. Once upon a time I did

but I've since met some rabid Democrats - old fashioned labor union types - who decorate their whole houses in US flags, put flags on everything, etc.

[sandrakae]

11. No, but I do when it is all of those support the troop ribbons.

That is because Republicans are to stupid to know they are made in China. I cannot stand picking those things up, turning them over and seeing made in China. Same way with small flags.

[Solon]

12. On my old car, soon after 9/11, I put 4 flags on my car...

Small ones, position on the corners of the car, to make it look like a diplomatic vehicle. The only difference is that I had mine upside, to show the country in distress. Also had a anti-Bush bumpersticker on my car.

[HEyHEY]

14. I assume they are an American

[Mabus]

16. We have two American flags on one of our cars

but they are both being flown upside down. I get dirty looks from people that aren't mistaking me for someone who votes Republican.

[TahitiNut]

17. Well, a dirty, faded, road-begrimed flag decal sure spells 'AMERICA' to me.

:eyes: ... especialy when affixed to a vehicle made in Japan, Germany, or Korea.

[bryant69]

20. I'm not sure i get your response

stickers do get older and dirtier the longer you own a car; and some people end up with whatever car they can afford.

Are you saying that out of reverence for the flag people shouldn't put stickers of it on their car?

Bryant

[TahitiNut]

26. Let the Flag Code be your guide.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode04/usc_sup_01_4_10_1.html

[Toots]

34. But that in reality is the pure essence of America

Drive around and that is exactly what a person will see, Japanese cars, German cars, Korean cars, and quite a few will indeed have such a decal as you describe. Maybe not what those with such a decal think America should be but most definitely what America is...

[lpbk2713]

18. Yes, most of the time.

Simply because I live in a predominately 'red' area in a predominately 'red' state.

[catmandu57]

19. They could be worse

My stepfather for instance, when I was growing up he was a rabid dog wallace supporter who stuck flag decals everywhere. I used to play John Prine's Flag Decal loudly just to piss him off, so it's kind of automatic I see a flag decal and I flash on toadie, yet I have a flag for my avatar because it belongs to all of us.

[Horse with no Name]

21. I don't care about identifying the Republicans

I care about identifying the 30%'ers...they are the ones that still have the "W" stickers on their cars.:rofl:

[bryant69]

24. I know how you feel - I took my W sticker off for that very reason. n/t

[mitchtv]

22. My '82 AMC Jeep has one

but it says buy American Buy Union.
it is hopelessly out of date Jeeps are now Daimler, and nothing is union made in USA

[MaryBear]

23. Sometimes the person just wants to be identified as American.

Especially after 9/11.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. "Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people's brains

and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead." - Arundhati Roy

[bryant69]

27. It won't surprise you to know that I consider that not enriely complete nor accurate. n/t

[lpbk2713]

28. And as cheap backdrops .....

.... for photo-ops for lying criminals.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

29. No. I Pride Myself On Not Being A Closed Minded Fool.

Stereotyping like that is a huge sign of ignorance and limited mentality.

[Guaranteed]

30. For the most part, yes, because Democrats just don't usually make use of the flag.

But they should. I would like to see that change.

[Zomby Woof]

31. No

My Dad has one, and he is a liberal Democrat. He is a Vietnam veteran, and served his country faithfully, with its blemishes and all.

I am flying our flag today with respect for him, and for the liberal ideals which have contributed to America's great qualities.

A pox on flying it for jingoism and the phony "war on terror". Having said that, I only assume it's a Republican with a flag sticker when accompanied by racist or jingositic slogans on their other bumper stickers, if any. Or if it's a Saudi-supporting Hummer/SUV.

[Quantess]

32. Could be an immigrant who doesn't know about or doesn't care about the pro-war connotation.

I know an extremely liberal (and legal) immigrant who has an american flag on one of her vehicles.

[TahitiNut]

33. Immediately following 9/11 a lot of immigrants put flags on their stores and cars.

I regarded it as "flag-garlic" - and sadly agreed their trepidations were well-grounded.