to think my neighbour might wise to remove his flag?

[IamMrsElf]

I just think in the current climate that it might be ill advised to fly a Polish flag.

I'm not against national pride and patriotism. I don't particularly like seeing the St George's cross - unless it's St George's day.

I just think it might not be a good idea at the moment. Am I being a twat?

[ComposHat]

In Scotland we don't vote for ukip. Or the bnp. The stories I've seen on the news about anti immigrant feeling sound totally alien to me as we just don't have the same fear or hatred of minority groups, at least in NE Scotland.

But in Scotland we have sectarianism that is largely an alien concept in England, the Orange Lodge scumbags (and their followers) are cut from the very same cloth as BNP/UKIP. It is the same sort of small minded bigotry only aimed at our fellow countrymen.

[ComposHat]

I love how the US are so patriotic. They don't give a shit

Yes blind, unthinking patriotism has done the USA a power of good hasn't it?

They aren't exactly renown for being a globally aware outwardly looking nation.

[WafflyVersatile]

It never used to be that Scotland flags were everywhere, well not that I noticed, but maybe I wouldn't have reason to. I've not particularly noticed them recently either. Anyway if there has been a rise it's probably down to the rise in pro independence sentiment.

The wearing of kilts to weddings has risen greatly too. Up until the 90s most men wore suits IME.

[Wuldric]

I don't like to see a flag of any description*. An England flag, particularly outside a pub, would see me doing a quick swerve to avoid. Nationalism may not be crass on its own, but it can be a home to all sorts of bigotry.

*Unless it's Welsh because the dragon is pretty.

[ComposHat]

I find England flags quite useful when I'm down south, it lets me know that it is a pub to avoid. A bit like a reverse Les Routiers guide.

[limitedperiodonly]

They aren't exactly renown for being a globally aware outwardly looking nation

I travel to the US for business. New York and Los Angeles, mainly. Every time I go I am stunned that a country would choose the most pigheaded simpletons of their citizens to represent them at their ports of entry.

[TrinityRhino]

[ComposHat]

I travel to the US for business. New York and Los Angeles, mainly. Every time I go I am stunned that a country would choose the most pigheaded simpletons of their citizens to represent them at their ports of entry.

Exactly this.

I have always found them to be the most humourless, dimwitted and intransigent idiots I have ever met. I usually get so nervous that I start babbling shite and once accidentally gave one of them a saucy wink and a clicking noise out of sheer fear and embarrassment.

I'm amazed I didn't get tazered for trying to proposition a boarder guard or being gay or something.

[HerRoyalNotness]

Continuing the derail.....

I had the temerity to smile at a ludicrous situation at uS border control and was threatened with a $500 fine. On my entry card I had marked no fruit, begs etc.. While beside me my DS who had declared hunger in the queue was munching on an apple. Now you might think fair enough I should have declared the apple. However we were still in Canada! The fruit would be consumed and binned before getting into the US. I pointed it out and said the Canadians didn't say anything. But as he said, they're "Canadians", it doesn't matter what they say.

I fear the trouble I'll get myself into I'd we actually end up moving to the US with work. Fingers crossed I have a black mark for the apple incident and wont be granted a work permit.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I had a go at one once. I was en route from Fiji to Canada and had the temerity to have to fly via the US. They didn't have a transit system, oh no. You had to get your bags, clear customs and immigration, only to do it again in order to get into Canada. After hours, and queues and questions and forms for no reason, I was asked by one why I wanted to enter the States. I replied, "I don't want to enter the States, I want to enter Canada, I have to go through this to get that.". Amazingly I wasn't arrested.

Weirdly, I also met the nicest Americans that day too. After immigration shite, I went to buy Stupid White Men in the bookshop as a treat. There was an African American woman at the counter. I said "have you got Stupid White Men?". She laughed and pointed behind her at the two white, male employees. They grinned and waved. They had obviously been waiting to be asked. I think I made their day.

[IamMrsElf]

As my Mum & Dad live in the States we have dealt with immigration morons a fair bit and find them to be intimidating and stupid in equal measure. What worries me is when you see them with guns!!

We saw quite a few news stories whilst we were out there at Christmas, where the police had shot or tazered citizens or animals, for ridiculous reasons and their response was always "what else could we do?"