to think we really are 2 completely different cultures - the USA and the UK - just looking at the 'rebellion' taking place

[chomalungma]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8228769/Bleak-figures-China-US-economic-hit-virus.html

I know it's only some Americans. I know that it's a massive country with many many more people than the UK

But these scenes are astounding. People flocking to beaches. Protesting about lockdown.
Protesting with guns about lockdown

You just can't imagine these scenes in the UK at the moment.
Especially not the Ohio Zombie picture

It just amazes me - sometimes you think we are very similar to the USA, and then many times, you realise we are completely different.

@Anamarie.....People still need guns in the US for food and protection

@Puzzledandpissedoff....Flag ettiquette which people take very seriously requires the flag to floodlit when flown at dark and Yes we have 1 on our house and yes its got a timed light

Well, you live and learn, @Leaannb - I've spent years in the US in total but honestly didn't know that!!

Sounds as if some might ignore it though? As I said, some were floodlit but definitely not all

We have a Welsh flag and our state flag on ours but neither are lit! 😳

The pledge of allegiance is one of the practices that has allowed the US to instill a sense of shared nationhood among so many diverse immigrants. As others have said, it's not compulsory, but like the study of American history and civics, it's one way of forming cohesion as a nation.

I proudly fly an American flag by my front door, as do many of my neighbors.

@Puzzledandpissedoff....Its etiquette not a law so there you go. In my are someone would say something to a neighbor who was flying it at night without it being lit. We have a high rate of military retirees myself included so someone would definitely say something. Not so much in others...

When we were building our home everything was pretty much done and my son was attaching the hardware to fly our flag. Our electrician noticed it and wrote it down in his notes. A week later we drive by to check on things,moving what we could etc....Our hot tub and 2 jacuzzi baths were not wired for electricity. But our flag was wired and ready to go. That was the first thing he did. Go figure

@missConductUS if you do a quick google, there are many people online saying that they hated to say the pledge of allegiance, that they were forced to do it. That aomw tried to just mouth the words, not say it, but were challenged by teachers

@MissConductUS the problem with an obsession with flags is that it gives rise to nationalism, which in turn gives rise to racism.

In no other country do people have massive flags on their front lawns. I would also say that it is quite immature

@IncorrigibkeTitmouse... The Gadsen Flag (Don't tread on me) is a holdover from the American Revolution. It was used by the Continental Marines and is actually considered the very First American Flag. That flag and saying is extremely popular with members of our Marine Corp

@leaannb Interesting! Thank you! My DH told me that it’s mostly associated with the pro-gun lobby and the political right.

@Anamarie diferent states and different rules. I turn 50 in 2 weeks and I sidn't learn the pledge until I was 19 at bootcamp

I've never thought we were similar! The phrase 'only in America' didn't come about for nothing.

@IncorrigibleTitmouse....To be fair to your husband I wouldn't want to get between a US Marine and their guns and I have my own guns

Back in the day, as an English camp counsellor, we said the pledge every morning at flagpole. Flagpole was lovely - kids desperate to be the ones to do the flag. No different than at Cubs and Scouts in the UK today. Time for everyone to be together.

On Independence Day , the kids would discover that the British counsellors had “stolen” the flag (taken down respectfully and hidden ), and the kids loved the symbolism of having to find it and get it back up the flag pole. One year , one of the American counsellors took huge offence at this, and was really aggressive and abusive. Felt it was disrespectful. But he was an utter tit and everyone knew it.

I have very fond memories of the respect shown, and can still recite the pledge.

(Just adding a bit of love for Americans 😁)

Leaannb we have a pair of exterior lights on either side of the front door that we leave on overnight both for security and to illuminate the flag. Is that an acceptable practice or does it have to be a flood light specifically?

And more importantly, how are you feeling? Did the chest pain resolve? Hopefully they've at least stepped you down from morphine to something else.

@Anamarie I've seen plenty of flags flying during world wide football tournaments in your country

@MissConductUS as long as its lit it doesn't matter. Just lit

Thank you StillGardening and back at you!

@Leaannb We have one too but I still can’t get over my discomfort with its presence, even after years here! I had no idea it was called the Gadsen flag or that it was that old. We started seeing the sticker more and more after we moved out of the city (and always on trucks!) and I asked him what it was. That was his explanation!

the problem with an obsession with flags is that it gives rise to nationalism, which in turn gives rise to racism.

You seem to have a disdain for the US. It’s not perfect by any means and many Americans will tell you that. The Pledge off Allegiance didn’t grown in popularity until about the 1930s. Racism in the US started way before that. It could be said that it started when the European settlers came to the US and eventually slaughtered many Native Americans tribes.

I'm so sorry @MissConductUS I hit post too soon. Yes the pain has completely resolved and I'm no longer on any medsand Im home I'm still extremely tired and spent most of yesterday sleeping. Today I'm just relaxing on the boat while my husband fishes

Leaannb I'm thrilled to hear it! You're going to be fatigued for a while. Has your appetite come back? Any other residual symptoms?

@IncorrigibileTitmouse...To get more comfortable with the gun in your home I highly advise you and encourage you to take a class at your local gun range. Many of them have female only classes with professional instructors who start at the beginning and go through the end to make sure you know what you are doing,how to aim,how to fire etc...Reguarding the Gadsen Flag I would be willing to bet that some odd ball milita is using it too.

@MissConductUS...My senses are coming back slowly and appetite is definitely still lacking. While I'm not too concerned about it my husband definitely is. He is very concerned about my weight loss. When he picked me up from the ferry Monday night he bawled like a baby and since then he has been bringing me food,my kids jave been bringing me food,my neighbors have been bringing me food. I don't ever want to see food again unless its chinese. If I could get some chinese food I would quickly gain back the 30 pounds I lost since I've been gone

@leaannb My husband said the same. It just feels SO wrong to me, I’m absolutely terrified of it! He grew up with guns in the house, but I didn’t even see a real gun until I was in my 30s! I should probably look into it though.