"Mike Marron" wrote in message
news
"John Mullen" wrote:

[snip]

With all respect Gordon, this sort of 'respecting the symbol of our
nation'
is probably very hard for most Europeans to understand. Particularly this
one, to whom the UK flag is a symbol of an Empire whose great days are
behind it, the EU one a symbol of a dream whose time has not yet come,
and
the Saltire a symbol of a nation which sold itself out, or was sold out,
a
very long time ago.

A very telling statement, to be sure.

You also summed it nicely when you wrote in the "why all the
Nazi/German threads" the following:


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********
John Mullen:

US patriotism can look somewhat quaint and simplistic from a European
perspective. Ironically, the preservation of freedom of expression is
one of the things you can justly be somewhat proud of. I just wonder
how many USAians actually understand what it means.

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*********

Most "USAians" are patriotic and justifiably so and know EXACTLY what
the "preservation of freedom of expression" means. In other words,
your comment is a bit of a troll (or a jab at Americans) and you know
it, John.

Only in your mind, Mike. You maybe have to accept that this is an
international medium, and that therefore you may have non-Americans
contributing to it. You'll get used to it.

Reminds me of another telling comment from a UK bud who recently
visited. I picked him at the airport and drove him back to my house
for his week-long stay. Observing all the U.S. flags waving in the
breeze up and down the neighborhood, the Brit blurts out something
like, "Why does everyone fly the American flag?"

Rather than snatch up his stinkbait by explaining the obvious and
come back with something like, "well, if you have to ask..." I told
him to ask my Hungarian neighbor who lives across the street the
exact same question.

My Hungarian friend, a meat-cutter at one of the local supermarkets,
is old enough to have lived through the Hungarian Revolution of 1956
and remained in Hungary until the early '70's when he finally
immigrated to the U.S. He proudly flies Old Glory and also has
several U.S. flag decals plastered on his late-model pickup truck.

My bud from the UK never did bother to ask my Hungarian neighbor
the question pertaining to "why all the U.S. flags everywhere?" and
I wasn't about to waste my breath trying to explain it to him. You
see, my UK pal simply didn't want to hear the answer -- especially
not from some Hungarian whom could've provided a very poignant
explanation to my cocky UK bud. Deep down, my UK pal knows damn
good and well why Americans proudly pledge their allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it
stands!

I do get your point here. But I'm not an American and to me it's all a bit
of a mystery and to be honest a bore, that level of 'my country, right or
wrong'. We've been there before here.

And based on his VERY telling comment above regarding the UK's
bygone glory days, Mr. Mullen also knows why as well. Like my UK
bud who recently visited, Mr. Mullen's innocent display of "ignorance"
as to why we cherish our flag is utterly transparent and it's obvious
that he is simply jealous and resentful.

Hey, Mike, you started really well in the first person and now you're on 'Mr
Mullen' and 'he'!

Let's make this really simple (I think it is required!)

*Not everybody here is from your country*

Lots of European people really like and respect American ideals but to
criticise US foreign policy is not necessarily trolling.

I assure you I'm not jealous or resentful!

John