Last night I watched three medalists get their group picture taken. The Canadian and Hungarian had their flags to drape around their shoulders. The American didn’t have a flag.
I thought that was sad, that she was the only one in the group pic without a flag of her country to wear.
Three Jamaicans are wearing their flag now. I think it’s cool.
Oh my heavens. It seems like the critiquing of things the athletes do or don’t do it getting a bit over the top IMO.
Sometimes I think it is disrespectful of our flag to drape it over the athlete’s shoulders but I am of an age where I was taught to respect the flag 
… if other countries choose to disrespect their flag, their choice, their call.
Each county has their own conventions of what constitutes “respect” for their flag.
[QUOTE=Janet;8797061]
Each county has their own conventions of what constitutes “respect” for their flag.[/QUOTE]
Exactly
As we each have our own opinions
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8797040]
Oh my heavens. It seems like the critiquing of things the athletes do or don’t do it getting a bit over the top IMO.
Sometimes I think it is disrespectful of our flag to drape it over the athlete’s shoulders but I am of an age where I was taught to respect the flag … if other countries choose to disrespect their flag, their choice, their call.[/QUOTE]
Yes! When I was growing up we had very strict expectations of handling the flag!
It did not stay up at night if it wasn’t lit, etc. You never “wore” it or any item of clothing/tee shirt that depicted the flag even in abstract! I’m still undecided about the flag lapel pin!
Oh goodness, don’t get me started on the national anthem…
Maybe there wasn’t anyone to hand her one. Watching the track and field last night, the athletes were getting handed flags from people in the stands, it wasn’t like there were flags there available for them.
[QUOTE=js;8798106]
Maybe there wasn’t anyone to hand her one. Watching the track and field last night, the athletes were getting handed flags from people in the stands, it wasn’t like there were flags there available for them.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. This has been the tradition at Olympics and other big events in the past. The flags of different nations are flapped from the stands after a race, and the winners sometimes go to the stands and acknowledge their countrymen by taking a flag from the spectators, which is then worn (and, gifted from fan to athlete).
It’s not usually something planned in advance. It’s the same as when flowers rain down on the ice in figure skating and the skater picks up some of the bundles and skates around with them in her/his arms.
I think it’s socially interesting that some people constantly want to prescribe correct behavior, and project their own views toward symbols and ceremonies onto everyone else.
Sorry, but you control only yourself. (Not meaning the OP, necessarily, but the general you)
Want to display a flag on your house? Do so. Want to stand with your hand over your heart for the national anthem every time you hear it? Do so. Want to wave a tiny stick flag from the stands? Do that. Want to wave a bigger one made of fabric? That’s your option, too. Want to recite the words “under god” in the pledge? Do so, as loud as you like.
But quit pointing out the perceived lack of respect among everyone else who’s doing, in your opinion, an inferior job of displaying their jingoism. Not everyone wants an extra thing to carry. Not everyone wants to sing along, or recite along, to anything.
I get so tired of people equating jingoism with patriotism. People don’t “display” their real feelings about their own countries when gathering for sporting or other cultural events, and we shouldn’t be compelled to do so.
And we shouldn’t encourage this idea of scanning the crowd (or looking at athlete behaviors on TV) to see who’s living up to our standards of “patriotic” behavior. How insecure is a person who cares about that? The rules are so arbitrary anyway, and they’re always evolving. And, (shocker) you can’t tell where people were born, or where they live now, just by looking at them.
People in the stands or watching at home should give up these petty insecurities and quit whining about what spectators or winners are doing (or not doing) with regard to their own personal symbols and ceremonies.
Heck, in this day and age we should just be happy any time a huge crowd comes together in a venue, and there’s no violence. Everyone present gets home, after the cheering, safely, to their loved ones. Celebrate that.
I think people need to stop criticizing the athletes and medal winners for every move they make. Let them enjoy the moment and stop your complaining.
If I were an American athlete at the olympics I wouldn’t touch an American flag with a ten foot poll for fear of what the flag patriotism police would do to me if they disapproved of any particular 5 seconds of my interaction with the flag. It’s the happiest moment of your life and someone hands you the equivalent of a reputation firecracker. It’s not worth it. Someone will always find a way to clutch their pearls and be offended and now that they’ve got the Internet they can drum up a mob and ruin you.
[QUOTE=BAC;8798189]
I think people need to stop criticizing the athletes and medal winners for every move they make. Let them enjoy the moment and stop your complaining.[/QUOTE]
++
[QUOTE=BAC;8798189]
I think people need to stop criticizing the athletes and medal winners for every move they make. Let them enjoy the moment and stop your complaining.[/QUOTE]
Yes, these.
[QUOTE=Janet;8797061]
Each county has their own conventions of what constitutes “respect” for their flag.[/QUOTE]
And how that is tied to their pride in their national identity.
Take it easy, people. I wasn’t scanning any crowds or criticizing anybody’s behavior. I wasn’t complaining or whining about it. I was saying I thought it was too bad that one woman was the only one in her group of three without a flag to wear. She just happened to be an American. She could have been French or Italian or Malaysian. I didn’t say anything about whether or not she “should” wear her flag or even if she wanted to, because I don’t know her.
Since then I’ve seen other US athletes wearing their flag and I thought that was cool. I. Personally. Thought it was cool. I don’t know what they thought.
I’m also old enough to remember when flying the flag after dark was not OK. Now evidently it is. I’m not whining or complaining or judging about that either.
Then I’m still confused… an athlete needs to do what the others do in order to be ‘ok’?
How 'bout it’s ok for an athlete to do what they choose do???
[QUOTE=Janet;8797061]
Each county has their own conventions of what constitutes “respect” for their flag.[/QUOTE]
But I’ve definitely seen American’s wear their flag during track and field. I feel like they were the ones who started the whole flag wearing thing originally.
For sure Justin Gaitlin did it last night.
[QUOTE=NCRider;8798377]
If I were an American athlete at the olympics I wouldn’t touch an American flag with a ten foot poll for fear of what the flag patriotism police would do to me if they disapproved of any particular 5 seconds of my interaction with the flag. It’s the happiest moment of your life and someone hands you the equivalent of a reputation firecracker. It’s not worth it. Someone will always find a way to clutch their pearls and be offended and now that they’ve got the Internet they can drum up a mob and ruin you.[/QUOTE]
But then of course you would be criticized for being “unpatriotic”. You pretty much can’t win.
[QUOTE=Janet;8797061]
Each county has their own conventions of what constitutes “respect” for their flag.[/QUOTE]
yes Janet and others are very correct. The flag is not an item of apparel nor is it to be draped over things except in certain conditions and in compliance with rules.
I sent a letter to the USEF when they used a picture on their web site of a winning horse at some international event with a flag draped over it, quarter sheet fashion. This was not some fabric painted to look like a flag, it was a flag with gromets.
I suggested that riders to international events be given a protocol for flag display
I also wrote twice to the USEF about the incorrect placement of the flag on the riders saddle pads. I see they have finally provided saddle pads with proper flag orientation.
I’m also old enough to remember when flying the flag after dark was not OK. Now evidently it is.
no it is still not, a flag can be flown after dark if it is properly illuminated.
[QUOTE=hoopoe;8799737]
yes Janet and others are very correct. The flag is not an item of apparel nor is it to be draped over things except in certain conditions and in compliance with rules.
I sent a letter to the USEF when they used a picture on their web site of a winning horse at some international event with a flag draped over it, quarter sheet fashion. This was not some fabric painted to look like a flag, it was a flag with gromets.
I suggested that riders to international events be given a protocol for flag display
I also wrote twice to the USEF about the incorrect placement of the flag on the riders saddle pads. I see they have finally provided saddle pads with proper flag orientation.[/QUOTE]
This is a US-centric viewpoint.
Other nationalities often have a more comfortable relationship with their flag and find wearing it in many ways meaningful to their nationality and culture. Canadians, for example, when they travel abroad often display a Canadian flag somewhere…from luggage to lapel pins…in order to be identified as Canadians.
That said, any perceived disrespect in the handling of the Canadian flag or any other national icon would not be tolerated…note the outrage when a certain tenor recently changed the words to the “Oh Canada” national anthem to further his political viewpoints at an MLB all-star game. That incurred the wrath of Canadians and Canada’s Minister of Heritage.
I for one am not offended by the national pride displayed by our athletes in use of our flag. On the other hand, the Tenor’s change to the Oh Canada anthem was inappropriate and disrespectful.
I think Hoopoe you really need to take inconsideration the cultural context in which the athletes display their national flag and realize that it is THEIR flag…not Old Glory.
[QUOTE=Dee-Vee;8800152]
This is a US-centric viewpoint.
Other nationalities often have a more comfortable relationship with their flag and find wearing it in many ways meaningful to their nationality and culture. Canadians, for example, when they travel abroad often display a Canadian flag somewhere…from luggage to lapel pins…in order to be identified as Canadians.
That said, any perceived disrespect in the handling of the Canadian flag or any other national icon would not be tolerated…note the outrage when a certain tenor recently changed the words to the “Oh Canada” national anthem to further his political viewpoints at an MLB all-star game. That incurred the wrath of Canadians and Canada’s Minister of Heritage.
I for one am not offended by the national pride displayed by our athletes in use of our flag. On the other hand, the Tenor’s change to the Oh Canada anthem was inappropriate and disrespectful.
I think Hoopoe you really need to take inconsideration the cultural context in which the athletes display their national flag and realize that it is THEIR flag…not Old Glory.[/QUOTE]
I am only talking in context of the display of the USA flag, as a continuation of what Janet and others said about the difference in display rules between countries.
what others choose to do to honor is up to them
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