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Tommy_Carcetti

(43,134 posts)
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:40 AM Jun 2020

Can we talk for a moment about something? I'm referring to the bizarre spectacle that is Trump flags

The idea of a flag is an interesting concept.

First and foremost, they are best known as a symbol of a country. They also can relate to a state, a county, a city or some other governmental entity.

Flags aren't exclusive to countries and governments, however. If you go to a tailgate event at any given sporting event, you will frequently see flags flying containing the logo of the teams playing.

And flags need not represent positive ideals. The Nazis had flags, as do the KKK.

But even at their most repulsive, or their most benign, it seems like the common denominator behind flags is that they are meant to symbolize a group of people or idea that is larger than just the one individual flying the flag.

Except for one odd exception, and that of course is the Trump Flag.

There's no one uniform version of the Trump Flag, but most of them look something like this:



There's also one with some slightly more colorful--and blatantly ironic--language like this:



Trumpists love to display their Trump flags. Especially popular, for whatever reason, is during boat parades. But you'll see them in any number of settings, including behind these two illustrious members of society who felt it prudent to recreate the murder of George Floyd in front of peaceful protesters:



The existence of the Trump Flag is truly baffling, because it's a flag, but instead of representing a country, a group of people, a movement or an ideal, it's a flag dedicated to a person. A single person.

What sort of person deserves a flag with nothing more than his name on it? I mean, even in most despotic regimes, the flags flown didn't just read "Hitler" or "Stalin."

It speaks to a double phenomenon. First, a growing cult of personality in this country around the supposed President, which is something we have never, ever seen before. (I mean, I remember a lot of nonsense from the right in the 00s around the time of the Iraq War, nonsense about how criticizing the president was somehow "unpatriotic", but I never actually saw anyone flying Bush flags).

And second, it speaks to the narcissism and insatiable ego of the man who currently occupies the White House, a man so consumed with himself that he demands flags with his name be flown by his supporters. And that is certainly terrifying in its own right.

The closest thing we have to this are the MAGA hats, which have grown to become emblematic of a movement on their own. But even those tacky pieces of red headgear don't spell out Trump's own name on them. And had their popularity simply ended with the 2016 campaign itself, you might be tempted to say that they were nothing more than a campaign relic along the line of "I Like Ike" pins or the Obama "Hope" poster, historical pieces that tie into specific election memorabilia and little more. Of course, the MAGA hats have not subsided, and are the new brownshirt of our day.

But for the life of me, I do not remember anything so remotely crass, unprecedented and abnormal as the Trump Flag itself.

Thoughts?

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Can we talk for a moment about something? I'm referring to the bizarre spectacle that is Trump flags (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 OP
Definitely displays the fervor of his mindless minions Blue Owl Jun 2020 #1
I think it's just because everything that exists is a target for Trump's "branding." The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2020 #2
I flip them a bird whenever and wherever I see them. Harker Jun 2020 #3
I saw one recently Cirque du So-What Jun 2020 #4
That orange monstrosity wants to be a despotic king sdfernando Jun 2020 #5
Insightful, thought-provoking post. Laelth Jun 2020 #6
I have never seen anything like these murielm99 Jun 2020 #7
Jonestown Thirties Child Jun 2020 #12
Tough for me to contemplate, murielm99 Jun 2020 #23
Flags have used as identifiers for millennia. As warnings, information... TreasonousBastard Jun 2020 #8
Where is the outrage? young_at_heart Jun 2020 #9
You can buy several styles of "Biden 2020" flags on Amazon, as well as a Bernie one, etc. Steelrolled Jun 2020 #10
I love Joe. I loved Obama and Clinton too. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #11
I'm with you - I'm not a flag person Steelrolled Jun 2020 #14
I have not seen a Biden flag either and glad I have not. riversedge Jun 2020 #19
Any Trump flag or yard sign... mwooldri Jun 2020 #13
Somebody needs to put bleach in the engine oil of those chuds' coal-roller trucks... backscatter712 Jun 2020 #15
They certainly help identify the people who I want to stay clear of. OAITW r.2.0 Jun 2020 #16
Cult flags SledDriver Jun 2020 #17
+1 n/t area51 Jun 2020 #27
I like the second one, but they forgot to put the word "Dump" at the top. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #18
Speaking of flags, I see a lot of pickups flying the Confederate Flag on one side of the bed but not mobeau69 Jun 2020 #20
My neighbor has one hauckeye Jun 2020 #21
It's a sign of what we're up against this year customerserviceguy Jun 2020 #22
Also a way to get around POA rules precluding yard signs. trof Jun 2020 #24
It's a personality cult. smirkymonkey Jun 2020 #25
The bellweather for me will be the MAGA hat sitting on my right-wing in-laws hat rack. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #26
Little Donald put a lot of hard work into learning how to read his name muriel_volestrangler Jun 2020 #28
I myself, prefer that the fly their flags and wear their hats. Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #29
Loyal Trumpster proudly holding Trump Russian flag keithbvadu2 Jun 2020 #30
When I was in the service (and perhaps still?) soldierant Jun 2020 #31
"RUMP -- for America's a-holes" struggle4progress Jun 2020 #32
My neighbor has an American flag with Trump in the blue section. NameAlreadyTaken Jun 2020 #33
I bet he also thinks people kneeling "dishonors" the flag... Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #35
I'm sure he does, NameAlreadyTaken Jun 2020 #38
Well Done, Tommy! LOL@BLOTUS saying "NO MORE BULLSHIT".. that's Cha Jun 2020 #34
Are Biden flags ok? I want to know before I order one. ??? jmg257 Jun 2020 #36
When will he order The Wizard Jun 2020 #37

Blue Owl

(50,226 posts)
1. Definitely displays the fervor of his mindless minions
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:45 AM
Jun 2020

Let’s make goddamn sure those flags are at half-mast in November

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,543 posts)
2. I think it's just because everything that exists is a target for Trump's "branding."
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:46 AM
Jun 2020

If he can put his name on a thing, he'll do it. Flags can be easily and cheaply produced (in China, of course); they can be made very large and can go just about anywhere. Crassness has never bothered Trump in the least.

Harker

(13,949 posts)
3. I flip them a bird whenever and wherever I see them.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:47 AM
Jun 2020

I fly the Karmapa Dream Flag. Maybe I get flipped off, too.

murielm99

(30,712 posts)
7. I have never seen anything like these
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:57 AM
Jun 2020

in my 71 years. There are a couple of them in my community.

I have commented on this here and to family members. It is cult-like behavior.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
8. Flags have used as identifiers for millennia. As warnings, information...
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 10:59 AM
Jun 2020

all sort of things. You can buy marine signal flags, football penalty flags, and, yes, you can have one printed with your name on it.

But why?

I've seen names on wedding flags and such, but that's about it. Most of us would be embarrassed to have our names whistling in the wind like that.

But, Trump is obsessed with having his name on everything he is even vaguely associated with, and it's only a small step from a sign to a flag.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
10. You can buy several styles of "Biden 2020" flags on Amazon, as well as a Bernie one, etc.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:03 AM
Jun 2020

But I don't think I've ever seen one in real life. I think the overhead of making these up is small, so flag makers do as many varieties as they can (kinda like T shirts).

Americans do have a thing about flags.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,134 posts)
11. I love Joe. I loved Obama and Clinton too.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:05 AM
Jun 2020

But I don't know whether I would actually want to go around with just their name on a flag.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
14. I'm with you - I'm not a flag person
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:07 AM
Jun 2020

nor am I bumper sticker or a lawn sign person, but I have no problem with people that go all out.

I liked the song from the 70s, Express Youself

even though I think it is more about dancing

Edit to add missing word, and add reference to Express Yourself since it is such a cool song.

mwooldri

(10,299 posts)
13. Any Trump flag or yard sign...
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:05 AM
Jun 2020

... is an invitation for me to exercise my own first amendment rights and give that display a one fingered salute. And a Fuck You. Usually while I'm driving.

Today (or tomorrow) I'll be going up US 29 via Lynchburg VA. The air will be blue in the truck.

OAITW r.2.0

(24,255 posts)
16. They certainly help identify the people who I want to stay clear of.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:08 AM
Jun 2020

On the otherhand, maybe we should start displaying the Trump flag, upside down. That would be a good use for these flags.

mobeau69

(11,131 posts)
20. Speaking of flags, I see a lot of pickups flying the Confederate Flag on one side of the bed but not
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:21 AM
Jun 2020

without our flag on the other. It’s like some cowardly cover for flying the flag of enemies to the US. I’d like to ask one of these numb skulls “which is it?” Ignorant mutherfuckers!

hauckeye

(629 posts)
21. My neighbor has one
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 11:31 AM
Jun 2020

He alternates it with the “don’t tread on me “ flag. The sad thing is he is a nice guy and I enjoy chatting with him. One of these days I’ll tell him that I’ll be cancelling out his vote in November 😄😄

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
22. It's a sign of what we're up against this year
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 01:09 PM
Jun 2020

I haven't seen any Biden flags yet. Come to think of it, even during the SC primary, I didn't see any Biden bumper stickers or yard signs, either. That suggests the possibility that there's an enthusiasm gap that we'll need to overcome.

trof

(54,256 posts)
24. Also a way to get around POA rules precluding yard signs.
Thu Jun 11, 2020, 02:00 PM
Jun 2020

We tried to keep politics out of the neighborhood.
Our covenants only allow yard signs for contractors and realtors.

This was a friendly, social, peaceful neighborhood until the few Trump banners appeared in 2015.
Now it's been split apart.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
25. It's a personality cult.
Thu Jun 11, 2020, 02:06 PM
Jun 2020

It's a sickness. One of these days, all those people are going to end up throwing them in the trash or burning them in the backyard.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,134 posts)
26. The bellweather for me will be the MAGA hat sitting on my right-wing in-laws hat rack.
Thu Jun 11, 2020, 02:09 PM
Jun 2020

One day, probably a few years down the road when all the dust has settled, I will walk in and it will be gone, as if it was never there in the first place.

No one will ever want to admit having anything to do with that thing.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,258 posts)
28. Little Donald put a lot of hard work into learning how to read his name
Thu Jun 11, 2020, 04:21 PM
Jun 2020

so it's vital that he gets as many opportunities as possible to do it now. Won't you think of Little Donald?

Mr.Bill

(24,219 posts)
29. I myself, prefer that the fly their flags and wear their hats.
Thu Jun 11, 2020, 06:18 PM
Jun 2020

It's good that they identify themselves so clearly. It will save us a lot of trouble and they will live to regret it.

I openly photograph them when I see it.

soldierant

(6,776 posts)
31. When I was in the service (and perhaps still?)
Fri Jun 12, 2020, 12:58 AM
Jun 2020

if you were a general officer and commanded a unit. your unit had a flag with the number of stars you were entitled to wear, and that flag would be flown if you were in the building, and taken down if you were not Not really a glorification - more like a sticky note.

Of course the custom comes from feudal times when royalty and lessser nobility would do the same with a flag with their coat of arms.

Someone, oh, at least 40 years ago, even wrote a little Christian song about it: "Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart...when the King is in residence there." (I liked it because it put some responsibility on the singer to live a life that showed their faith, and I particularly like the "Love" verse - yes, there were multiple verses. But times have changed.7

All quite off topic. Thanks for letting me ramble.

NameAlreadyTaken

(974 posts)
38. I'm sure he does,
Fri Jun 12, 2020, 08:48 AM
Jun 2020

though I avoid talking to him. We haven't spoken in at least a year. He's 3 houses away, so that helps. But the flag is unmissable.

Cha

(296,696 posts)
34. Well Done, Tommy! LOL@BLOTUS saying "NO MORE BULLSHIT".. that's
Fri Jun 12, 2020, 02:13 AM
Jun 2020

like saying "BLOTUS Will NEVER Be Opening his ASSFACE Mouth Again."

The Wizard

(12,527 posts)
37. When will he order
Fri Jun 12, 2020, 08:23 AM
Jun 2020

12 foot posters of his image on government building like they have in North Korea of Kim?
He and his cult are anti American and must be expunged with prejudice.

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