Reply #31: let me give you an example

[paulsby]

in the UK, i see union jacks everywhere

lots of national pride and resistance to EU uniformities

in france, they have a ministry of culture (how orwellian) that can FINE businesses, etc. for using non-french phrases, etc. in advertising and signage, etc. in other words, enforcing language and culture via the barrel of a gun.

people here get apoplectic over "freedom fries" et al, but we don't have a GOVERNMENT AGENCY fining people for daring to use other languages

americans do celebrate our uniqueness and our greatness, fwiw.

god knows i do.

i didn't see a lot of flag waving here until we were attacked on 9/11

i fly a flag at my house and i'm glad i can do so

there was a court case recently where a public university told a student he couldn't place a flag in his dorm room window, out of "sensitivity" to others on campus

fortunately, the campus was forced to allow him to do so after an appeal was filed.