Why do Americans salute a flag? It's just a piece of material that they did not even design?

Question

The US flag evolved from that of the East India Company UK
despite what you are told.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_East_India_Company#Flags

Answer 1

I think the overt display of patriotism dislays a basic insecurity about your heritage. (We brits, of course, just know we are the gratest nation on earth and don't need such rituals!)

BTW, Here in Bristol, everyone knows that America was named after Richard Amerik, one of the merchant venturers who funded Cabots voyage, and who's family crest just happens to be - a shield with stars and stripes!

Answer 2

Why do Men salute their gigglesticks every night? Because it feels good! No, kidding...

When I look at the American Flag I don't think about where it came from, all 50 states, founding forefathers, or how much I think Bush is messing up, blah blah blah... Coming from a military family, I think about ancestors, and the other men and women who died for what this country stands for... Freedom against the nazis and commies' and good dental hygiene! The flag can represent different things for different people. That's why some people choose not to salute it, throw it in a toilet and burn it. That's their prerogative, I don't really give a crap. If "Mooby the Golden Calf" was the nations' symbol of pride and unity, I'm sure we'd all be saluting a big golden cow right now, but I guess the UK thought a flag would be more fitting...

Answer 3

Having lived half of my life in the UK and half in the US, my belief that one of the few ways that the British have to make themselves feel better by (besides football) putting other countries down, particularly the US is confirmed here. The US will always be a target for critisism due to its global importance, and is not helped by the fact that T Blair is too much of a coward to tell Bush what an *** he is.

But isn't it about time you took some pride in your flag - you celebrate St . Patrick's day more than St. George's, and you define yourselves by who you are not (French, Welsh). There is a real identity crisis amongst the English nationality as a whole, and before critisising how others choose to live, perhaps as a nation you should try to understand what you are about, then you might be able to appreciate that people are different. Have a nice day is not something cheesy that we say in the US to annoy Brits, it is just what we say, and one small aspect of our culture.

The question here really has to be, why do the British feel that they have to dismiss everything that America is - is it because of their own inadequacies. Just be proud of what you have done, invented, produced, are. Apologies to the small percentage of Brits who don't have hang-ups about the US!

Answer 4

It’s rather simple really it’s the symbol of our country and so to salute it is a way to show pride and patriotism in our country. Were the flags design roots come from really doesn’t matter it’s what it stands for that’s important. Not to mention your average American doesn’t ever salute the flag that is primarily done by the military in uniform and other government agencies.

Answer 5

Because they have PRIDE in their country and BELIEVE in themselves and because of this a lot of the world think they are a bunch of w*nkers. but listen up they are the United Kingdoms best friend and stop knocking them. we couldn't have won world war two without them despite Hollywood forgetting that we were actually there, so maybe we should ask why don't we salute the Union Flag or the flag of ST George, or the cross of ST Andrew or the Welsh Dragon. Be proud of your country. we could learn a lot form our American cousins. OK Bush is a prat but hey we have Blair so that evens things out on that score.

Answer 6

In the UK services, if an officer has his flag flying on his car, then everybody salutes the flag, NOT the officer inside the car, and even if the car is empty, that flag STILL has to be saluted!

Answer 7

I'm sure you know the answer to this question. Wherever you're from (if not from the US), the same thing is done, albeit probably in a different manner. Most "civilized" people tend to show allegiance/respect to their country by saluting, or other culturally accepted ways. I think most Americans don't really care where the design of the flag came from. All we care about is that it represents "us", the GREATEST NATION IN THE WORLD!!!!

Answer 8

that's approximately what the flag symbolizes and represents, yet for sure out of your questions you're far too ignorant to understand that. extremely our flag grew to become into based on the British flag, that's smart because of the fact we've been a British colony until eventually we proclaimed our Independence. Plus, the British East India business enterprise flag had the Union Jack on it after 1801--their flags on no account had the celebs and Stripes on it.

Answer 9

Americans salute the american flag because of all the people who died for this country. Whether we designed it or not, we did create the style. So, we salute the flag out of respect for those who have died for this country and those who are still dying for this country.

Answer 10

Im pretty sure its because they were invented nearly 400 years ago by the British and so have no national identity of thier own to speak of.They will salute anything in front of them.Also isnt the old american flag the same as the new one but with the British Union flag in place of the stars?

Answer 11

We sing to our flag in Canada, It's just a way to unify a country and having pride in all that country has accomplished together. The origin of the flag isn't as important as what it symbolizes. Are you making a point or asking a question?