So, I went in to work today

[Apoc]

And outside in the parking lot was a 4Runner with a bumper sticker that said the following:

"Don't like my American Flag? Call 1-800-LEAVE-USA"

I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this bumper sticker. What do you think it is saying? What do you think it says about those who display it?

[Toastar]

this would probably be better in the australian one, if you dont like the flag of your country, leave it!

:rolleyes:

[Modest Genius]

i think it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of phone numbers, ie, that they are NUMBERS

oh and probably xenophobia too

[Grunt]

I don't think that the bumper sticker in question is xenophobic. I think it says "if you don't like the USA, you don't have to stay." I think people who have it are just trying to let everyone know about what they believe in.

[Prowl]

so what about foreign nationals that see it while incarcerated without trial or access to legal advice? What exactly are they supposed to do?

[GoatChomper]

Await deportation if here unlawfully.

[kreket]

"Don't like my Swastika Flag? Call 1-800-LEAVE-DEUTSCHLAND"

Pretty much sums up where I stand. A flag isn't always equal to it's country and can sometimes take on a new meaning. A problem in some countries is how extreme nationalists manage to take monopoly on the symbols of the nation and patriotism. The flag ends up with symbolising a hard and though armed and racist policy rather than the nation itself. You could argue that this happens because that's what the majority think is great ideas, but that doesn't explain how neonazi groups with less than 1 % of the population manage to do so.

[BlindSite]

This guy is essentially saying if you don't like me believing in my nation and being proud to wave the flag then get out.

I agree. If you don't like the country you're living in you can leave, its that simple. If you try to make it more than just dissent or even advocate such action then you can leave.

[Moe_Rahn]

If you try to make it more than just decent or even advocate such action then you can leave.
What the hell does that mean? "If you try to make it more than just decent". Make your country more than just decent? I'd prefer my country to be more than just decent, thanks; hell, I'd enjoy it if my country were fucking amazing.

I do enjoy how "GTFO NOOB" is considered a suitable response to those who find any fault with one's country nowadays. To explain my thoughts on the matter better, I'll break it down to a local level. My neighbor has a dog. The dog runs around his yard and barks loudly every night, keeping me awake. From my lack of sleep, I'm tired at work, and unable to do my job properly. To solve this problem, do I move away? No, I go over to my neighbor's house, and do everything in my power to convince him to shut his god damned dog up at night. I don't move away from my problem, I try to fix my problem. Running away just to dodge a problem that you can work to fix should be a last resort, if it's even a resort at all.

[Violin]

I think it means if you dont like the USA, you do not have to stay. Its your CHOICE to pick up the phone and call :)

[Moe_Rahn]

I think it means if you dont like the USA, you do not have to stay.
Oh, he almost certainly means that, it's just that I can't at all decipher his turn of phrase.

Ah, an edit. Thanks, I s'pose it makes a lot more sense then. Dissent's fine by me, 'long as you keep it civil.

[Ch33zy]

i think it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of phone numbers, ie, that they are NUMBERS

oh and probably xenophobia too

So, in europe, they don't have that stupd 2"abc"3"defg" thingy?

Oh, and tell me, how is that xenophobic? I dont recall it saying "[ethnic group] sucks! Kick them bastards out!"

[Kak]

Yeah it's not really xenophobic, as it's targetting anyone who doesn't like his American flag. I do think that's a lame bumper sticker though. And there's a LOT more into leaving a country than "This place sucks, I'm leaving!".

[Daywalker]

I think it means if you dont like the USA, you do not have to stay. Its your CHOICE to pick up the phone and call :)


no, what it means is, if you don't like it, call the number and leave a message so they can fix it.



Its a tough call, there are some people that just hate everything about the country like the culture and traditions, and you just want to say, if you hate it so much leave.

[M123]

So, in europe, they don't have that stupd 2"abc"3"defg" thingy?

Europe has a similar system, but slightly different.

[Shinobi]

What the hell does that mean? "If you try to make it more than just decent". Make your country more than just decent? I'd prefer my country to be more than just decent, thanks; hell, I'd enjoy it if my country were fucking amazing.

I do enjoy how "GTFO NOOB" is considered a suitable response to those who find any fault with one's country nowadays. To explain my thoughts on the matter better, I'll break it down to a local level. My neighbor has a dog. The dog runs around his yard and barks loudly every night, keeping me awake. From my lack of sleep, I'm tired at work, and unable to do my job properly. To solve this problem, do I move away? No, I go over to my neighbor's house, and do everything in my power to convince him to shut his god damned dog up at night. I don't move away from my problem, I try to fix my problem. Running away just to dodge a problem that you can work to fix should be a last resort, if it's even a resort at all.

pretty much how I feel,, it's not like these people hate the country (as always I'm speaking of course about the rational protestors), they just dont agree with it's direction... I dunno, if the american dream still works then if enough people have a problem with the way it's being run, then that will show in the next election.... then again it is run on a 2-party system.....

[Modest Genius]

So, in europe, they don't have that stupd 2"abc"3"defg" thingy?if you mean letters on the number keys, yes we do (on all mobiles and some, but not all, landlines). but thats only for text messaging, noone would ever give a phone number by the letters (for a start, theres 3 or 4 on each, how would you decide?)
Oh, and tell me, how is that xenophobic? I dont recall it saying "[ethnic group] sucks! Kick them bastards out!"well, i was assuming that it was directed at non-americans, seeing as theyre pretty much the only people who could have a problem with an american flag

[Dave]

if you mean letters on the number keys, yes we do (on all mobiles and some, but not all, landlines). but thats only for text messaging, noone would ever give a phone number by the letters (for a start, theres 3 or 4 on each, how would you decide?)

ahahaha.

The bumper sticker makes a bit sense but its kinda cheesy so im gonna give it a 2/10.

[Captain Colon]

how would you decide?)
Well usually you look at a word and then figure out which numbers represent the letters in the word based on the code. 1-800-FONE-SEX is a lot easier to remember than 1-800-366-3739. Nobody gives their HOME number by letters unless it happens to spell something cool and they want everyone to know.
well, i was assuming that it was directed at non-americans, seeing as theyre pretty much the only people who could have a problem with an american flag
I lol'd

[Ch33zy]

if you mean letters on the number keys, yes we do (on all mobiles and some, but not all, landlines). but thats only for text messaging, noone would ever give a phone number by the letters (for a start, theres 3 or 4 on each, how would you decide?)
well, i was assuming that it was directed at non-americans, seeing as theyre pretty much the only people who could have a problem with an american flag

You realize it says LEAVE the USA... Right? Not "Leave the USA alone"...

[kreket]

You realize it says LEAVE the USA... Right? Not "Leave the USA alone"...

You consider deportations better than closed borders?

I know that´s not exactly what you are saying, but it is how it rings in my ears.

[Ch33zy]

Not only that, you took me out of context. What I said pertained to Modest's misconception that it was directed outward, instead of our own citizenry.

[GoatChomper]

You consider deportations better than closed borders?
Quite a stretch, that.....equating the pointing out that one is free to leave with forced deportation.

[Modest Genius]

You realize it says LEAVE the USA... Right? Not "Leave the USA alone"...
yes? there are these things called immigrants you know

[[Political] Slayer]

yes, and these immigrants should not come to our country if they want to burn our flag and hate the US, that would be like if you invited a guest over, and he did nothing but bitch about everything that is wrong about your house, about you, and then did something that grossly offended you, I bet you would throw them out.

[Lord Kelvin]

To me, it looks like the sticker's saying "Don't like our President? Get out of our country!" or something like that, what with the stuff the government's been implying about that "wave the flag" crap and "terrorists attack us because they are jealous of us and hate democracy". I mean, WTF is that? Who the hell doesn't want to make their own decisions? If the administration really thinks that the terrorists are attacking us because they hate democracy, then I've really lost faith in the government.

[GoatChomper]

To me, it looks like the sticker's saying "Don't like our President? Get out of our country!" or something like that.....
Another stretch.

Newsflash: this same bumpersticker message and others like it are older than most of you, and probably older than I. I saw similar ones in the Sixties stating, "Keep America clean...shoot a hippie".

[puke o'hara]

Why would immigrants, illegal or legal, have beef with the american flag?

[Ch33zy]

Why would immigrants, illegal or legal, have beef with the american flag?

Exactly. It's not directed at immigrants in any way.

[Modest Genius]

by the same token, why would anyone living in america?

[Ch33zy]

Ask the people that burn it in protest.

[Chris R]

by the same token, why would anyone living in america?
I think it's more directed towards the people that have no problem reaping the benifits of living in the country with a very high standard of living, yet are always finding reason to complain and protest this or that, or burn the flag as Ch33zy said.

[GoatChomper]

Why would immigrants, illegal or legal, have beef with the american flag?
Because the dickheads who run MEChA, LULAC, MALDEF, and La Raza Unida know damn good and well that guilt trips and identity politcs serve their purposes very well indeed.