The
American flag is the focus of much national and nationalist feeling in the
USA. The node
flag burning amendment is a sample of the debate such feeling provokes. The
Old Glory can be found in many American
school classrooms, public offices and private homes. The affection and sentiment evoked in Americans by the
Stars and Stripes has no parallel in the emotions of the traditionally patriotic, symbol-loving
British, least of all the
English. I personally would feel extremely intimidated if I entered a teacher's office or classroom, for example, and found the
Union Flag prominently displayed there. The teacher speaks for the knowledge of past and present ages, not for the state that pays the bills. That, at least is the principle.
For the record, I work for a government-funded charity in central
London, and there is not a Union Flag in sight in our office.