Not so fast.
Some citizens own flags which they raise and lower proudly in their front yards. Even if individuals don’t consider themselves all that patriotic, it’s still pretty common to buy a flag on July 4th, the nation’s birthday and a popular US holiday.
What many well-meaning flag buyers don’t know is that there is a disturbing truth to the origin of a number of American flags—one that would make the most jingoist American fall over dead from shame and shock.
Believe it or not, there’s a chance that American flag you were flying wasn’t actually American in origin.
An estimated 7.5 million foreign-made American flags are sold each year. Over $3.8 million in foreign flag purchases were made in 2012 alone.
The origin of many of those imported flags was actually China. My condolences to the families of the ultraconservative patriarchs that didn’t make it through that last sentence.
Given how many items Americans use or wear that come to us directly from China, this probably isn’t much of a surprise to anyone. However, it seems a bizarre thing to import, if only from the perspective of national pride.
Before you pick up your pitchforks and head to Washington, there is some comforting news: These imported flags represent on average mere 5% of all flags used in the United States.
Some citizens own flags which they raise and lower proudly in their front yards. Even if individuals don’t consider themselves all that patriotic, it’s still pretty common to buy a flag on July 4th, the nation’s birthday and a popular US holiday.
What many well-meaning flag buyers don’t know is that there is a disturbing truth to the origin of a number of American flags—one that would make the most jingoist American fall over dead from shame and shock.
Believe it or not, there’s a chance that American flag you were flying wasn’t actually American in origin.
An estimated 7.5 million foreign-made American flags are sold each year. Over $3.8 million in foreign flag purchases were made in 2012 alone.
The origin of many of those imported flags was actually China. My condolences to the families of the ultraconservative patriarchs that didn’t make it through that last sentence.
Given how many items Americans use or wear that come to us directly from China, this probably isn’t much of a surprise to anyone. However, it seems a bizarre thing to import, if only from the perspective of national pride.
Before you pick up your pitchforks and head to Washington, there is some comforting news: These imported flags represent on average mere 5% of all flags used in the United States.
