My friend and French poker writer Benjo made a post during the WSOP about the abundance of American flags and pride.  There were flags of all, errrr most nations on the tables during the 2008 WSOP Main Event.  Benjo may be French but don’t label him with the French stereotype because Benjo loves America and is nice, friendly, funny and did I mention very, very, very nice.

 Photo Courtesy Benjo. Jean-Claude Perrot and Patrick Bueno showing France-American friendship.

As for our American flag pride…  It’s a result of many things.  Here’s a few suggestions…

America is a young country (relatively speaking).  We don’t have the youngest flag nor the youngest independence on the continent but we did win a big battle to create a flag. And the people that died in battle were people that left their homelands in search of freedom, right?  So, imagine this… you leave your wife, parents or children behind and travel in horrible conditions across the pond.  Maybe your mother, children or spouse traveled with you but you watched them die on the way.  You finally get to this so called New World with loneliness, depression and or fear to start a new life.  And just when you thought you were out of hell and could finally party like a Quaker or get the nerve to hit the Quaker singles scene… you’re suddenly forced to Kill or kneel (this rhymes with southern accents).  OK, OK, all nations undergo hell for freedom.

So then maybe it’s because, compared to Europe with history on every street corner, Americans have few historical buildings symbolizing who we are as a nation.  Sure, we have the Liberty Bell (made in London), the Statue of Liberty (made in France) and the Lincoln Memorial (designed after a Greek temple) but how many Americans have actually traveled our large country to see and touch these sites?  I’m embarrassed to say Ozzy Osbourne infamously saw the Alamo years before my first visit. 

I would also suggest the flag is one of the things Americans have enabling some sort of unity.  Being a young nation/culture of people leaving cultures/nations, there are times we find we have little in common.  So, I guess that makes the American flag kind of like a poker tournament.  Poker games provide temporary fun for players of many ages, nations, race, occupations, sexual preference, hair color and gender.  I don’t mean to sound discriminatory but where else would a cracker-ass housewife be hanging out with a 420 hippie burn out, mathematician, rap star, stripper, attorney, orthodox jew and famous actor at the same table? 

For the record… I have no idea where those flags in the Amazon Ballroom came from but I’m really jealous I didn’t get an American flag. Or better yet, a Texas flag… for the great state of Texas which is the only state mentioned in the game… Texas Holdem.