I suppose that people feel a lot of pressure to show patriotism by displaying the flag, but flags have been sold out and China hasn't caught up with demand yet (somebody posted a WSJ article to that effect). So, people here are swiping other people's flags.
I just happened to pick this time to reread Artur London's L'Aveu. I can just imagine an interrogation where one tries to explain why one didn't show the flag. "I had to wait until they were available in the stores." "And why didn't you have a flag already?" "I did. It was stolen." And the interrogator stares at the victim in disbelief. Labor camp for sure.
I keep thinking of e. e. cummings "i sing of olaf glad and big."
-- John K. Taber