Are we disrespecting our flag?

[john_opitz]

§ 8. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can verify the full document here;

Flag Code

[Ed_L]

Good post John. I wonder how many people know the code. I sure didn't know the whole thing. After the 9-11 attack, we hung a large flag that had been used when my father-in-law passed away, and it was given to the family. It was hung not on a pole, but it hung from the ceiling of our front porch. It had only been up there for a couple of days when some kids tore it down during the middle of the night. I found it the next morning on top of a car about a block away. It had been torn to shreds. If I had known the code, it wouldn't have happened. It won't happen again. That's for sure.

Ed

[DJ Dubovsky]

Although I didn't know all the items in the list of proper Flag respect, I did know a few. That was very enlightening and a good item to post.
Mostly I agree with it and the Military and government should follow those rules as a matter of proper decorum, but when I see an average person draped in the flag whether it's on their hat or shirts or even shoes, I see someone who says I'm a part of this flag and it's a part of me so I wear it proudly so everyone will know what's in my heart. When people attach them to their homes and cars and they fall off or get worn with time I still see pride not disrespect even though it hurts to see them worn and battered along the roadside. I still see that those colors mean something to them and maybe they don't know how to display it in the best fashion but it's what's in their hearts that speak respect. The only time I see true disrespect is when people are maliciously destroying it in the name of hate and I'm so glad that I have seen a time when we all want to wrap ourselves in that precious flag. Just my way of seeing things.
DJ

[Ed_L]

Deb, that might be the best post ever! I completely agree. One thing that really turns me off is when I see a flag displayed by a business, and it's all beaten up, and they let it fly that way for quite some time without replacing it. Our local library had one like that early last year. I gave them a call to let them know I wasn't happy with it. They quickly replaced it.

Ed

[DJ Dubovsky]

Well, thank you Ed. And you're right, businesses should comply with proper flag display just because it shows them in their best light. If they can't respect thier flag then how can they respect their customers? Simple as that. The library is a branch of the government and should show a good example. The reason I say they should and not an average person is because they are entities or collective groups not individuals with individual feelings and passions. I may be wrong in my thinking, I don't know.
DJ

[john_opitz]

I figured it would be good to know for the holiday. I been getting some talk on it, when I photograph people with it. Since Sept.11. But true. I have seen commericals(Ace Hardware) ads with a paper cup with the flag on it. I think that breaks the (i) code. But true. In that sense I agree with Ms. Dubovsky. The other thing, breaking the "flag code" is not breaking the law. As we know, we can burn the flag if someone wanted to, out of disrespect. But its more of a moral issue than legal.

[Doug Nelson]

I wonder how our non-U.S. members' attitude towards their own national flag compares to this?

[DJ Dubovsky]

I remember that Korean speed skater throwing his national flag in a fit of rage after loosing to the American in a judgement call during the winter olympics and I was really disturbed by his lack of respect for his country's flag. I doubt that's the norm for those outside the US but I guess the respect for our flag was ingrained in me because I was affected by that disrespectful gesture.
DJ

[Flora]

Hi John, Ed, DJ, Doug!

I'll probably disappoint you all describing the Italians' attitude torwards our national flag....

We also have rules on how treating our flag, and we all respect it, but, generally speaking, we are not as attached to it as you Americans are....We tend to carry and wave it mostly during international sport events....

With all this, I've yet to see an Italian throwing away the national flag for reasons other than needing more freedom of movement to run away from a riot (alas, here in Europe "after sport, (particularly soccer), riots are wide spread....

[d_kendal]

In Canada, it's become very popular to sew an embroidered canada flag on your backpack or bag, and you can get almost anything with the canadian flag on it (from clothing to cell phone face plates). I don't see that kind of thing as unpatriotic, I see it as the opposite. however, people still follow some of those rules John posted, like not letting the flag touch the ground etc.

- David

[rondon]

I agree pretty much with all... except the 1st.. and his type worry me.. a vet.

[Mig]

says Kendal, "In Canada, it's become very popular to sew an embroidered canada flag on your backpack or bag..."

In Canada we do this so when we go on trips to Europe or elsewhere, people don't mistake us for Americans.

[DJ Dubovsky]

Next time I find myself outside the country I may just do that too. I think the US flag looks too much like a bulls eye target these days.
DJ

[john_opitz]

<>I agree pretty much with all... except the 1st.. and his type worry me.. a vet.<>

No need to worry Mr. Rodon I am not a Vet. Even though I was employed by the United States Embassy to the United Nations....as a freelancer. One good thing I got out of it(I think). I became a certified scuba diver. I thought I was just going sport diving. Till a Seal instructor showed up.

[rondon]

well... don't quite get your drift there john... but in any event it was myself I refered to as "the vet".. but as sweet flora's presence indicates .. this is a multi- national forum... and hopefully not political...
I have a flag .. a new one... the last wore itself out on the pole...

I hope you didn't blow a cork over my submission to retouch challenge # 8 ... http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/...8_donahue.html

in any event.... loosen up and let your good side out here... thats what this place is for