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PJMcK

(25,055 posts)
3. The U.S. Flag Code
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 01:07 PM
Nov 2020

I've always been particularly disturbed by the lack of respect shown by violations of (d) below. Remember in 1972 when the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team had the Stars and Stripes on their swimsuits? (Also, see (j) below.) That was as bad as the MAGAs dressing up in the flag for political rallies.

(g) is violated by the thin blue line flag supposedly supporting law enforcement and the Trump campaign (of course).

When my son was in Boy Scouts, I was one of the Troop leaders and we would have an annual retiring of the flag event. The old flag would be burned in a campfire. The next day, we'd sift through the ashes for the grommets which we would then bury. As the Code states in (j), "The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing."

Alas, the Supreme Court basically nullified the Flag Code when they ruled that burning the flag was protected speech under the First Amendment.
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4 U.S. Code §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.
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Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

My trump neighbor took his American flag down when the networks announced Biden. CrispyQ Nov 2020 #1
And when Biden won, I turned my flag right side up. It must be difficult to be "them." LOL. 42bambi Nov 2020 #2
The U.S. Flag Code PJMcK Nov 2020 #3
I harp about the lack of flag respect too. CrispyQ Nov 2020 #4
I got into fights on Facebook about some of this... moose65 Nov 2020 #5
Thank you for that. I have some flags that have to be disposed of and wanted to do it respectfully judesedit Nov 2020 #6
THIS!!! llashram Nov 2020 #7
You are so right 4Q2u2 Nov 2020 #13
Lucky you. My trumpian neighbor does not ever speak in public her horrible trumpian Ninga Nov 2020 #8
Since my neighbor is such a nice guy and his family are all, too, I am loathe to comment on FB. CTyankee Nov 2020 #10
I get it. My neighbor is always nice too. It I sadly learned the truth reading her posts on Ninga Nov 2020 #15
My neighbor still has their Trump sign in their window. Mr.Bill Nov 2020 #9
Not much you can do with that. Maybe he had a vision from God, like the saints... CTyankee Nov 2020 #11
Trumpers are perfectly capable of being good people... Lucky Luciano Nov 2020 #14
So spot on! Trumpets have no tolerance for anyone not within their sphere. Their brains Ninga Nov 2020 #16
Isn't it funny how that happens? FakeNoose Nov 2020 #12
Our crazy, and a bit scary, Trump neighbor DavidDvorkin Nov 2020 #17
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