support an amendment to make burning a flag a crime. To fly the flag, unlit at night is a total sign of disrespect. Like interrupting the President.

never is the flag to be flown during inclement weather. Also, the flag is to be properly disposed of when worn. I just see flagrant violations of this all over the place. And now we have a car oil change place that must have about twenty flags stuck all around it as an advertising gimmick. I just find it all so disrespectful and tacky.

But not the rest. My pet flag peeve in Texas are businesses with the state flag upside Dow.

when it is made from material that will not be easily damaged or worn by that weather. all weather flags can be flown in the rain. however, when that flag shows distress wear and tear it is to be replaced.

sP

replies and had not known that at all. I think I have one of these I picked up recently in a yard sale. It seems to be made of nylon or something. It's certainly not just cotton, etc.

about how the flag is to be flown and then wrong state how it SHOULD be flown. if you are going to fly the flag of the USA or any country really...i generally will err on the side of caution and NOT display it during bad weather, though.

and yes, there are certainly proper and improper ways to display it. i think what would twist the noodles of loads of people who DO display the flag (especially the worn and tattered ones) is that the proper way to dispose of a flag is to burn it.

sP

of protocol about the flag. When you can raise it, when you have to lower it (before dark), when you can't fly it at all, exactly how you take it off the pole so as to keep it off the ground, how to fold it, how to carry it away from the flagpole, how to store it until the next time it was raised.

This apparently was seen as a symbolic way of showing respect for the country. It didn't make too much sense to me, and I haven't turned out to be a flag-waving kind of patriot. But I did like the idea of all the ceremonial details, the idea that it was important to do a certain thing correctly, and the idea of having enough self-respect to be careful about something.

It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think they are showing their patriotism by leaving the flag out all the time, when too me it just looks as if they're saying they don't give a shit about anything, including the flag and the country.

all in the Boy Scouts in the 1950's, and all of the ceremonial details too. I've been shocked at how many people treat the flag today, what they think it stands for, and how they identify it with their specific causes and agendas than for the entire USA. I do think some of them don't give a shit about the flag or the country, and certainly not about all of the people.

Officer and when I was on foot patrol, I would have to lower the Flag. I never had another Officer help me with this. What I would do is grab the first student I saw, have him or her hold the Flag, while I folded it. I didn't care if the student was male/female, citizen or not, they all learned to fold it correctly.

One in front and one in back. The back one is illuminated by his yard light, and makes a great weather station for us, since it's visible from the computer here.

My neighbor is a Democrat, though much more conservative than my family.

I think he's just patriotic.

One thing I've noticed, when I've been in Canada, there are plenty of businesses flying the Canadian flag, especially in Winnipeg, compared to rural northwestern Ontario. I don't think you'd find as many residences flying the Canadian flag, but I could be wrong.

Kind of like Texas, where the Lone Star Flag is ubiquitous.

Since the dawn of artillery, artillery officers have been very grateful for the revelations of these field conditions near the targets of their bombardments.

I don't know about dropping dumb bombs, but I rather suspect that similar meterological consideration is useful in achieving strikes on target.

I take it down when the weather is bad and when it is worn. I get new ones every so often.

I fly my flag for the same reason. It is up during the day and I bring it in at night and during bad weather.

Last edited Wed Jun 20, 2012, 11:13 AM - Edit history (2)

If you don't you are violating the flag code. Flags left overnight have to be lit. FYI.

Gay bashing is not allowed at DU! FYI.

Um, okay....

just saying

Did not realize it.

While you've a Lucifer to light your fag,
Smile, boys, that's the style

Still, smoking is bad for you.

replace it when it gets old. My Dad flies a Marine flag too, because he's an former marine. Both are extremely liberal people, the flag doesn't belong to conservatives,they just act like it does.

is theirs and they are the only "real" Americans. I'm so tired of their BS.

of right wingers hijacking American symbols as if they belong to them.

do not want the RW'ers to think they own the flag.

And the ones who fly flags on their cars every single day are the American-est of all. They are the most Americaniest.

(Being silly, but I think you get my drift.)

tacky and disrespectful IMO. I guess they are the "real" Americans,
the most Americaniest.

And a little arrogant, too.

for sometime and the replies I've been getting are pretty much what I had been thinking too.

and i fly it 100% of the time because i'm an american 100% of the time!

do i turn into a ruskie at night? i don't think so!

am i suddenly swedish in the rain? no sir! i'm an american all the time so i fly my flag all the time!


</kidding!>

flags, I suppose to show how patriotic they were. Most of them in this area were rabid RWers who didn't have enough respect for the symbol that they supposedly adored to properly take care of it. That's where you find the tattered, filthy flags. It was all for show and not because they really cared about anything. I know some people who decided not to fly a flag just so they wouldn't be identified with them.

I can't really say about the car dealers, but they do seem to fly the largest flags in town.

whom are real losers in my book. I was mentioning in another part of this thread that now we have an oil change place flying about 20 flags 7x24 as an advertising gimmick. I find it all so disrespectful and tacky.

... and most people don't follow them at all.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm]

no idea of the rules regarding flying a flag.

... I know I didn't until my father-in-law clued me in to fact that there are some dos and don'ts. And he's not even ex-military. Just a good old country boy raised right!

The Flag, the Cross, the Golden Arches.... Symbols that make them feel good.

'my child is an Eagle Scout,' 'my child is an Honor Student,' etc. I've been both, and I would have been outraged if my parents ever posted a big sticker on the back of their car/SUV, etc. about me.

Proper decorum states the flag is not to be flown past dusk unless it is lit. Further it is to be taken down during inclement weather and cleaned or replaced if it begins to tatter.

That said, even as a child I refrained from saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I didn't make a big deal about it I just kind of moved my lips (early lip syncing I guess). I rationalized why would I pledge allegiance to a flag? That struck me as dumb and not overly meaningful.

I was back in my hometown, a small town in the intermountain west and attended a 4th of July parade. Other spectators were visibly dismayed when I didn't put my hand on my chest as the honor guard walked by.

I love this country but I don't think the only way to show that love is by wearing a flag pin, flying the flag or making some overt sign of allegiance in it's presence. I think you show respect and love for this country by working each and every day to improve it and the lives of those in it.

This does not mean that I don't support those that do those things if they bring meaning to those individuals. I just don't see the need to do them in order for me to love and respect my country.

the flag pin. I've noticed some of them getting bigger and bigger. Again, to me, I only think how tacky.

I also got not problem with people flying their flags upside down.

I also got no problem with people burning their flags.

I also got no problem with people using flags as diapers, as Larry Flynt famously did.

I think the only thing that really bugs me are those people who fly their flags in order to show patriotism, but who do not understand or care to adhere to the rules which patriotic flag-flyers should adhere to. They look like idiots, their patriotism the thinnest of veneers.

PB

patriotism have the thinnest of true patriotic veneers.

That's why, commie!

(sad I have to add this, but for those that need it..._

I didn't leave the flag up 24/7 as you're not supossed to. Windy day came along and tore the 1" flagpole fixture off the front of my house and that was the end of that. Shortly prior to that I had considered better lighting to keep the flag up @ night also.

the whole flag thing is really weird and creepy. The USA is home to more national flags being flown anywhere you look than anyplace since Germany in 1938.

Last edited Tue Jun 19, 2012, 06:44 PM - Edit history (1)

the flags flying in all sorts of locations and conditions. I found it really weird and creepy. I wasn't even looking for it, then suddenly it hit me, like WTF. And the display of absolutely huge, really huge numerous flags at car dealers really struck me as amazing. Yet another WTF. Like are we at war with the world. Oops, don't answer that one, I think I know the answer.

I only fly my flag on certain days because I am too lazy to go out every night and take it down. Meanwhile, so called patriots have rags hanging on the front lawn and their car antenna for god's sake. Disgraceful.

remember to put it up. Yep, I've seen some flags in pretty strange places too. Tattered rags of flags on car antennas have to be among the worst. Now I'm trying to think if I've seen flags on mud flaps too, and I think I have.

And when people still had them on their cars two years later......shameful.

The ticket is just a warning and comes with instructions to correct it or take it down.

Still, surprisingly, quite a few folks fly the flag incorrectly.

There are rules and everyone in my community should know them.


I don't like seeing flags flown over anything and everything. Like you, I wonder at the message behind it.

Alas...

are certain responsibilities that come with that.

When I was growing up my dad used to put up a flag on the 4th, Veterans Day, Armistice Day, Memorial Day.

That was it (despite the fact that he was a worker he wouldn't put it up on Labor Day).

I don't put out a flag ever. It's possibly indicative of national pride, but more likely chauvinistic, xenophobe tendencies.

are basically crude, rude and obnoxious shills.

If a person is going to fly the flag of our country, they should first take the time and the interest to learn the proper protocol for doing so.

It's been quite a while for me since my youth, but I distinctly remember that knowledge of the laws of how to treat the flag of our nation was one of the requirements before attaining the level of "Second Class" in The Boy Scouts of America. Back then, we were taught that by law, the American flag is never to be flown at night, unless it is lite by a spot light. Other protocol in the law stated that the flag was never to be flown in wet weather, and that any flag that had become worn from being out in the elements, by law had to be replaced immediately. Old flags were never to be discarded in the trash. There was a separate protocol for the retiring our old flags. And if our flag was to be taken down at the end of each day, it was never to touch the ground in the course of its' being taking down. In addition to that, our flag was only supposed to be folded in a certain manner, the basics of which I only barely remember. I believe that all of the same protocol was also taught in The Girl Scouts of America.

The one exception is the flag that is flown over our nation's capitol. It should never be taken down, because the doing of that will signify the fall of our nation. When the flags that fly over our nation's capitol are retired from wear, there is a special ceremony for doing that which is presided over by representatives of our nation's armed forces.

I live in a Podunk, two horse town in right wing, red neck town in the USA where a lot of "patriots" fly our nation's flag - in all states of decomposition, in all types of weather, and at all hours of the day and night, outside of their homes. But the thing that totally blows me away is that the flag that flies at our United States Post Office in this town is treated in the exact same manner. In fact, for the Post Office flag, they have even had to cut off the rope that raises and lowers it because of all of the damage caused by our town's delinquents. I suppose there are some of them who have even used it for target practice when exercising their "Second Amendment rights". The same thing goes for the flag that flies over our community park.

Now, with all of that having been said, I want to also say that in my personal view, flags are just meaningless pieces of cloth whose sole purpose is sometimes to inspire people to maim and kill each other for the sake of blind allegiance, without feeling the need to first question their own actions.

The symbol in nations that should be used to engender within its' people a great sense of pride and love for their nation should be their nation's record for acting in fairness as a member of the world community, as well as the fairness and decency with which it treats its' own citizens.

Oh America, I weep for thee.

Edited for syntax

where at least they know they are free

My husband and I keep two flags in our town new, one is on our park gazebo and the other is on our community center building......when the flags start looking the least bit tattered, we replace them. We're on what you'd call flag detail, and proud of it too.

I think bumper stickers are tacky in general.

Flags can look nice, at least. I'm too lazy to bust out a large flag, and if I ever got motivated enough to hang one up for July 4th, I predict I would be too lazy to take it down until after Memorial day.

Other nations fly flags in their own countries too, so why shouldn't Americans? No really, it's silly to worry about it. However, I got bored of seeing the flag for the first few years after after 9-11. That was overkill.

keeps the flag lighted at night, the flag is in good condition and I've never seen it flying in really bad weather, but they are the exception.

does a flag retirement service a few times a year. This includes the burning of flags that are tattered and torn. The League gives out awards to organizations and people who somehow show respect to the flag. If you know of any League members in your area, tell them about the torn flags that need to be retired. They can get the message out, that they can retire these flags.

i have seen that several times on this thread...it is perfectly ok if the flag is made for all-weather display. just fly it with respect (if it IS your intent to respect it) and you'll be good.

sP

We are proud liberal democrats.

Yes it is lighted at night, but I can't get to it to take it down every time it rains. We replace it when it gets tattered.

We put up a flag because it is not the exclusive property of the right.

"This hall, this Democratic Party are filled with veterans who have served under the American flag. And this is our flag. Right there, that flag, we saluted this flag. We rose up in the morning and stood reveille to this flag. We fought for that flag. We've seen brave men and women buried under that flag. That flag is ours, and nobody, nobody will take it away from us. " ~ Gen. Wesley Clark, 2004, address to the Democratic National Convention.

If you find the flag offensive, don't fly it and don't look at the flags others are flying.

And why would you go so far as to equate people who fly flags you disapprove of (such as 50 foot flags) with war-mongers, teabaggers, or republicans?

"they love wars ... they are teabaggers ... they are republicans"

worded more clearly.

IF there were a flagpole, that would help.

The simple truth is: this aging body. Just can't do in life what was "normal". BUT it( my flag) is protected, and it is not tattered, nor dirty, nor forgotten. Someone got off with my POW/MIA flag, which would be at the other end of the front porch.

Besides I've my homemade Occupy sign in the front yard, want folks to see BOTH. Dunno how else to wake up some of these dead minds.

If anyone is offended I apologize, but I'ld rather it be displayed than in a box somewhere.

don't understand people sometimes. The OWS sign sounds great. Yep, I have no idea either how to "wake up some of these dead minds."

At least that POW/MIA flag isn't as hard to find now, ironically its has always cost $30!