Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

You're absolutely right on all of that D-USA.

Bit of a double edged sword for me really, being the man who defends the right for people to do what they want to the flag, but also hating it with every fiber of my being.

In the end though, it is what it is. All I can really find myself justifiably saying is, show the Flag respect, if for nothing other then to respect my feelings, beliefs, whatever.

 djones520 wrote:

Bit of a double edged sword for me really, being the man who defends the right for people to do what they want to the flag, but also hating it with every fiber of my being.

And trust me, I'm perfectly okay with you hating it and thinking that it is disrespectful. I would never argue that you shouldn't feel that way.

I try to follow the flag code out of respect for the flag and what is symbolizes. I might no longer pledge allegiance (I do the hand on the heart thing when it happens, and I might substitute "constitution" for "flag" if I do decide to say it), but I still follow the flag code in my personal life out of respect for the flag and what it symbolizes. The flag is neatly folded up when it is not flying, replaced if it is torn, taken down when it gets dark. When I was part of the fire department we were allowed to decorate our helmets and I put both a German and a US flag on my helmet, but before I did I made sure that I found two stickers that were the same size and made sure that I followed the guidelines for how you would hang the flag from a wall if you are displaying it with another nationality. I always participate in the annual flag retirement ceremony that my department did with the local VFW where we retired a TON of flags via burning (took us a couple hours usually) and it was always an honor to do the ceremony with the old vets that came out.

Ironic thing is that there are tons of folks outside the US or that are not citizens of the US, that are more patriotic about the US, and would probably jump at the chance of doing something patriotic for the US (including joining the military), if it meant being able to be a citizen of the US.

There are a lot of things wrong about the US today, but until a person has been elsewhere, they usually don't know how good we have it and how hard it's been to get here.

On the other side, a person also often won't know how bad we have it in some areas until they have been elsewhere.

Is it really right to keep plastering the faces of the student body all around facebook?

ATXMILEY wrote:
Is it really right to keep plastering the faces of the student body all around facebook?

They wanted the attention right?

ATXMILEY wrote:
Is it really right to keep plastering the faces of the student body all around facebook?

Why do you think it would be an issue?

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

ATXMILEY wrote:
Is it really right to keep plastering the faces of the student body all around facebook?

Why do you think it would be an issue?

Heaven forbid I agree with Dreadclaw, but I'm pretty sure plastering things all over itself is what Face Book is for, so if there is an issue... Stop using Face Book? XD

ATXMILEY wrote:
Is it really right to keep plastering the faces of the student body all around facebook?

Nope. Now, if said pictures were being posted along with home addresses, phone numbers, etc... then that would Showing me the face of some dumb kids, in a nation with 350 some odd million people in it, isn't going to do anything.

Speaking of flags:

https://gma.yahoo.com/veteran-wraps-baby-american-flag-photo-sparks-controversy-175203890--abc-news-topstories.html

Good grief...

baby Captain America needs his shield.

 d-usa wrote:
Speaking of flags:

https://gma.yahoo.com/veteran-wraps-baby-american-flag-photo-sparks-controversy-175203890--abc-news-topstories.html

Good grief...

Not the first time those nasty vets have been caught using a flag like a blanket.

Now if that baby was wearing the flag as a diaper, then there would have been something to get worked up about.

I might not be a flag waving patriot, and I might roll my eyes at some over the top patriotism, but that picture was desecration of the flag? I'm more concerned about the flag plates covered in ketchup and mustard ending in the trashcan after the 4th of July picnic than that baby.

 CptJake wrote:

 d-usa wrote:
Speaking of flags:

https://gma.yahoo.com/veteran-wraps-baby-american-flag-photo-sparks-controversy-175203890--abc-news-topstories.html

Good grief...

Not the first time those nasty vets have been caught using a flag like a blanket.

Spoiler:

Repeatedly

This just proves my point. That people put way t much stock in the flag, that when a tiny little infraction like this goes down, people get pissed.
I mean, I love the flag and when I do use it i treat it with respect. But pretending it has some higher symbolism or something is wrong.
I mean, somewhere at my home is a picture of me in boxxing glove standing infront of an american flag.....that I need to find and brun because the picture is s embarassing.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
But pretending it has some higher symbolism or something is wrong.

You do know it isn't just pretending, right?

Listen next time you're at an event when they play the anthem. The flag does have a higher symbolism, whether you like it or not.

How folks react to that may be your issue, but 'pretending' that higher symbolism does not exist is pretty damned asinine.

That is why it is used the way it is in the pictures Jihadin and I posted.

That is why we have the US Flag Code on how to handle the flag.

The symbolism is indeed there.

Ok, but why does a baby In the flag rile people up. It more than symbolism. It worship. It's like how Muslims react when Mohammad is shown or Christians when the cross is disrespected. Just less violent.

When, recently, have Christians gotten violent when a cross has been disrespected that wasn't also extreme fringe?

I resent the comparison with how Muslims react to depictions of Mohammad.

Why bring religion into this?

 CptJake wrote:

That is why we have the US Flag Code on how to handle the flag.

Which as a law is unconstitutional if it were enforced, to be fair.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Jihadin wrote:
Why bring religion into this?

It is a good example of how symbolism can affect people.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Grey Templar wrote:

I resent the comparison with how Muslims react to depictions of Mohammad.

You might resent it. But burn a flag in front of the right crowd and you will get a reaction that is pretty similar to burning a Koran in front of the right crowd.

There is nothing wrong with symbolism, but it is easy to transfer your devotion from the things being symbolized to the actual symbol. And that is something that everybody would be wise to remember.

I wasn't referring to the flag, I was referring to the cross comment.

You'd have to look pretty hard to find many people who'd react violently to a cross or bible burning.

 Grey Templar wrote:
I wasn't referring to the flag, I was referring to the cross comment.

You'd have to look pretty hard to find many people who'd react violently to a cross or bible burning.

I live in Oklahoma, I'm sure I could find a few .

But you are right on that front.

If you're in Okieville you might find a few who have burned crosses...

(same here of course unfortunately)