American Flag 3, Misguided PC 0

The notion that display of the American Flag may be offensive to some is patently absurd. After all, it's not like this is controversial. People can debate all they want about the display of religious symbols in public places, display of the Confederate battle standard (not to equate the two), these things are open to spirited debate and most likely situations when reasonable and rational adults can agree to disagree. The flag is quite frankly not.

The flag is a national symbol, no different from the Great Seal of the United States. Would we complain that the President should not display this on the podium when he comes to address our country?

Obviously, you have an emotional reaction to the flag when you've seen it flown above boots, helm and rifle in the sand in ceremony. I know I do. I wouldn't even ask that everyone understand that feeling or react in the same way. I just think it's not too much to ask tell people who might raise an objection that their objection is inappropriate.

If you live in this country, you should not flinch at reminders that you're actually IN this country, such as a flag might be seen.

Political Correctness asks for tolerance of things which may be different from our own experience. One should think that this philosophy would support the open mindedness to allow for the display of respect for the country that allows such openness and consideration to so many viewpoints.

The sad thing is that this has even been a question in places.

Well stated Seventh Son, you summarized more succinctly and eloquently than I could have.

If the American Flag is offensive to some, then they deserve to be offended.

Try understanding this one. I was joining my group of American Legion Riders at our local Veterans Day Parade. I was told by our Officers to remove my 3 x 5 American flag from the back of my motorcycle, I asked why, and they told me there was only one American flag allowed per entry. Well, I knew that was not the case. I looked behind me and an American Legion Post had a float behind us and it had 5 large American flags flying on it. However, I did not argue at the time, I removed my flag and put it away in my trunk. Then I started to boil and am still boiling over this. Needless to say, I removed my American Legion Patch from the back of my vest, and as we are required by the American Legion, to turn in our Patch if we quit or die, I complied. However, after paying $60. for the patch, I did not want anyone else to wear my patch so I cut it up in four pieces, Then I was told by our Vice President that I was disgracing their colors and showed disrespect. He also told me to Kiss his Ass. hahha!!! I am still in disbeliefe that something like this could ever happen in an American Legion Organization. I am still waiting for some kind of disiplinary action to be addressed. I guess I should not hold my breath. I did quit the American Legioin Riders on November 9th at the stated meeting. I do still hold an office in my local American Legion Post. I have not given up completely. I would hope that eveyone at a Veterans Day Parade would be flying and American Flag. Thanks for listening, Buzz Haviland

It has been a few years now, but some time around 2003 or 2004, a homeowners association in Henderson, Nevada had a complaint against one of it's homeowners flying of a flag on a pole in front of his house. He notified a few people and then the local press and then went before the Henderson City Council. There were Veterans that had been in the Europe and Pacific Campaigns, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War and Desert Storm not to mention a few of us who had stood guard a few months earlier at the McCaran Las Vegas International Airport just a few miles away post 9-11. There were plenty of family members and civilians there to argue against such a disgusting policy/rule as well. The only person there in support of the rule against flags in front of individual houses, a representative of the business that controls that particular homeowner's association. Well, that was a slamdunk, even for politicians(especially for local ones), if you have the press present and a bunch of angry or tearful voters and one corporate stooge in a suit, the voters win. A unanimous vote by the City Council created a City Ordinance saying Homeowners Association Rules can not bar a person from displaying a reasonably sized flag at their residence, in accordance with appropriate Federal Guidelines.

When dealing with "those people" always try and get it to be an issue for the local politicians, they understand what 50 votes mean, sometimes they remember that is was a number smaller than that even that got them their job; put 50 voters in front of a Congressman and he may not even have the decency to lie to you and tell you he cares (a truth which daily proves itself in National Politics).

Some years ago our American Legion post wanted to put a flagpole in front of the post where a tree had died. Since we are on Main Street, that required an easement from the city. That application met with some skepticism from some in the staff and on the council. During the deliberation and a public hearing on the easement, one of the city council members at the time was heard to say, "if we allow this easement for the Legion to put up a flagpole, then everyone will want to do the same." Well, duh.

Can you think of a better reason to grant the easement or a poorer reason to oppose it. Fortunately enough of the city council recognized the importance and the easement was granted. That flagpole stands in front of the post today.

This is where rules are made to be broken by flying the flag properly whenever a American wants and the hell with the consequences. It is up to the real citizens of this country to stand up to these nonsense rules and say enough is enough. You realize how much blood was shed for that flag and to let some yuppy ass neighborhood tell them they can't fly the flag is not right. Give me a break.

I am a 3rd generation American .I love our country and our Flag.I am a veteran grunt of Vietnam(Nov '65-Nov '66;M Co,3rd Bn 7th Marines)with a Purple Heart. Reading about those knuckleheads who don't wish to honor our Flag as it should be honored makes my blood boil.But then I recall when Rick Monday of the L.A. Dodgers was in the outfield of Dodger Stadium when two malcontents ran onto the field with an American Flag with the intent to set it afire. The heroic Rick Monday immediately raced up to the two idiots,snatched Old Glory from their grasp,and kept the Flag safe while the trespassers were arrested. The crowd went wild,cheering in support of Rick Monday for saving our Flag. Mr Monday will always be a hero in my book/

I proudly served in the military for five years, (last two for enduring freedom.) THIS IS AMERICA, PEOPLE! I didn't serve the american flag for it to be trashed. If you are an AMERICAN CITIZEN, YOU SHOULD HAVE GREAT PRIDE THAT YOU CAN LIVE FREE IN THIS GREAT NATION! For the rude comments about the flag, if you were in another country and made those comments, you would be in front of the firing squad. No questions asked. Freedom comes at a price, unlike other countries, they don't have as many freedoms as we have, and they think THAT gives them the reason to bring down the flag. AMERICA!! LOVE IT, OR LEAVE!!

I actually went to college and studied political science, etc. and learned about what we were supposedly fighting for, like the rule of law, etc. Apparently I was in the minority. The statement above about Love It Or Leave It, is FASCIST, not democratic. I live in the bible belt, drive by confederate flags daily, and the people who fly them are not my friends.

I defended the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the Constitution, etc. not some symbol on a flagpole. We believe in the rule of law, not the rule of privilege of some citizen to decide on their own because they made a contribution to some politician or sheriff, etc. that they can do as they wish. That's what I was taught anyway, but maybe I was the fool. Perhaps the rules have been changed by superpatriots who are scared and think they have the answer and we should just shoot everybody who doesn't agree with their chosen preacherman.

I served too, and I ain't buying into the 'be a scared victim' bullshit these people above are trying to preach.

Mr Manning, to which law are you specifically citing that was broken here? I also went to college for political science, and then to law school, and frankly some of the logic here is way beyond me.

You seem to like using the whole "superpatriot" thing without actually defining who that is as well, if you could that would be great.

@ Seventh Son
“if we allow this easement for the Legion to put up a flagpole, then everyone will want to do the same.”

That really made my morning. The unintentionally hilarious and fundamentally true statement.

Re: the whole fascism argument. I can see an argument if you're forcing people to fly the flag, wear Patriotic "flair", etc...I guess there's more of an argument there if you're talking about someone being persecuted for NOT wearing a flag pin or something. The issue is not forcing people to fly the flag, it's about allowing them to fly the flag, which just so happens to be the symbol of the country, if they're doing it in a manner consistent with, and appropriate to, the Flag Code-it happens to be one of the few, if not the only, objects we actually have a Federal Code governing the proper display of.

Call me crazy, I was just a Fine Arts major without any fancy Political Science degrees, but I took a crazy amount of history and politics classes because when I had space for electives in my schedule, all the art classes everyone usually took for their easy A's in elective slots were already used up on my Major coursework. So, that being said...I like history, I've studied a lot of it. I'm reasonably well read on the topic.

I've studied some fascistic states. I'm always kind of surprised to see people equating this country with a Fascist state, and usually assume they are doing so because they have no real frame of reference for comparison.

Comparing "superpatriots" to Fascists is pretty much the internet equivalent of throwing a grenade in a room and starting a flame war. It doesn't really help matters or progress the state of helpful discourse. If one truly is a student of Political Science and values open and honest discourse, then you would hope that they would understand that using terms like FASCIST [sic] in all caps is really not being open, it's taking sucker punches.

Mr. Manning, thank you for your service. What exactly are you getting at? Is it not the right, as defined by the Constitution, for citizens to have free speech? Can we not raise the symbol of our country? Can we not have the desire to see that symbol protected? Our national anthem calls out our flag specifically. Yes, it is a symbol, a very proud symbol, feted in both song and picture by average Americans doing above average things. It's a powerful symbol, that evokes strong emotions in battle (Mount Sirabachi comes to mind) as well as in protest. Why do protesters in other countries burn images of our flag? To get a response, because the national flag is the one symbol that all nations cherish; why should ours be any different?

Why did you have to mention that you studied political science in college? Is that particular course designed to give you unique abilities or insight far above the rest of us in regards to the flag or how we should view it? Does going to college (I went, also) make your opinion more important and correct than anyone else who didn't go to college? Common sense isn't something learned in a poli-sci class and being proud of the main symbol of our great country isn't something to marginalize, it's something to celebrate.

Back to my comment from earlier. I have, not now, or have ever been, politically correct. You want to know about being politically correct, talk to a crooked politician. I guarantee that 80% of the government and politicians have never served in the military, in which that is what they need to do, before being elected into office. That way they can see what the troops see day in and day out. That is my opinion, and please take it for what it's worth.

Studying Political Science, means you are free to do what you want in a school. Bring back Basic Citizenship in high school, stress US History. Thank all of the Vets for your, what is left, Freedom to speak and write. Try China and Russia, Hanoi, Teheran, see how free you are to express your opinions in public.
Too many namby pambies in our Country. God Bless the Flag, America, and the Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego, Ca.
Served in Army Jr. ROTC, Color Guard. Would do it again. Retired proud Vet, Am. Legion member.

Superpatriot = someone who places national symbols like flags above societal norms, rules and regulations. Or laws. Someone who values their personal ideas of patriotism above those the society at large. Someone who thinks we should round up foreigners and dump them somewhere else. Someone who is so scared they think it's okay to torture and detain others with no evidence. etc. Someone who believes free speech only applies to those who believe in prayer in schools, etc. but forget that the Constitution as amended applies to those who disagree with you

Yes, I mentioned political science because I value collected wisdom of humankind above common sense which is often used to justify doing something that cannot be justified through reference to law, knowledge or something you don't agree with.

I believe the terrorists are winning because many in our society are willing to forget why we fought against these same abuses of privilege, position and status. We didn't like little Georgie porgie thumbing his nose at our sense of human dignity. Then or now.

"...because I value collected wisdom of humankind above common sense which is often used to justify doing something that cannot be justified through reference to law, knowledge or something you don’t agree with."

For brevity sake, I will only pick one case: Dredd Scott v Sandford

Sometimes the law is wrong.

I really learned a lot from reading your insights and information given in this very interesting and educational article. Thanks a lot!!! :D - The Philippines

I really wish Mr. Manning would have returned to explain himself, but perhaps he had to get back to class.

First, I would like to ask Mr. Manning to state his source for his definition of "superpatriot."

Second, as for the "rule of law."

Look into Public Law No: 109-243. Approved by Congress and signed into law July 2006.

SEC. 3. RIGHT TO DISPLAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.
A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use.

I suppose I'm gonna have to read up some more but this is a really good spring board.

Exactly the cognition we was trying to find. Taken to change our outlay habits presently.