Half-staff flags displayed incorrectly all over the place, and it makes me mad!

[bertha katzenengel]

U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(c):

No other flag or pennant should be placed above . . . the flag of the United States of America.

There are U.S. flags at half-staff and state and other flags ABOVE them, at the top of their masts! Everywhere! It is so irritating.

:banghead:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. no offense bertha, but the entire US flag code is weird.

why should it matter so much if there are other flags above?

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Because I say so.

Ha.

Because it's a sign of respect, Priyanka, from the sensibilities of revolutionary times. And it is law. If one doesn't like a law, one works to change it. One doesn't just break it because it's weird.

It also shows the exceedingly frightening ignorance of matters of state in this country.

[Deep13]

8. It's a law that's entirely unenforceable.

It isn't necessarily ignorance, but maybe an understanding that symbolism is only symbolic and has no practical consequences.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. and one could be against the symbolism too.

[Deep13]

14. Why do you hate America?

:evilgrin:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. i love america. i also think i would love france, if i lived there.

:P

[Deep13]

21. Yeah, but then you would have to talk like Jacques Cousteau.

In za sea zere is no crooooelty, only ze ztruggle to zurvive.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. ze true

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. i guess i could never get worked up over something i consider pomposity.

while every country has a right to create their own state rules etc, some are just done to show superiority and i feel the 'my flag has to be on top of your flag" is one of them.

[GirlinContempt]

12. I hear that.

Some laws just seem silly to me. Usually when they have nothing to do with the public good, be it misguided or not.

[Bassic]

39. Or when they are made to prevent people from using their

common sense. Those really annoy me.

[GirlinContempt]

47. Such as?

[Bassic]

50. For example

Where I live there is a city by-law that says that we can't park in the street between 1:00am and 7:00am from December 1st to April 1st. The goal is to make sure that IF it snows, no cars are blocking the city's scrapers and snow blowers. Which means that even when the sky is clear, you'll get a ticket for it. They could have made a rule that says that you can't park if the forecast is calling for a lot of snow, like they do in the next city, but they'd rather have a stupid rule like that.

[Bassic]

51. Dupe

[bertha katzenengel]

28. I might agree re: foreign flags -- if we said "we won't attend your

summit unless our flag flies higher than yours." But a US state flag should never fly above the US flag.

[Rabrrrrrr]

34. It's not "my flag has to be higher", "It's no flag may be higher than"

When any flag is displayed with the US flag, it should be at the exact same height - no higher, no lower. EXCEPT when the flags have to be on the same pole (say, because a person only has one pole), THEN the US flag goes on top, above any state flag, POW flag, city flag, etc.

So if the US flag is at half mast, then every flag displayed with it has to be half mast; or, if there's just the one mast, then the other flags will end up less than hal mast since they are below the US flag.

[Left Is Write]

52. I don't believe the U.S. Flag code for display of the flag is law.

I believe it is a guideline, and there is no legal penalty for incorrect display of the flag.

The flag also should not be flown at night without proper illumination, but I see that all the time too.

[LostinVA]

2. I know -- it's driving this former Girl Scout crazy

All of the VA flags are down around here -- and all lower than the US Flag.

[mikeytherat]

3. A local supermarket here had one flying all the way at the bottom.

I thought, "Half mast, not half-assed, dipshit," as I drove by.

mikey_the_rat

[bertha katzenengel]

5. "Half mast, not half-assed, dipshit"

:rofl:

[LostinVA]

7. Jeebus -- I watched someone put the flag at half mast yesterday

The put the flag on the lanyard and pulled it halfway up and stopped. I told them that wasn't shelf mast -- they had to take it to the top and then lower it -- that was the point. It's a sign of respect and somberness. They shrugged but I was insistent, and they begrudgingly did it.

If you're going to fly the thing, know what you're doing. I don't fly the flag, but if I did, I'd do it correctly.

[bertha katzenengel]

15. Good for you. So... Girl Scouts must be where I learned about this.

I had no idea how I know this stuff.

I once told someone that the flag had to be at half mast after Sonny Bono died. He thought I was kidding -- "Sonny Bono? Like Sonny & Cher?" and he laughed.

This is one of my points in this post, but I failed to make it in the OP. It is the staggering ignorance of the general populace in things like this. From big stuff to how government works (y'know, three branches, bicameral congress, etc.) to little stuff like the flag code. People in general don't know shit. It's frightening.

[LostinVA]

19. Yup, that's probably where

We learned how to put the flag up, take it down and fold it, and the Flag Code. Not in a "patriot" way, because the GSA have always been basically pretty normal, but in a Civics lesson way. Actually, I think it may have also been for a badge.

[Critters2]

40. I learned it at Camp Fire. I can tri-fold a flag like nobody's business

and, while people who know me would be surprised, poor flag etiquette makes me nuts! The two that are like nails on a chalkboard to me are:

1)flags touching the ground--I saw a high school flag corps kid dragging a flag around after a parade last summer, and politely gave her a lesson. Really, I was polite.

and

2)flags flying the rain or snow, or at night with no light on 'em.

But yeah, getting the half-mast stuff wrong is irritating, too.

[pokerfan]

56. And if I might add....

I told them that wasn't shelf mast -- they had to take it to the top and then lower it

The flag should always be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

[Gormy Cuss]

25. Girl Scouts --- damn propagandists!

I learned the finer points of flag code that way too. We also learned basic flag etiquette in elementary school on Flag Day.

I know that in the greater scheme of things it doesn't matter but I do notice the breaches.

[Beer Snob-50]

29. almost as bad as the boy scouts

i spend much time teaching damn flag etiquette.

[LostinVA]

33. "I know that in the greater scheme of things it doesn't matter but I do notice the breaches"

Exactly.

[Omphaloskepsis]

6. Seriously.. I hope you don't honestly get outraged over this.

You will be dead at 50. This is stupid shit to care about.

[bertha katzenengel]

9. Outraged? No.

Irritated? Absolutely.

[Zuiderelle]

13. Outrage? Dead at 50? What a nice post.

:eyes:

[Omphaloskepsis]

16. Please review my posting history.

I never claimed to be nice. I shoot for honesty.

[Zuiderelle]

18. Honesty? Seemed more like exaggeration to me.

[Omphaloskepsis]

20. Hyperbole is more erudite.

[Zuiderelle]

27. Yes, hyperbole is a better word for your post.

As well as uncouth, impolite, and boorish.

[skygazer]

22. I'm sure there's stuff you get irritated by that others would find stupid

If we all thought the same way, it would be a pretty boring world. And what's with the dead at 50 remark? Maybe I've missed something recently but that's a really strange statement.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. this is a good point, we all get irritated over something that doesn't matter to someone else.

i for instance get irritated with yuppies. explains my crankiness.

[Oeditpus Rex]

24. I get pissed at any improper display of the flag

I've related this before, but the guy in the $800,000 home behind me has a flag on a 25-foot staff. Never takes it down, nor does he have a light on it at night.

It was very windy a couple days ago, and the flag wrapped around the staff a few times.

The part that bothers me, of course, is that flying the flag is a statement: "I'm a patriot" or "I love the USA." Yeah, we can see how patriotic you are or how far your love goes. :eyes:

[KitchenWitch]

37. I do as well

[Left Is Write]

53. I feel the same way about those flags that suction cup to cars.

Yes, way to show your "patriotism" by flying a flag at 70mph and letting it get ripped to shreds.

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. It's funny how many of liberal, America-hating Democrats care about proper flag display

I know I do, and clearly many here do.

It's the "patriots", like your neighbor, who are more than likely Republican loudly-proclaimed-flag-lovers, who put the flag up once and then never bother to bring it down or fix it when it gets torn or wrapped up...

The jackass "patriots" with the flags on their cars that are frayed to half their original length and faded to a bland pastel...

The fuckwit "patriots" with their giant flag poles and "Look at me, I love my country!!!!!" grandiosity but the flag flies in sun, rain, hurricane, hail, snow, whatever, and is never brought down at night and never has a light shining on it...

The shitbag "patriots" who more than likely have no idea how to fold a flag... though it doesn't really matter, since they never bother to bring the thing down anyway...

The asshole "patriots" who, when they do actually bring the flag down for some reason, more than likely toss it on the picnic table or over the grill or something because the beer in their hand keeps them from holding it properly. Later, when they need to use the grill, they'll remember the flag is there and shove it in a bag or something...

ARGH!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

I'm no flag worshiper, but for fuck's sake, people, if yer gonna display it - display it PROPERLY and WITH RESPECT.

[LostinVA]

31. I'm in TOTAL agreement with your post

This stuff drives me bonkers.

I also think the flag magnets are most probably against flag code.

[Critters2]

41. Well said!!! nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

42. And then fill up with moral outrage

if someone even suggests burning one.

I had this talk briefly with a neighbor the other day. We were talking about the guy behind me and how he never takes his down, and neighbor went into flag-burning. I said I thought it was a stupid form of protest, and I didn't say it just to avoid an argument. That is what I think.

Later, I thought of this: "The fact that we have the right to burn the flag is the best reason I can think of not to do it."

Of course, if they take that right away, it'll be different.

Incidentally, I think our flag is gorgeous. It's a marvelous mix of color, and I do enjoy looking at one. But I don't wrap myself in it.

:patriot:

[Left Is Write]

54. Inform this neighbor that the proper way to dispose of a worn out flag...

is to burn it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

46. Post-9/11 flag-mania drove this Progress Liberal positively ape!

The plethora of flags flown backwards, upside down and unto tatters irritated my every last nerve.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

32. I notice this stuff too, but let it go ...

Whoever is displaying the flag is probably sincere about it, not trying to "dis" anybody, just trying to show respect.

So if they flub a technicality, I don't think it's something to be upset about.

[Left Is Write]

55. If they are sincerely flying the flag to show respect -

it would behoove them to learn the proper way to do it.

[bertha katzenengel]

35. I didn't expect universal agreement, but I didn't expect a flame war, either.

That's where this seems to be going. :shrug:

[KitchenWitch]

38. ...

:hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

43. hey, buddy

:hug:

seen the Skittens? more photos this weekend...

how's the weather back home? :cry:

[KitchenWitch]

48. It is RAINING today!

:woohoo:

I saw the Skittens, they are soooooo cute. (I want one!)

[madinmaryland]

36. Are you in Delaware?

I have not seen that here. Though I did see one place with the state/local flags at half staff, and the US flag above them.

Everywhere else in this part of MD is correct.

:shrug:

[bertha katzenengel]

44. Nope. Going up 301 in PG County. It's mostly in

commercial areas. :grr:

[madinmaryland]

45. Corporate CEO's. Just like our

POTUS, they have no clue about our country. Look where that got us! * writing on the flag.



:grr:

[genie_weenie]

49. I disrespect the Flag purposely.

Humans have that most dreadful habit of transfering their morals, ethics, thoughts and beliefs upon innanimate objects (we're all idolators) which have ZERO intrisic value. A Flag is a meaningless collection cloth (the only value being the material itself and the labor).

Men did not die so we could respect and worship the flag...