Eagle Scout here so I know a bit about the flag like the protocol for handling it, how to fold and dispose of etc. Frankly we get all to wrapped up in the whole issue of it. I have no issue with wearing the flag, I wore it as patches on my clothes in the 60's. Just another way to show I was an american and nothing more.

I will say this a guy from New Zealand backpacked the Pacific crest Trail (mexico to Canada) and he wrote a book about it. In the book he mentions that it seemd to him that Americans wear their patriotism on their sleeve including flag waving. His impression was that we are no more, or less patriotic than the folks from his country yet we insist on being over the top about it. That observation struck a cord with me. Especially since this gent had served his country and was a career fireman not to mention the Kiwi's have sure as hell hung with us in every fight.

If I were King it would be acceptable to fly the banner of our land at any time, place or event. Those that are offended by it can avert their eyes, make plans to be in some other place or STFU about it.

The United States is a sovereign nation with symbols that identify it as such. If you live here you should be tolerant of those symbols and accept that you will see them most any place and at any time. Your living in my nation and asking me to suppress my patriotism and love of nation to please your desire to celebrate your home country offends ME.

If you live here and are a citizen you should love the symbol of your nation. If you aren't please go back to where you do love the symbol of your nation.

I'm insensitive, so sue me.

-M7

I'll say it again, because I think many Americans forget this. "The American Flag is something to be respected and revered, millions have died for it. It isnt something to be printed on a tshirt to be crumpled up and thrown in the wash." I think as a nation we are so commercialized, that we think to just plaster the flag on everything in sight is patriotic. I see it otherwise, it's a very important symbol, not to be emblazoned across a set of tits or your back windshield. Do with it as you please, since there is no enforcement or penalties, and I don't think it makes you any less American. If anything, unfortunately, to paint it on everything in sight makes you MORE American. At 6'3" I was the tallest guy in my unit, thus earning me the pleasure of bearing the flag for color guards. It gave me a respect for it that I still hold dear today, and hopefully will never leave me. The men who gave their lives for it, gave them freely. How you honor their memory is completely up to you.

Moe Colontonio
USMC

Yet its okay to burn an American flag (free expression)... cant wear it to school and on and on. We are on a path of self destruction... unless we all wake up from this nightmare. Politicians exempt from the Laws and Bills they make for us common taxpayers. But thats another topic.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

I always thought that when a flag was hung on a wall with the star field to the upper right. That ment you were in distress and needed help. So a few weeks ago when my 9 year old hung a small US flag in her bedroom window it looked correct to her but from the outside it was wrong. Because I thought it was a sign of distress I decided not to say anything to her and just let it speak for its self. I thought maybe I could turn it around after Mr. Obama has been shown the door. Now that I know that the only thing hanging our flag like that means, is that I don't know how to hang up a flag the right way. I'll be sure to turn it around as soon as I'm done here.

As far as Mexicans go. We have a few here and there but not to many. The only time you hear one make any noise is when they have a leaf blower in their hand.

Yes, it IS okay to burn the flag because we do have 1st Amendment rights. As much as it upsets me every time I see it happening, I can accept the fact that with this freedom comes some things that will make me uncomfortable. I'm sure that other citizens are equally uncomfortable with things that I find perfectly appropriate.

Students do not have unlimited 1st Amendment rights, though. Nor should they. It's really just that simple.





BD

Actually, distress is the flag flown upside down. The blue star field is to the right on a flag when it is mounted, painted or sewn on an object. For example. When in Iraq we wore our flag patch on our right sleeve. the blue was to the front. We objected and were told we wear the flag like that as if we are a moving flag pole. That is how the flag would look from that side.

SD

Thanks for the info sheepdog. Maybe I will turn the flag upside down untill Obama is gone. The flag in Oak Wood cemetery that marks Uncle Sam's grave flys all day and night, and that's good but it has always buged me a little that there is no light on it at night. Probably on electric near there. I wonder if there might be a solar light that could do the job. I know the ones along my side walk would not work.

Back to the OP, I'm sorry but I can't understand how that principal or the JUDGE for that matter came to the conclusion that the American flag is detrimental to a "learning environment." Hell, where I went to school there was a flag right outside the entrance. Granted Arkansas is a far cry from California but the USA is the USA, and that is our flag. I hate hearing stories like this. Viking, I'm right there with ya buddy.

This country is in deep trouble. I agree with Mark and we need to take our country back and regain all the values and morals that have been destroyed over the last years. If it keeps up there may come a time I am not proud of my country any more.