If you think the debate over the rainbow flag hybrid is bad, you should hear the debate amongst those who decide for the rest of the gay community over what color(s) to add next.  Pink for lesbians, black for those with AIDS.  As you said, it all has to do with whatever agenda they are trying to push at the time.  Personally, I think the California state flag should be used, and they can use a picture of a fat hairy gay man as the bear!

http://www.ushistory.org/be...

Think of the symbolic gesture of Iwo Jima.  Our flag should be sacred and honored.  Many lives have been lost in combat so that these radicals can have their freedom of speech.   Flag should be one symbol that should not be allowed to be desecrated for no matter any cause. 

I believe freedom, and freedom of speech should always rule the day.  Even offensive speech is protected speech. (Not all speech is free/protected, e.g., fighting words, and speech that creates danger).

While using the American flag as a template for their design, they have created a new flag.  That is NOT an American flag.  It is a flag used by Americans to symbolize their cause.  Many other nations have used the American flag as a template, but we are not offended. Additionally, during conflicts such as the Civil War, the US flag was often embellished by regiments to reflect their service, but that was not considered offensive; point being we have a history of embellishing our flags, and such practice is deemed acceptable.  Therefore, if it's not the cause that bothers us, then what else could it be?

At the end of the day, I suggest not being annoyed, since the flag is not the official flag of the USA.  I would be more disturbed, but would remain reserved if they were doing something with an official flag, such as burning it.

:-)

MP

I believe I fully understand the feelings of both sides of flag protocol debates, and greatly respect each.

Having said this, I side with freedom of expression, realizing that I do not expect to change any minds.  We simply put these values in different orders of priority.

I agree with middlepath. This is not an American flag. Now, had they taken an American flag and written slogans on it or otherwise defaced it, I would be outraged. I see the flag improperly displayed far too many times. I actually complained to a federal agency for improperly displaying an American flag on the vertical stabilizer of an airplane I was flying for them. They didn't care. I see people who fly the flag on their homes, at night, without spotlighting it. Not good.

In my military days, I served on many an honor Guard, many flag details and quite a few funeral services, where I had to fold the flag and hand it to a relative. I have a reason for treating an American flag with respect. The trick is to balance that with the right of free speech. Tough one, that.

I would add the flag is a symbol of our free society, and it represents our freedoms, those freedoms being the sacred issues which must be respected above all else.

Or alternatively, it's the freedoms which are more sacred than the symbol.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that flag.

There is the enviroment flag,green,white stripes and a green field with the "e"...

 it's the freedoms which are more sacred than the symbol.

had they taken an American flag and written slogans on it or otherwise defaced it, I would be outraged

Great way to phrase it. This is what I wanted from this post: opinions and information as to how our flag should be used with respect to...well, respect.

What about those two jeeps in Bakersfield that have huge flags flying from them that are dirty and wornout? OR the ones people put on their car after 9/11 and never bothered to replace or clean the flag? Is that disrespect?

Yes, according to the code, a flag may not be flown or displayed unless it is in serviceable condition. Tattered, worn or dirty are not serviceable conditions. I'm sure they're not intentionally being disrespectful, but they're not displaying the flag properly, which, in my opinion, is a form of disrespect.

It's also disrespectful of the flag to write on it.

Didn't stop Bush though.

http://soundingcircle.com/n...

TITLE 4 > CHAPTER 1 > § 8

§ 8. Respect for flag

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

And how about the American-flag-shaped cakes?  Surely the digestive process is less than respectful...

And then there's this:

Though I would not fly a rainbow flag I do not find it objectionable.......The great thing about America is that we can fly weired flags and ever burn the real one and not be jailed or shot dead..............I do have a problem when I see someone proudly flying a flag from another country..If that country was so great then why live in America... 

 "..............I do have a problem when I see someone proudly flying a flag from another country..If that country was so great then why live in America... "

Hm. ...

Not racism (overtly).  What would you call that ..?

--virgil

When I go to the North End of Boston, I see a lot of flags of Italy, then in Southie see the Irish flag or go over to the small Greek/Turkish areas and see flags for both countries, in Dorchester see a lot of Brazilian flags. So...I only think it is showing where they came from, and there is nothing wrong w/ being proud of your home country.

Our condo building doesnt allow any flag to be flown from the building. This is to avoid problems with different political views or what one person flys that another dislikes.

I call it Patriotism..............

"I call it Patriotism.............."

Well, let's have a standing backflip then!

--virgil

Gube,

you think patriotism is about a Flag (cloth, stitching, someone's labor, a symbol for something else) ?

--virgil

No Virgil I think patriotism is honoring the country that one calls home........

I didn't really make myself clear....I should have said that I dislike seeing flags from other countries flown separately or on top of the American flag....If the flag is flown under the American flag then I'm cool with that......

 Surely the digestive process is less than respectful

LOL, random...you crack me up:)

"No Virgil I think patriotism is honoring the country that one calls home........"

Gube,

Yeah , I agree. If I chew on your words a bit...I mean no harm.

Patriotism has nothing to due with how you (we)  feel when we may be feeling threatened .

I suggest patiotism to most has nothing  to do with how they may feel about the American Drream and what it might actually mean.

My question is what are we defending? What is that Patriotism about - it can't be Mervyn's or Cicuit City, or Ford .....

--virgil

virgil its been fun .......Gotta go talk at you soon...

gube