Flag Code...Are You Patriotic?

[The Annoyed Man]

I don't know if this is what Liberty was trying to say or not, but this is how I feel about our flag...

I don't have the flag code committed to memory. But I do know this about it: It is a beautiful flag. It looks glorious in the breeze. It really is much more beautiful than other flags - in its symmetry, in its bold colors, and in its meaning. Whenever I see it, I am reminded of this country that I love so much. When I have been in foreign countries and saw our flag flying over an embassy, or on the sleeve of a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine passing through that country, my heart tripped a beat. It reminded me of home.

Whenever my plane has landed on American soil and I debark after being abroad, one of the first things I actually look for is a flag. I don't always see one, but my heart wants to see one. When I step off the plane, I always have that feeling that I am finally home. I LOVE my country.

But, I don't worship the flag. I worship The Most High God. The flag is a visible symbol of the nation that I hold dear to my heart, but I don't need to see the flag in order to feel the love of country that I carry inside of me. I am pleased to see it when I do see it, but I don't need to fly it everyday to remind myself - or to prove to anyone else - what I know I feel inside for my country. So at Casa de Annoyed Man, we fly the flag on special occasions in a celebratory manner, but we don't fly it every day. Sometimes I wear a little flag pin on my lapel or shirt pocket, but I don't do it every day.

And I don't think that makes me any less patriotic than anyone else. If patriotism is defined as a true love of country, then I am as patriotic as can be. It is not the flying of the flag that makes one a patriot. It is the love of one's country that does it. Lots of rock stars who wear crucifixes do not have a Christian bone in their bodies. It isn't the symbol that makes the man, it is what is in that person's heart. If a person's heart contains a true love of country - the same kind of love that Jesus spoke of when he said that "greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother" - then that person is a patriot. If they don't, then they're not. It's that simple, really.

Anyway, that's how I feel about it.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Annoyed Man,
I agree with you there is no need to worship the flag. That is not what we are doing. We are simply wishing the disrespecting of the flag would cease. I would rather see no flag than a torn faded or any other disrespected flag. There is absolutely no need to fly the flag every day or at all to be patriotic. However if you do fly it you should fly it with honor and respect. As you stated you do not fly the flag everyday but you have a respect for the flag. It doesnt mean that you are not patriotic. I know plenty of patriots who do not fly the flag at all. As I stated above. It is not the lack of flying that is bothering me it is the lack of respect towards Old Glory by those who fly her.

[tallmike]

It is not the lack of flying that is bothering me it is the lack of respect towards Old Glory by those who fly her.

I am more bothered by a lack of respect for the fact that the flag symbolizes freedom. The more restrictions you place on freedom, the less respect the flag deserves.

When someone does something unpopular with the flag, that only strengthens its symbolism to me. Unpopular displays are the best test of our freedom of speech. The true test of a symbol of freedom is not how well regulated its display is, but how free it is.

I respect your right to display the flag exactly as the flag code dictates, its great that you have the sort of dedication. I hope you have the same respect for other flag displays so that you dont diminish what it is you are trying to protect.

[The Annoyed Man]

XtremeDuty.45, I'm somewhere between you and tallmike. Like you, I get really irritated by those who disrespect the flag; but like tallmike, I think that the flag symbolizes, among many other things, the right of those with a poor understanding of its value to disrespect it if they so desire. So while I hate what they do, I think the best response is to show them visible scorn. If enough people communicate their disgust, then perhaps they will change their tune. If they don't, then nothing in the code is going to get them to change their ways either.

I read a long time ago that the FDA's regulations permit the manufacturers of refined sugar a certain number of rat droppings per ton of finished product. This country is like the sugar. Those people are like the rat droppings. You'll never get rid of them, but the sugar is still sweet.

(At least it probably was until you read this. )

[bryang]

Thank you, MTICop, for you excellent post. ..my feelings exactly, you just said it much better than I could!

-geo

[MTICop]

I am going to chime in one last time on this subject as I think we all have our stances and will agree to disagree on certain matters pertaining to the original topic. I never meant to come across as one who "worships" the flag. I do, however, feel that it deserves the utmost respect at all times as it is a symbol of this great country and all it stands for. I did not spend 20+years in the military for a flag but I did to that time helping to preserve the rights of all Americans which again is what I believe that flag stands for. Everyone has something that is held in high regard and is respected be it something as grand as a memorial to someone or something or maybe it's something as small as a particular item with great sentimental value. This doesn't make it an idol. The particular individual who has whatever that is will also go to great lengths to ensure it is not tarnished or disrespected in any way.

I don't judge peoples' patriotism based on the way or how often they display the flag. As I said earlier, most have nothing but good intentions and are doing so to demonstrate that. If I came across as calling anyone's patriotism into question, I apologize. Having said that, this isn't a list that someone made up because they wanted the flag worshipped or because they had nothing better to do than to put restraints on freedom or question the patriotism of anyone who didn't do it the way they wanted. This also wasn't done recently. It has been out for a very long time. This was done to ensure that the symbol of our nation, and its people, is displayed in a proper and respectful manner.

Again, I apologize if anyone felt slighted by any comments I made. They were not intended that way. And as I said at the begining of this, I think we are, or at least I am, at the point in this conversation where we can agree to disagree on the topic so this will be my last post on this topic. I look forward to reviewing the rest of the forum and gaining knowledge on the numerous other discussions on the board.

[Liberty]

Dear Liberty,
How did you choose your name?

The Flag is NOT just a piece of cloth. Its a SYMBOL of a living nation. It represents freedom and LIBERTY. Why do you think that terrorist burn Old Glory? Cause its a symbol of our great nation and they want to disrespect us. It is OUR symbol. It represents us. Men and women have died serving under that flag. I can assure you they didnt see it as 'just a piece of cloth'. To think and to say that is to not only disrespect the Flag of our nation, the nation that gives you the very freedom you so dearly love and I can bet you take for granted but it is also NOT in the least patriotic. It disgust me to hear Old Glory being called just a piece of cloth. My family and friends have served under that 'piece of cloth' I still serve under that 'piece of cloth' I have a colleague that died while we were in Iraq under that 'piece of cloth' I have a friend who was drafted during Vietnam and lost his right arm serving under 'that piece of cloth'. Remember that there are men and women who are giving up their rights to fight for yours because of what that 'piece of cloth' stands for.

I got my name because its something that I believe in.

I mean no slight to those who buy into the the Symbolism that the flag means and have the highest respect for those who might find meaning. I will salute the flag when it is presented publicly, not because the flag has meaning but because I respect those who find meaning in that flag. Symbolism doesn't mean much to me. I also served my country, I have served man, and I serve God, I have never served an inanimate object. That doesn't mean I expect everyone to feel the same way I do. I understand some people have emotional ties to jewelry, flags, crosses etc.

I was born into the Navy, My uncles were career Soldiers, I served in the Army, Viet Nam Decimated my neighborhood. I understand serving ones nation. I just don't associate Patriotism with Flag worship.

[Liberty]

Again, I apologize if anyone felt slighted by any comments I made. They were not intended that way. And as I said at the begining of this, I think we are, or at least I am, at the point in this conversation where we can agree to disagree on the topic so this will be my last post on this topic. I look forward to reviewing the rest of the forum and gaining knowledge on the numerous other discussions on the board.

There is no apology necessary. I know I offered something of an opposing view, but i was just trying to present another view. Not to take away anything from your post.. Those who find meaning in the flag are amongst the finest people on on earth. I don't mean to take away from that and they deserve our respect. I just wanted to alert folks that we can't always directly associate patriotism with respect for a flag.

[tallmike]

Again, I apologize if anyone felt slighted by any comments I made. They were not intended that way. And as I said at the begining of this, I think we are, or at least I am, at the point in this conversation where we can agree to disagree on the topic so this will be my last post on this topic. I look forward to reviewing the rest of the forum and gaining knowledge on the numerous other discussions on the board.

There is no apology necessary. I know I offered something of an opposing view, but i was just trying to present another view. Not to take away anything from your post.. Those who find meaning in the flag are amongst the finest people on on earth. I don't mean to take away from that and they deserve our respect. I just wanted to alert folks that we can't always directly associate patriotism with respect for a flag.

+1

[bryang]

Again, I apologize if anyone felt slighted by any comments I made. They were not intended that way. And as I said at the begining of this, I think we are, or at least I am, at the point in this conversation where we can agree to disagree on the topic so this will be my last post on this topic. I look forward to reviewing the rest of the forum and gaining knowledge on the numerous other discussions on the board.

There is no apology necessary. I know I offered something of an opposing view, but i was just trying to present another view. Not to take away anything from your post.. Those who find meaning in the flag are amongst the finest people on on earth. I don't mean to take away from that and they deserve our respect. I just wanted to alert folks that we can't always directly associate patriotism with respect for a flag.

+1

+2 I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone either. If I did, I apologize. This is what makes this forum so unique and I have the utmost respect for each member and their opinions.

-geo

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I want to thank everyone for your posts and your opinions. It is good to see so many people feel as I do about respect for the flag. And for those of you who dont it is always nice to hear opinions and why people feel the way they do. No harm done we all have our opinions no one is right or wrong. Again thanks for the posts.

And for you fellow VETS...THANK YOU for your service to our great country!