We need a flag amendment?
(responce to letter printed in Laconia Citizen)
We need a flag amendment – just like we need a non-binding resolution to win the ‘War on Terror.’ Hey, does everybody’s arm hurt from patting yourselves on the back?
In a recent letter Mr. Allen Gurney wrote; “"Old Glory," a nickname for our flag and all of us should be proud of having such a beautiful and loving flag, a symbol of the United States of America. So, we all should pray that bill SJR12 will pass and be done with it.” I agree it’s a grand looking flag; it comes when I call, never tracks mud in the house, yes, all in all a very loving flag…(down Old Glory! What I tell you about getting on the furniture?)…But seriously, folks…
What’s the point of passing shrill ‘oh-my-god-we-must-protect-the-sanctity-of-our-flag’ measures when we still allow “Old Glory” to be printed on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and product advertisements? Personally I think using the flag for symbolic political reasons, such as burning in protest, (or trying to pass holier-than-thou flag protection legislation for the sake of re-election) to be far more palatable than seeing ‘Old Glory’ plastered across the background of a Harley Davidson poster, or on a ‘these colors don’t run’ bumper sticker. Both of which are cynically preying on your patriotism to make a buck. That’s disgusting.
The crass commercialization of our national symbol is what you should be getting all up in arms about, and banning that type of exploitation is a piece of legislation I could get behind. Until then, I expect all you flag protection supporters to start treating our ‘national symbol’ with the proper respect. This would include the removal of any stickers depicting the flag from your cars, refusing to buy products that use the flag as a marketing tool and the disposal of all such products currently in your households (such as t-shirts, lighters, sparklers, mugs, etc.), properly dispose of tattered and or faded flags (this means either burning or burying I believe) and replace them with new ones. And remember the flag should be taken in every night, properly handled and not allowed to touch the ground. If you have a flag being displayed flat on a wall the blue field should always be in the upper left portion of the flag. I’m sure, as patriots, and lovers of our ‘beautiful and loving’ flag all of you who support this bill already follow all these rules and have the utmost respect for our flag and it’s image.
There are many ceremonial rules regarding the handling, care and display of our flag, and they can be located anywhere from a Boy Scout manual to the Internet. If SJR12 will end the flag being considered a great idea for a t-shirt or a television ad, if SJR12 ends the blatant commercial exploitation of our national symbol, come talk to me. Until then I would posit this is nothing more than a politically motivated legislative campaign used to make dupes and fools of those who really want to see the flag treated with respect.
*SALON.COM EDITORS PICK!
We need a flag amendment – just like we need a non-binding resolution to win the ‘War on Terror.’ Hey, does everybody’s arm hurt from patting yourselves on the back?
In a recent letter Mr. Allen Gurney wrote; “"Old Glory," a nickname for our flag and all of us should be proud of having such a beautiful and loving flag, a symbol of the United States of America. So, we all should pray that bill SJR12 will pass and be done with it.” I agree it’s a grand looking flag; it comes when I call, never tracks mud in the house, yes, all in all a very loving flag…(down Old Glory! What I tell you about getting on the furniture?)…But seriously, folks…
What’s the point of passing shrill ‘oh-my-god-we-must-protect-the-sanctity-of-our-flag’ measures when we still allow “Old Glory” to be printed on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and product advertisements? Personally I think using the flag for symbolic political reasons, such as burning in protest, (or trying to pass holier-than-thou flag protection legislation for the sake of re-election) to be far more palatable than seeing ‘Old Glory’ plastered across the background of a Harley Davidson poster, or on a ‘these colors don’t run’ bumper sticker. Both of which are cynically preying on your patriotism to make a buck. That’s disgusting.
The crass commercialization of our national symbol is what you should be getting all up in arms about, and banning that type of exploitation is a piece of legislation I could get behind. Until then, I expect all you flag protection supporters to start treating our ‘national symbol’ with the proper respect. This would include the removal of any stickers depicting the flag from your cars, refusing to buy products that use the flag as a marketing tool and the disposal of all such products currently in your households (such as t-shirts, lighters, sparklers, mugs, etc.), properly dispose of tattered and or faded flags (this means either burning or burying I believe) and replace them with new ones. And remember the flag should be taken in every night, properly handled and not allowed to touch the ground. If you have a flag being displayed flat on a wall the blue field should always be in the upper left portion of the flag. I’m sure, as patriots, and lovers of our ‘beautiful and loving’ flag all of you who support this bill already follow all these rules and have the utmost respect for our flag and it’s image.
There are many ceremonial rules regarding the handling, care and display of our flag, and they can be located anywhere from a Boy Scout manual to the Internet. If SJR12 will end the flag being considered a great idea for a t-shirt or a television ad, if SJR12 ends the blatant commercial exploitation of our national symbol, come talk to me. Until then I would posit this is nothing more than a politically motivated legislative campaign used to make dupes and fools of those who really want to see the flag treated with respect.
*SALON.COM EDITORS PICK!
posted by M.C. Steve | 1:46 PM
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