What is a flag, and how can it be desecrated?

[jobycom]

I'm sure most of us believe Bush is desecrating the flag simply by flying it over his illegal invasions, but aside from the idea of desecration through misuse, what exactly would be considered flag desecrration?

Burning, obviously.

Tearing? Probably.

Washing it in public to symbolize cleansing the blood from our nation (Wish I could remember which DUer suggested this a while back)? Probably not.

Dirtying it?

Altering it with corporate symbols? Is it still the flag if it has never actually been a flag?

How about drawing a cartoon of it and tearing it?

How about burning a photograph of it?

How about burning a piece of cloth of the exact size and shape and colors of the flag that you made out of an old teeshirt?

What exactly would make it a flag?

[karlschneider]

1. Well, burning an old flag is one of the recommended ways of disposal,

burying is another. Writing on one (according to the US Flag Code, and which Bush did recently) is considered defacement.

I guess when you burn a flag, whether or not it's acceptable depends on what you think or say while you are doing it.

[jobycom]

2. Then that becomes solely about expression, not the flag. nt.

nt

[karlschneider]

8. Which, unless Whistleass/Asscroft have managed to repeal it, comes

under the First Amendment, nu? So if I burn a flag while saying something like "We commit this symbol of America to memory" that would presumably arouse no ire from the wingnuts, but if I say "Good riddance to this symbol of fascism", do you imagine that would elicit a different response?
edit: sp.

[Eric J in MN]

3. editorial cartoons with the flag might be considered desecration (nt)

nt

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. Making it into an international symbol of imperialism, greed and murder

is a good start.

[Book Lover]

5. You'll find some info here

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

According to this site, a flag is anything that resembles a flag. It does not need to be made of cloth. To use your photo example, I believe that if you were to burn a photo that had been cropped to only show the flag, that would be "desecration" (I use quotes because I don't think any flag is sacred - I understood sacred to refer only to holy objects. But I'm being pendantic).

[karlschneider]

9. To be pedantic,

there's only one n in pedantic. :D
Sorry, couldn't resist...
;-)

[Book Lover]

10. I am full of shame

Yes, it has happened - I am bratty about spelling and so on publicly, and now I have been caught with a mispelling. I won't blame my head cold - my bad!

[karlschneider]

11. Uh, there are 2 ss in "misspelling". Jeebus forgive me.

:D
I am going to my room now. ;-)

[Book Lover]

15. Geez, Karl!

Well, that's it. I'm blaming it on being sick. Now I'm off to my room for rest :-)

[burr]

14. easy, just put some bush/cheney bumpstickers on your car!!!

Is it okay to have a flag t-shirt with words written on it?
No, the flag should never be worn and no, the flag should never have marks or words written upon it. Section 8d (see below): "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel." Section 8g: "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."

Is it okay to use flag napkins or flag paper plates?
No. Section 8i (see below) reads: "It should not be ... printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard."

Is it okay for an advertisement to use the flag?

US Airways logo
No. Section 8i (see below) reads, "The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever."
<snip>









Normally I wouldn't give this link, but for further examples of flag desecration click here.
<http://www.georgewbushstore.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/bush_cheney_04_line.htm?L+scstore+qbqu4299+1068605203>

One final note...burning the flag is not flag desecration, simply trashing it is!!!

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning"

[liberalmuse]

6. It's what it represents...

an agreed upon meaning. If the meaning behind the symbol becomes corrupt, then the symbol has been desecrated. Our flag used to mean 'freedom', 'sacrifice', 'honor', 'courage', but after 9-11, it has begun to represent the cowardly acts of bombing and oppressing defenseless populations, vengence, arrogance, lies and dishonor, gluttonous greed, and not a whit of sacrifice. To me, that's desecrating a flag, when the population it flies over makes a mockery of what it once symbolized.

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. Here's an example of a crime being committed

Click Here To See Fair & Balanced Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[karlschneider]

12. What?! WHAT?! Is that Dear Leader defacing a flag? The Horror!

:eyes:

[RC]

13. Yes it is. With a Sharpie yet.

[maggrwaggr]

16. how 'bout wiping my mouth on a flag napkin on 4th of July?

which I did last summer. At a die-hard right-winger's house. Flag napkins.

Are you NOT supposed to wipe your mouth on a flag napkin? What if I need toilet paper? Can I blow my nose in it?

The whole discussion of flag desecration is silly.