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Is Sarah Palin's use of the American flag a breach of federal law?

Is Sarah Palin's use of the flag breaking the law?

  • YES! Fine her! Throw her in jail!

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • Maybe...it seems disrespectful.

    Votes: 2 4.3%
  • Really? This is what we're talking about?

    Votes: 41 89.1%

  • Total voters
    46
a law that cannot be enforced nor is enforced makes a mockery of other laws and our system of laws
 
a law that cannot be enforced nor is enforced makes a mockery of other laws and our system of laws

Nonsense. The flag code makes no claims to be a criminal statute. It's a useful reference tool for those of us who want to respect the flag.

It is enforceable in a de facto way. The shame of a violation should be penalty enough.
 
Anyone tells me to my face that wearing my favorite t shirt, with the American flag, is unpatriotic and disrespectful, is gonna get slammed upside their dumb ass head.
 
Anyone tells me to my face that wearing my favorite t shirt, with the American flag, is unpatriotic and disrespectful, is gonna get slammed upside their dumb ass head.

Unless your favorite t-shirt is a uniform for a patriotic organization, you are in violation flag code by using an image of a flag as wearing apparel.

Look, Whovian, it doesn't make you unpatriotic, or intentionally disrespectful, because you didn't know any better. But it is still a violation.
 
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Nonsense. The flag code makes no claims to be a criminal statute. It's a useful reference tool for those of us who want to respect the flag.

It is enforceable in a de facto way. The shame of a violation should be penalty enough.


an interesting libertarian perspective

but not one I share from either my professional standpoint or as someone who understands the libertarian philosophy
 
Unless your favorite t-shirt is a uniform for a patriotic organization, you are violation flag code by using an image of a flag as wearing apparel.

Perhaps rather than resorting to physical violence, you might just stop wearing the shirt, and burn it with honor as required by the code.

then you'd be slammed upside your dumb ass head if I was wearing it when we met.
 
an interesting libertarian perspective

but not one I share from either my professional standpoint or as someone who understands the libertarian philosophy

Nonsense. There is nothing coercive about promulgating optional rules. It's the most libertarian sort of government there is!

Shows how little you understand of libertarianism really.

But it's all good.
 
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then you'd be slammed upside your dumb ass head if I was wearing it when we met.

Indeed, as I should be. My apologies for that, I edited it.

Sometimes in my zeal to see the flag treated with proper respect I forget that people who disagree with me are still trying their best.
 
Nonsense. There is nothing coercive about promulgating optional rules. It's the most libertarian sort of government there is!

Shows how little you understand of libertarianism really.

Adios, TD!

I would bet that more real libertarians would agree that my knowledge of the philosophy is superior to yours though you have been getting better recently

real libertarians don't support silly rules that have no relevance to increasing the values libertarians hold dear.

private property is private property and owners should be free to dispose or use of it as they see fit as long as such disposal or use DOES NOT OBJECTIVELY HARM an innocent other person
 
Official Obama t shirt...
310343234v10_225x225_Front.jpg


Official Obama merchandise...
2804409068_55ef277db8.jpg

Note the logos that obviously would make any sane person think of the American flag.

And then there's that damned Postal Service...
02_flagnd.jpg

09US-Flag.jpg

US_Flags_247_nighttime_single.jpg

Bastards... defacing the flag with their evil communist postmarks...
 
Official Obama t shirt...


Official Obama merchandise...

Note the logos that obviously would make any sane person think of the American flag.

And then there's that damned Postal Service...


Bastards... defacing the flag with their evil communist postmarks...


That's a stretch. Obama's mdse does not show the flag - geez, how do you get a flag from that? That you would think of the flag and it being the flag are not the same.

And, the post office stamps are not desecrating the flag - there is nothing wrong with displaying the flag.

Palin isn't breaking the law, but to display it on a "circus" tour could be considered disrespectful, but of course, she wouldn't know it, Miss Patriotism!
 
That's a stretch. Obama's mdse does not show the flag - geez, how do you get a flag from that? That you would think of the flag and it being the flag are not the same.

And, the post office stamps are not desecrating the flag - there is nothing wrong with displaying the flag.

Palin isn't breaking the law, but to display it on a "circus" tour could be considered disrespectful, but of course, she wouldn't know it, Miss Patriotism!

If you go by the letter of the US Code, as Guy likes to, then you're wrong.

First, anything that even remotely resembles the flag, or any part of the flag, counts as a flag... the exact statutes have been posted several times in this thread. The red, white and blue O logo certainly would make any sane person think of the American flag.

Second, the flag is not supposed to be on anything temporary or disposable. Stamps are most certainly temporary. When you get a letter, do you keep the envelope? ALL of them, all the time? Or, like most people, do you throw it away? If it has a flag stamp, then you're violating the letter of the US Code again.

My point is that all these things are stupid, and the code should be changed to reflect that a patriotic t shirt, or mural of a flag on the side of a building, or a flag stamp, are NOT unpatriotic or disrespectful to the flag.
 
If you go by the letter of the US Code, as Guy likes to, then you're wrong.

First, anything that even remotely resembles the flag, or any part of the flag, counts as a flag... the exact statutes have been posted several times in this thread. The red, white and blue O logo certainly would make any sane person think of the American flag.

That's funny, it wasn't too long ago conservatives were claiming Obama's logo resembled some ME crescent. So, which is it, the American flag or some Muslim crescent? Or, does it change to satisfy the whims of conservatives?

Right-wing media link new agency logo to Obama's, Pepsi's, Iran's, Islamic Crescent | Media Matters for America

Second, the flag is not supposed to be on anything temporary or disposable. Stamps are most certainly temporary. When you get a letter, do you keep the envelope? ALL of them, all the time? Or, like most people, do you throw it away? If it has a flag stamp, then you're violating the letter of the US Code again.
And you have a link to the law that specifically says that? Because I looked up the flag code and apparently it is lax.

My point is that all these things are stupid, and the code should be changed to reflect that a patriotic t shirt, or mural of a flag on the side of a building, or a flag stamp, are NOT unpatriotic or disrespectful to the flag.
They actually are disrespectful of the flag, but they have been tolerated for so long, nobody really cares anymore. But, if some Democrat were parading around on some circus tour, I'm sure there would be plenty of complaints from the right that the flag was being disrespected. But, being that it is Sarah Palin, nobody really gives a darn.
 
If we cannot burn a flag we own, or wear a bikini, jock strap, t-shirt, or vest made out of a flag, then the flag means nothing and it would mean nothing to wear it.

the fact that people can burn it and not be persecuted is why the flag and what it stands for is stronger than either protestors who denigrate it or fascists who want to shoot someone who burns it

Dayum. Well said sir.
 
If you go by the letter of the US Code, as Guy likes to, then you're wrong.

"The flag of the United States is any flag of the United States, or any part thereof, made of any substance, of any size, accurate or not, that is recognized as a flag by the reasonable observer." (Flag Code, Section 3)
 
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That's the thing. You don't get to define respect unilaterally. You might think flag boxers are respectful, but the vast majority of America, including Congress, disagrees with you.

So, even though you are all beautiful and unique snowflakes with different opinions about what constitutes respect, out of deference to our country you should follow these general guidelines of respect for the flag.

I'm just messing around. :2razz:
Don't think I have any flag regalia in my house anyway.
 
I haven't seen that, but he damn well better not have. I saw an Obama pin earlier in this thread with a part of a Flag on it, which is arguably not a violation but still pretty lawyerly (read: scummy) if you ask me.

Yeah - sure did: here it is. I remember it being a huge issue with lots of people
 
I am still not sure why there is any justification to saying "Congress did it". As has been evidenced by forum opinion and national opinion, congress is not a paradigm of absolute right or moral behavior.
 
I am still not sure why there is any justification to saying "Congress did it". As has been evidenced by forum opinion and national opinion, congress is not a paradigm of absolute right or moral behavior.

Damn - they're not.

Well ****, there goes the jam out of my donut. I was relying on their behavior as a compass of my ethical behavior . . . guess I need to head to confession and purify my soul :)
 
Damn - they're not.

Well ****, there goes the jam out of my donut. I was relying on their behavior as a compass of my ethical behavior . . . guess I need to head to confession and purify my soul :)

LOL. To be fair, I wasn't implying that everybody was idolizing Congress...but the argument has been used in this thread.
 
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