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Offended or no?

Does this picture offend you?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • No

    Votes: 72 98.6%

  • Total voters
    73
Lucky for us we still have a civilian government instead of a military dictatorship. I'm surprised that I have to defend one of our most basic rights, freedom of speech.....but, I'm proud to do it.

Oh come on Moot. You don't have to do that with me. I know you're not suggesting that I am opposed to freedom of speech. That's a constitutional right that one cannot earn. You do not fight in war to earn the right of free speech. Now then, I was taking issue with your comment that fighting in war earns a soldier the right to do as he pleases with the flag, that simply is not true.
 
I hope we can be reminded of this outrage the next time an athlete in an international sporting event does a victory lap drenched in the glory of red, white, and blue.
 
I hope we can be reminded of this outrage the next time an athlete in an international sporting event does a victory lap drenched in the glory of red, white, and blue.

Who got outraged over that?
 
I hope we can be reminded of this outrage the next time an athlete in an international sporting event does a victory lap drenched in the glory of red, white, and blue.

Personally, I hope we can remember this the night time some medicore, half-ass country music singer decides to drape himself in the flag to sell a hundred thousand records.
 
It is law, but it's not enforced. To enforce it would be a violation of the 1st Amendment.

It's not law in this country....


"...The flag of the United States is sometimes symbolically burned, often in protest of the policies of the American government, both within the country and abroad. The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech." However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression...."

Flag desecration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Personally, I hope we can remember this the night time some medicore, half-ass country music singer decides to drape himself in the flag to sell a hundred thousand records.

That might be a chore for me since I don't listen to MTV-style country music. ;)
 
Not offended. It violates the Flag Act but a huge number of people violate it.
 
Could have sat at a desk for 2 years.

So what? They may be more important to the safety of the US than men and women who were patrolling. But it does not change the fact that he is a member of the armed forces and he deserves respect for that IMHO. He is doing an important job, no matter where he serves and what he does. But that is just my opinion. Even an army cook is serving his country honorably and very importantly.
 
Mother a Veteran, Father serving, demonstrating love of country using the flag with their most precious, their child.
And those that get all het up about it, really should look for more serious issues in life that need tending to.
 
Oh come on Moot. You don't have to do that with me. I know you're not suggesting that I am opposed to freedom of speech. That's a constitutional right that one cannot earn. You do not fight in war to earn the right of free speech. Now then, I was taking issue with your comment that fighting in war earns a soldier the right to do as he pleases with the flag, that simply is not true.
Then perhaps "earn" was the wrong word....since the soldier already had the right before he joined the military. I understand that when people volunteer for the military they give up some of their rights ...but that doesn't mean the rest of us did and that's my point.
 
I really get sick and tired of the perpetual offense machine. People get offended at everything. Who the hell cares? People need to grow the hell up.
 
I don't think so. But that's beside the point. Do you really believe that after a soldier returns from war that he has earned the right to do as he wishes with the American flag. Even if it's a violation of the flag code?

Flag code is meaningless...it's like a mattress tag. I can not destroy your flag as it is your personal property...But I can buy a flag and do with it as I wish....It is my property.

the Flag represents the very freedom to do as I wish with it.
 
Isn't there a university staff and students that just overwhelmingly voted that picture is racism because anything showing the flag is racism?
 
So what? They may be more important to the safety of the US than men and women who were patrolling. But it does not change the fact that he is a member of the armed forces and he deserves respect for that IMHO. He is doing an important job, no matter where he serves and what he does. But that is just my opinion. Even an army cook is serving his country honorably and very importantly.

Respect yes, more of an American? No.
 
Getting offended is a small price to pay for free speech considering a lot of our fore fathers fought and died for that right. Don't you believe in the First Amendment?

Purposely disrespecting the flag is for inciteful reasons. Not freedom speech.
 
For those who love their country, no act by a fool or enemy will change that love, but it is important to let people do what they want because that way we learn about them...

If that is their method of speech, there is nothing I have to learn from them.
 
He served to protect our freedom...and that includes using the flag for whatever.

So there is a warrior class of Americans, and just regular Americans. OK Got it. Warrior class people are what? Better? More American? Proved something? Owed something?
 
Respect yes, more of an American? No.

I do not say they are "more American". I am saying they have to be respected for their service and their willingness to lay down their lives for other people's freedom and safety". But I just do not believe that this picture is offensive.
 
Would anybody be offended if somebody wore boxers with an American flag print?

tcRmzNi.jpg
 
I do not say they are "more American". I am saying they have to be respected for their service and their willingness to lay down their lives for other people's freedom and safety". But I just do not believe that this picture is offensive.

Nice back stroke, I dont find it offensive at all. Its a baby, wrapped in the symbol of our nations freedoms. You dont get any more American than that.
 
§176. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
• (a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
• (b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
• (c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
• (d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
• (e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
• (f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
• (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.
• (h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• (i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
• (j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
• (k) 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.

Tell it to the high ranking military officials then.
 
I am not offended by the photo. And I can't think of too many things I care less about than the Flag code.
 
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