U.S. team out of World Cup and U.S. Flag disrespected, and my local newspapers use pictures of disrespect to increase readership.

 

U.S. team out of World Cup and U.S. Flag disrespected

by Henry Burt Stevens
06/23/2006

It's a bummer when U.S. teams lose in World Cup competition.  But it is much worse when my local newspapers use pictures of Our Flag being disrespected as eye catchers on the front page to lead readers to their sports section for the main story.

Both the Charlotte Sun and the Herald-Tribune carried front page pictures of a young woman U.S. supporter with blue dyed hair and using an American flag as a cape or poncho.  Sure it is an eye catching picture, but wearing an U. S. flag as clothing and/decoration is disprespeciful of the flag. (Unless it is a small patch flag.)

Our U.S. Congress recently spent much valuable time trying to work up a bill against flag burning, to no avail, usless you consider pandering to voters in a mid term election as suitable and worth while effort.

Now, nine days after Flag Day, June 14, my newspapers are using disrespect of the flag in a commercial manner to improve their readership.

The Herald-Tribune credited Associated Press for the picture.  The Charlotte Sun used a different view of the same subject but did not give any credits. (I wonder where they got the picture?)

Flag rules are many and complicated.  Boy Scouts and any who have been or are in the military usually have the best basic knowledge of proper flag procedures.  But it always jars me when others that should know make basic errors, such as my local newspapers did today.

It reminds me of President Ronald Regan's funeral, where the pictures and video of Regan's flag drapped casket being wheeled into the church past President Bush and his cabinet.  Only General Powell observed proper respect. President Bush and cabinet stood with both arms at their sides as the flag passed by down the isle to the alter.

When the flag passes by we cover out hearts with our right hand. Those honorable discharged from military service may salute instead, if the wish.  If they are in uniform they will salute.

It only takes a few minutes to brush up on proper flag proceedures. Here is the result of a Google search.

Flag Rules and Regulations
The flag of the United States for the purpose of this chapter shall be defined according to title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1, Section 1 and Section 2 ...
www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html - 46k - Cached - Similar pages


§8. 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.   1. 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.
   2. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
   3. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
   4. 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.
   5. 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.
   6. The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
   7. 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.
   8. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
   9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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
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