Proper American Flag Etiquette

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Burning of the flag was mentioned in another thread. I felt it necessary to start a new on one this topic since a lot of people feel that the freedom of speech gives people the right to burn the flag or wear it in a protest.
Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:
* The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
* The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
* The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
* The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
* The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
* The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
* The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
* The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
* When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
* The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
* When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
It is suggested you take a flag that has touched the ground or is no longer fit to a local American Legion of VFW post, as they hold a dignified ceremony for disposing of such flags .

Display Outdoors
Over the Middle of the Street
It should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
Flown at Half-staff
Should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.
Flown on the Same Halyard with Non-Nation Flags
The American Flag should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.
Suspended Over a Sidewalk
The flag may be suspended from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.
From a Staff Projecting Horizontally or at an Angle
The flag may be projected from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, with the union of the flag placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
In a Parade with Other Flags
The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
With Non-National Flags
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
With Other National Flags
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
With Another Flag Against a Wall from Crossed Staffs
Should be on the right, the flag's own right which is the viewer's left, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
Display Indoors
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium on a Podium
The flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker (to the right of the audience).
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium off the Podium
Custom and not the flag code hold that the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence as part of the audience, in the position of honor at the audience's right.
Used to Cover a Casket
It should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
Other than being Flown from a Staff
The flag should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

 

Jeez, its only a flag!

 

In the army we had some similar rules, yest less extensive. However, generally we stopped caring so much about flags in 1945

 

The rules for the Norwegian flag are similar, but I'm not sure you're allowed to fly it other than in daylight hours. It should also be folded so that only the red shows.

I think that respect for a nation's flag and national anthem is appropriate. Obviously also including other nations, not just our own.

These are after all the most visible statements of nationhood.

To burn a national flag to show disgust with politcal decisions is ignorant, misguided and disrespectful. Just 2p's worth on that one anyway.

 

I have always felt that the flag of a nation represents the people of that nation, not the government thereof. Using that logic, I have a serious problem with people burning ANY flags in protest. In a country like the US, where individual freedoms are so important to the polity, I find it stunning that people will burn American flags as protest -- it is, symbolically, spitting on the fact that you have free speech. Free speech advocating the destruction of the society that protects free speech is oxymoronic. Burn your hated politician in effigy. Carry a placard with a really funny or poignant slogan. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

As a Canadian, I would never show any disrespect to any flag of another country. I may hate their politicians or their policies, but people are people everywhere -- they've got kids just like mine (see my Proud Father thread in Whatnots) and I've got no quarrel with the common man regardless of his location, and therefore I will not desecrate a flag that symbolizes him.

 

As Viking said, the rules for the Norwegian flag are almost exact the same (and you were correct in that in can only be up with the sun). When our flag is worn, it should (like the American) be burned, but it should first be cut so that the different colors of it can be burned separate.

 

I think the rules are pretty universal, I actually think the rules for the Swedish flag is a bit stricter than was shown above. For instance I dont think it is allowed to be used as often and extensively as the american.
As a part of my guard duty in the army I was supposed raise and lower the flag and it was only allowed to be up when the sun was up. Making for very short flag days in the winter and very long in the summer. We had this book about the suns coming up and coming downs that we went by. It was not until pretty recently the laws about the flag were taken away, making it not be to be illegal and punishable to have the flag up over night. It is all very silly.

 

I don't believe that it is silly at all. It is a representation of your country. Not the politicians or government, but the country as a whole. Disrespecting it is unproductive. It is just like Americans who run around with "America Sucks" signs.

If you want to demonstrate you dissatisfaction with your government, do it in a constructive manner.

Now as for burning other countries flags, well short of violence, it is the ultimate form of disrespect. It should only be done for countries that a person feels need to be completely changed or eliminated.

Lighter, lighter fluid...now where did I put that French flag?

 

I agree that we should respect the flag of our own nation and that of others. But is flag burning or some other form of disrespect rampant in some countries that it has become an issue?

 

Darkwolf, thanks for stating that you feel my country of origin, France, is worthy of utter disrespect and should be eliminated. It's a useful piece of information I'll keep in mind for the next time I hear you whining about people showing disrespect for YOUR country. I'm sure I won't be waiting long.

 

Sprite,

See the little guy sticking out his tongue! It was a joke! I have never and will never burn any nations flag. Hell, I wouldn't even burn Iraq's flag. Iraq was at one time the center of civilization, and I feel nothing but pity for her people. Now I do have a total lack of respect for Chirac, and I hope that America ends diplomatic ties with France until he is gone, but wish in one hand and spit in the other and see what you get.

Me personally, I wouldn't want to admit I was from France until the political climate there changes.

And frankly, I don't think I have every asked for or complained about a lack of respect for America. America is guilty of many of the same crimes that almost all western nations (Germany, France, and England are definitely included in this) commit. It is just more fashionable for everyone to complain about the richest, most powerful, and best. Always has been, and with only a few exceptions, always will be.

By the way Sprite, since you are from France, what is the national language of France? French isn't it, not German?

You’re welcome!

And all those loans that we gave you to rebuild after WWII and then later forgave since you were never going to repay them anyway.

You’re welcome for that too.

 

You forgot that during the brief process of the liberation of france more french civilians died from american bombs than from german hands over the whole occupation Never ever has something bad come from america Certainly the utter devastation of most of the major cities in northern france also is something the french will be eternally thankful for And the iraqis will feel the same thank once they got rid of Saddam

 

Ok, back to flags: Evidence shows how dangerous it is to have too many flags around to sing the national anthem every day!

Look at all the fancy pictures of dictatorships! Colorful paintings and flags everywhere - and some of the cruellest dictatorships and the most dangerous countries had about the fanciest flags! Not that I see a pattern yet but it is a point to reflect on: That the more "colorful" a country gets the less free it usually is and the more dangerous it becomes.

 

Ragusa,

Guess there is an exception to every rule. Americans may be flag waivers, but we are the most free nation in the world!

But you are right about the other thing, we are dangerous! So far it hasn't paid off for anyone to be Ameirca's enemy.

 

not even US, war just doesn't pay off

 

Flag waiving is fine, no matter who does it, as long as you are willing to respect the flags (and symbolically, by extension) lifestyles of others. American patriotism (or any other kind, for that matter) is only dangerous if it turns into hatred for others, as opposed to joy in your own system.

I just had an odd thought -- would I have felt the same way about the old Swastika the Nazis flew? There's a flag that is now universally reviled. Interesting thought. I'm pondering.

 

I have to say, I've mixed feelings of flag ettiquete.

There were some fun days. Or rather, mornings and nights.

And yet, there were some pretty stupid mixups too. Things that just make you smack your forehead and close your eyes.

Folding them is always the game. Everyone wants a tight flag.

 

The inherent problem of flag waiving is that a flag symbolises the nation and patriotism, basically not at all a bad thing. Flag ettiquette is an expression of these ideals. Patriotism, however, tends to turn into nationalism. Ask a nationalist what he is and he will say he's a patriot The borders are fluent:
Was Timothy McVeigh a true patriot? Or a nationalist rather? How about Sean Penn? Patriot? Or a traitor? George Bush: Patriot or Nationalist? How about McCarthy, Reagan and Clinton?

Nationalism (like other ideologies) blinds governments and people and makes them act agressive toward other countries and other people. Think about mobs burning flags ... When you end up saying (and acting) "My country first" conflict is preprogrammed - and contries do conflict in wars! Not surprisingly nationalism has caused quite a couple of wars over the last century.
To settle conflict in court is also possible but that probably hasn't found its way to all countries yet - for a nationalist the acceptance of an international court is difficult anyway - when your country is first, how can it be judged by outlanders ?

This misperception is a wee bit in conflict with international law but who understands that bull anyway? Only leftists

So flag waiving always makes me feel a little uneasy. We had a flag call in school every morning during the nazi years in germany. Patriotism? Or maybe more? Flag waiving and a united public opinion (which is always media made) are bad ingrediences for a bad stew. But admittedly, the US flag is a pretty nice one, no doubt.

[ March 08, 2003, 19:28: Message edited by: Ragusa ]