The grand old flag

Like all married couples, Miz Becky and I agree on some things and disagree on others. We don't have identical views on the world, and that's what keeps our discussions interesting.

A surprising and particularly strong point of unity, however, is that we're both major sticklers for flag ettiquette. Seeing someone (as we did today) with two flags attached to the back of their SUV, hanging on the ground, really gets our goat.

The crux of the biscuit is this: If you're feeling patriotic, and you're flying the flag to show how patriotic you feel... then TREAT THE DAMN FLAG WITH RESPECT. Otherwise it's a particularly annoying form of hypocrisy: I want to look patriotic, but I'm too lazy to do it properly.

(Some more cynical than I might argue that those people are therefore displaying the perfect symbol of America... but not me, no sir.)

So here's a short list of rules, excerpted from the excellent page about flag ettiquette at ushistory.org, which includes the offical executive order regarding this issue.

1) Don't let the flag touch the ground. This should be an easy one. Don't hang it off the back of your SUV. Don't hang it off your balcony railing, dragging on the ground. If it touches the ground, you soil it. That's disrespectful.

2) Don't fly it at night, or in the rain, unless you've got a light on it, and it's an all-weather flag. Remember "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there"? You're supposed to be able to see it if you're flying it. It's not up there for it's health, folks.

3) The big one. When the flag is torn, soiled, faded, or otherwise "in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display", then it "should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Yes, that's right. You don't keep flags hanging around forever, tattered and faded and pathetic. You contact your local VFW post and arrange for them to burn it at a proper, respectful ceremony.