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Come on, Mr. Finley, many people in this country disrespect the flag (“Disrespect for flag in comic strip outrages,” Talk Back to the Media, Aug. 25).
Most of this is unintentional, but it is still disrespectful.
How many cars have you seen with a flag on the antenna that’s dirty and shredded? Did you know that when you display the flag at night you are supposed to shine a light on it or take it down? Also, when you do take it down, it isn’t supposed to be laid on the ground or touch the ground in any way.
A tattered or worn flag is respectfully burned, not tossed in the trash. I know these are mainly innocent mistakes, but this is the norm for flag policy.

Michael Franzen, Aurora

READER COMMENTS

Any flag is only a material representation of the true meaning of what that flag stands for. I will never allow a piece of cloth to hold more meaning than what it stands for. I think those who rant and rave about the flag are misplaceing their efforts. Better if you hold the true meaning of what the flag represents in much higher regard than the cloth it is made off. Symbols are just that, they hold no value in and of themselves, only in what they stand for. To make the flag an idol worthy of worship is to usurp the real meaning of what this country stands for. It is not the flag that counts, it's the people who fought and died to protect and defend the freedom, justice and liberty that is the foundation of this country and, if anything is to be worshiped it is that , not a piece of cloth that will fade and crumble into dust, but the ultimate sacrifice our people made that will live as a constant memory in the minds of the public.

I think we need a burn the mexican flag day and hold our flag high.

I am truly amazed that 99% of the flag-burning "ban" posse, are all Vietnam War draft-dodgers. Mitt (Mormon mission), Rudy, Bush (Guard country club), Billie Mae Owens (Cong. Bush awarded cong. page deferment), BoPeep (couldn't fart), Brownback, Huckabee, Fred, K.Salazar (priesthood), Allard (communist-sider), Boehner, Lott (Ole Miss cheerleader), Cheney, Hastert, etc., collectively, when NAM broke-out, broke for their momma's dresstails. This is also the "gay marriage" ban club too. Again, of the 58K who died in NAM, some were gay, who were serving in the stead of these draft-dodging cowards. The NAM Plantation. 55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country) were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population.

I strongly agree with the letter writer and Allen Campbell.
I remember back in the late 80's and early 90's, this issue was the number 1 civil-liberties concern I had at the time.
My how times have changed! Now we have indefinite detention without trial, torture, domestic spying on average citizens, on and on and on.
I long for the day when the flag used to stand for the US Constitution, freedom, and all that good stuff.

Funny thing, though. With all of the opposition to the current war(s), and with the strong opposition to President Bush, protesters hardly ever, if ever, burn the American flag these days. I think one reason why not is that those opposed to Bush DON'T hate America. They know that the flag has the potential to stand for something great again,...
and they are right.

I'll burn the flag until we drop "god" from the pledge of allegience to it.

No need to burn the flag. Just recite the Pledge of Allegiance without the religious insertion, yourself. Let the cranks, kooks, and weirdos proclaim their loyalty to their own tribal idols.

The conservatives turned Bellamy's Pledge into a prayer. As an Independent I attended a Democratic meeting and before beginning they started to pray (get my drift?). I said, "I am not going to pray," and walked out.

"We, the conservative base, humbly apologize for the political candidates we have foisted on the American people for the past 15 years. We realize now that intense prayer and Bible scrutiny did not make us good judges of our candidates' qualifications or moral character. For the 2008 election, we will not be endorsing any candidates and, God willing, the liberals and moderates will be able to clean up the messes we made. Amen."

Mark Anderson, Greeley

Maybe we as Americans should rid ourselves of our national emblem and pledge our allegiance to no one but ourselves.

The politicians do it!

Maybe I am a sentimental fool but I say..when you burn "Old Glory" in protest, you are burning ... "The real meaning of what this country stands for."

You are burning an emblem of the "people that fought and died to protect the freedom, justice, and liberty that is the foundation of this country."

Sorry to pull a W. Churchill on you A. Campbell, I loved your words but don't agree with you concerning our "piece of cloth."

I find it heart wrenching when I see the American flag being desecrated by Americans. If they only knew..........

40acres is lying again - still. You can't believe anything he says because he fabricates facts. Case in point:

"55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country) were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To repeat the ACTUAL FACTS (again)

• Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.

Complete breakdown as follows:
88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.

• 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races.

• 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.

• 86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.

• 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.

• 34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
************************************************
http://www.ptsdsupport.net/vietnam_warriors.html

They also have statistics on those with emotional and mental problems as a result of the Viet Nam conflict. Perhaps you can figure out where you fit in these categories.

Personally, I respect the symbol. I wouldn't knowingly do anything to destroy the flag. But if the symbol really does represent the country, the history, the Ideal, the _____ (fill in the blank), I have some questions.

When a newspaper (like this one) prints a picture of the flag -- either as a photo accompanying an article or as part of an ad -- doesn't that representation then become the symbol, and therefore the country? If so, what's the worst offense: throwing the paper away, recycling the paper, or just letting it rot?

If someone has an article of clothing that depicts the flag and they accidently bleach it, does that count as desecration? Come to that, doesn't just dropping it on the pile of your other dirty laundry to be washed later count as disrespectful?

What's the proper thing to do when your flag bumper sticker fades from being in the sun? Scrape it off, try to paint the colors back on, what?

Somebody help me out, please.

Being a little sarcastic are we Arioch?

Arioch, when posting humor or sarcasm please put the word (humor) (sarcasm) (joke) like this. Some people can`t be sure.

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