* Warning * Image of hate inside

[The Lost Manatee]

While I know many people think wearing a shirt with an image of the flag on it isn't the same thing as wearing clothing made out of the flag, according to the law (Flag Code), it is very specific about that as well. See sections 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10.

. 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

[bravedave]

While I know many people think wearing a shirt with an image of the flag on it isn't the same thing as wearing clothing made out of the flag, according to the law (Flag Code), it is very specific about that as well. See sections 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10.

. 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

2. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
4. The flag ...
5. The flag...
7. The flag...
9. The flag...

I believe there is a difference between using an image of the flag (as a portion of artwork) and using the actual flag itself, to which theses rules refer.
I would generally prefer that portions, or elements of the flag be used in artwork for garments, but that's just me.

[Elrod]

However if you so much as think about disrespecting mine? I'm gonna be forced to kick your A$$

[BahamaBreeze]

Clicked the link, but I was too late. But this was on the site:

http://news.yahoo.com/video#video=19692776

Old Glory 'Offensive'?

[gingerbreadman]

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code

"The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is Section 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq).

This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it and it is not widely enforced "

I would just chalk this one off as another example of different penalties for different folks for "breaking the rules"...

[flyboy55]

The Supreme Court has ruled on the whole 'flag desecration' issue a number of times. In spite of what the flag code may suggest, no state or federal law can prohibit desecration of the flag or impose a penalty for such an act. The First Amendment has been victorious against all attempts to limit what people can do with or to the flag.

In wearing clothing with flag emblems, etc., the kids should have been protected by the First Amendment. In fact, there was a similar case in the past where a student was suspended for not removing a flag headband and the court ruled in the student's favor. I think the school administrator in the current case overreacted in suspending the students when they would not remove the clothing articles. Schools do a lot of things that infringe on the rights of students in the name of expediency. Not every case of unjust suspension goes to court, but the legal remedy is there.

Ironically, although the kids' constitutional rights were abrogated by the school, the kids themselves, in their attempt at demonstrating their patriotism, were likely in violation of the very flag code whose intent is to protect the integrity of one of this nation's most powerful symbols. In that respect I guess they're no different than the many corporations and advertisers who slap the flag all over anything and everything if it will help to sell whatever it is they're selling - ideas or products.

Of course, there may be an aspect to this story that we weren't told about, for example, that the clothing choices of the students may have been sufficiently disruptive of the classroom atmosphere that something had to be done. It doesn't seem to be the case here, but it's hard to tell from what is likely a heavily edited two minute video. I wouldn't want the job of having to run a high school.

[wiscoleeds]

Flyboy55....well written.
Cheers
Wiscoleeds

[pair8head]

I look at the "Flag Code" as a guideline for people who wish to properly display and honor
the Flag and not so much as law. Since all the nuts who desecrate seem to be protected
by Freedom of Speech and all.

[The Remittance Man]

Since all the nuts who desecrate seem to be protected
by Freedom of Speech and all.

Precisely. Freedom of speech means just that, not freedom of popular speech. To tell you the truth, I think people who do burn flags (and there have been how many cases of that since Johnson vs. Texas? Maybe five or so?) do it with the intention of making others look like idiots, and that's exactly what we give them when we try to ban flag desecration.

[HurricaneSeason]

I dunno about anyone else, I just concern myself with me and that is this: I don't know the code of the flag nor do I care. The code does not tell me what to do with a flag, I tell myself what to do with a flag - and that is nothing. Because I don't have one and never will. I don't fly flags. I don't need to be reminded of what country I live in - I'm fully and obesely aware of it. A code is not a law to me, it's a code. The code says the national motto is "In God We Trust". I do not observe that either. It is what undermines this country to begin with.

Besides, the flag is a piece of fabric. And I sure won't wear anything with any kind of a flag on it. Hell, I can find many US flag things - actual US flags yet alone any kind of clothing, US flag plates, US flag bowls, US flag knick knacks - even US Polo jackets with the American flag logo they use on the inside of their jackets that say what year they were founded - that are made in China as well as other countries.

So there you go. Even the US flag is outsourced. Everything is cheap if it's not made here. Gotta love it.