[proud2b4family]

With the advent of opposition movements to Pres. Obama's policies, I found out about usrevolution2.com, which sells a new flag design that, the proprietor hopes, will spark a new, peaceful "revolution" to improve government by scaling it back and giving Americans back their freedom.

Have a look at that site at http://www.usrevolution2.com and let me know if you have any opinions, or if there is any flag code violation in flying such a flag on one's private property. I have one, and have been flying it according to normal flag etiquette (lit up at night with solar charged lights, taken down when I know a big storm is coming).

I have it also as my profile pic on Facebook and Twitter and have gotten a couple of inquiries as to whether I mean it as a secessionist flag, and even if it's a flag from some other country. I love the opportunity it gives me to comment on the circumstances in which we find ourselves and win them over to a cause I firmly believe in (giving representational government a new life by voting out wholesale the entire lot of crooks that currently inhabit the halls of power in our nation).

Anyway, let me know your opinion. Thanks.

[Peter Ansoff]

There's a long tradition of using variations on the US flag to promote political causes. Historically, my impression is that most of them have been used to communicate liberal messages (peace sign in the canton instead of stars, stars replaced by dollar signs or corporate logos, multi-colored stripes, etc.) rather than conservative ones. The use of the "stars-in-a-circle" to symbolize a new revolution is ironic, because that design is more legendary than factual. As best we can tell, most real Revolutionary-War-era US flags had the stars in straight rows. However, the Roman numeral II is a nice double-entendre, standing for both the "Second Revolution" and the second amendment.

As to whether it violates the flag code, I guess that's a matter of interpretation. The code says "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." If the shoe fits . . .

giving representational government a new life by voting out wholesale the entire lot of crooks that currently inhabit the halls of power in our nation

Maybe it's just me, but that sounds a bit inconsistent. That "lot of crooks" is in power because they were elected to their offices via our democratic process, in accordance with our Constitution and laws. Fortunately, those same documents give you and others the freedom to make comments like this -- there are many other nations whose citizens are not so lucky.

Peter Ansoff