what's happening in the USA???

[jansan]

This summer I have been visiting the US for some weeks. I haven't been here for a long time...to be exact 41 years ago. I was born here and went to school on Long Island, NY.
I recall that we every morning pledged the flag and from those memories and actions I must say I have a respect for the flag.
well, anyway..coming back to the states in 2007 gave me a shock when it came to the use of the US flag.
Flags were hanging every where, and of course, that in it self's OK- but the state of many of the flags were terrible.
So many I saw were ripped, torn, faded, shredded into pieces, and misused to a proportion that was simply shocking!!! Just to name a few places - gas stations, on car sales, post boxes and garbage cans.....
I have documented this through thousands of photographs.
Of course I saw flags that were treated with respect too, but even at this point I dare ask the question; Is this the right way to treat the flag?

[american_flag_uk]

i live in england and witnessed this same kind of thing when i was in th USA also. i was quite shocked too!

i think its a case of people having a half hearted attempt at patriotism or just getting one because the neighbour has one and doesnt want to appear any less patriotic ... they go buy the flag and then put iton display and then forget about it and think that their are still being patriottic when the flag becomes faded and / or ragged.

you should make a montage of these pics u have and put them on youtube and show all those people up who are doing it!

the pledge of alliegence to alot of young people these days is not the same... they only do it because they have to. saying he words but not really meaning them. they are not being taught the respect for the flag and how to treat it right. to some it is no more important than another piece of material

youll be glad to now - all 60 of my US flags in my house in england are all looked after. one of them has a moth damage to it but was before i got it here and i just look after it the best that i can.

[jansan]

You probably are right about the half hearted patriotism..I asked around, you know, people I met on my way, but they didn't seem to see the problem..they hadn't noticed these shredded and faded flags hanging all around.
And yes- my flag photoes are definitly going to be arranged in a flag photo collage. where I will present it, I'm still not sure.

I have also been thinking about that the war in Iraq probably boosted the use of the flags and of course as long as they can hang out - day and night- (which is totaly against law i.e. Norway) they turn up forgetted.

Good to hear yours are OK. Mine are used every 4th of July and of course at other spesial events. Have a nice day:-)

[american_flag_uk]

some people are more bothered about the upkeep of flags than others are... some will just not see a problem
some flag shops and organisations will encorange people to hand in their old flags if they are not sure how to properly dispose of them so really there is no escuse for a ragged flag.
i noticed in usa it wasnt just a probem in residential areas but allso one in commercial areas... some companies had torn/ faded / ragged frayed old flags on their flagpoles outside their business.
me personally?? i wouldent go in the shops where these flags were apart from to tell thm to replace them... if their not bothered about the state of the flags an inanimate object are they any more bothered for their customers??
what does it say about them as a company to fly flags like this??

i visited a flag shop in a residential area in louisville KY... and the house next to the house with the flagshop in the back of it had a ragged flag hanging on a angled pole attached to the house.
to me that is downright lazyness!! he lives right next to the flag shop and cant even make sure he has a nice flag on his pole!!

[NAVA1974]

The 1923 Flag Code called for the flag to be lowered every evening, and taken in during inclement weather. The use of illumination and "all-weather bunting" (ie synthetic materials) led to revision of the code to permit flying the flag 24-7. Under those conditions it is easy to see why the flags are in tatters - they are not cared for every day.

[Peter Ansoff]

The use of illumination and "all-weather bunting" (ie synthetic materials) led to revision of the code to permit flying the flag 24-7. Under those conditions it is easy to see why the flags are in tatters - they are not cared for every day.

This is a good point. Many people interpret the flag code to say that it is disrespectful to fly the flag in the dark. That's not the problem, per se. The intent of the code is to say that you shouldn't fly the flag when you don't need to (e.g., when nobody can see it), so that it won't wear out as fast. Again, the real point is that a flag should be flown when it has become torn, faded or discolored.

Peter Ansoff

[jansan]

I see the point:-) Guess the problem then is that the moment you don't have rules to follow, or definated ways to act- the human being simply forgets. It's normal, I guess, and can be seen in so many ways- but coming from outside the US - it was the major sight I noticed. What could be done with the "problem" -cause I would think it should be definated as a problem that torn and faded flags hang all over the place????

[american_flag_uk]

peter typed this:

''Again, the real point is that a flag should be flown when it has become torn, faded or discolored''
i THINk... were u meaning SHOULDN'T!!!! ?!?!?!?!!!!!

I SEE

[american_flag_uk]

peter typed this:

''Again, the real point is that a flag should be flown when it has become torn, faded or discolored''
i THINk... were u meaning SHOULDN'T!!!! ?!?!?!?!!!!!

I SEE IT AS AP PROBLEM TOO...a rather minor scale one in proportion to some of the other problems that are happening at the moment - but nevertheless it shouold be rectified...

some people having genuine trouble trying to find a new flag... those cheap polyester chine imports are more readily available then US made good quality flags!!
something needs to be done to make flags readily available to anybody.... u can buy them online for alot of places but sum1 people dont have internet or dont want to buy things over the telephone or internet.

[Peter Ansoff]

i THINk... were u meaning SHOULDN'T!!!! ?!?!?!?!!!!!

You're so right -- I somehow dropped out a "not" there!

I SEE IT AS AP PROBLEM TOO...a rather minor scale one in proportion to some of the other problems that are happening at the moment - but nevertheless it shouold be rectified...

I agree, in theory. However, I'm worried about what would happen if someone actually proposed a rewrite of the flag code. You'd have all the politicians falling all over each other trying to show how patriotic they are, and I'm not sure that the results would be very good.

some people having genuine trouble trying to find a new flag... those cheap polyester chine imports are more readily available then US made good quality flags!!
something needs to be done to make flags readily available to anybody

This may be true in the UK, but not here in the USA. Made-in-USA flags are available everywhere, at quite reasonable prices.

Peter Ansoff