Posted on Feb 14, 2016
Do you find it offensive when individuals fly the American flag upside down in political protest?
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Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 71
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I'm looking to come help them out...if I'm not mistaken that symbolizes that they're in dire distress
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A1C Melissa Jackson
LCpl William Perry - I see your point. I really do, however- *I* did not serve for a piece of colored cloth. I served for the NATION, the constitution, and all of our civic freedoms. It irritates the hell out of me when I see someone desecrating the material SYMBOL of that nation, but I can look away and walk away and feel proud in the reassurance that they would be shot where they stood in most other nations around the world, but HERE we are secure enough with our freedom to even let jackasses run loose and carry on and desecrate our SYMBOL.
THAT is what I did and do stand for- not authoritarian power to stop people from practicing their rights to free speech and assembly. It is not just free speech if we like what you have to say.
THAT is what I did and do stand for- not authoritarian power to stop people from practicing their rights to free speech and assembly. It is not just free speech if we like what you have to say.
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SFC Fred Moore
Im old school and yes it bothers me but I try to over ride it with the concept of I did not just defend the conservative republicans in this land, but all, life styles and stranger than mine ideas.....I guess id rather see them burn a 20 dollar flag than running rampage and burning and looting....so I ask what are the limits for a peaceful demonstration....no one is burning books and painting cresents and camels on 7-11 window yet......
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SFC Fred Moore
SFC Fred Moore - hey no body bitched when Apollo Creed showed up in red white and blue boxers......
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If folks want to protest and use the American flag, I would much rather that they fly it upside down as opposed to burning it or defacing it; even though it is within their free speech to do so.
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PO2 Isidoro Laude
Very well said. When I see the flag upside I see a sign of distress. The Bill of Rights and the First Amendment is in place to protect the unpopular. The popular opinion will never need defending because it's a social norm.
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PO3 Jim Polichak
I was inclined to do so when Trump was President but stuck with an inverted flag sticker and this sticker on my scooter.
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SCPO James Britton
Now that makes perfectly good sence. But to me, if someone is flying it upside down and I deem the person is in distress that is one thing but if its in protest, Yes I do Find it offensive
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Suspended Profile
I do not find it offensive to see the American flag flying upside down in a political protest. This has been done for many years in protest, not to the country in general, but to the politicians that have continue to disappoint (being nice here) the American people. In a political protest, it represents that the country needs help. I find it more offensive to see ANY American burning or stepping on the American flag. Very disgraceful. But what can you expect from people like that. Very good question, I'll be interested to see what others say.
MSG (Join to see)
mine is at half staff we are not at the point yet of in need of assistance, but hopefully with new elections and making the right choice for our future it will change, i'm sorry for this but we've become too libralized in the military in general, when johnnie soldier had to do 50 push ups complain to mommy, mommey calls senator, nco is punished, we are at war and discipline needs to be done or soldiers die, this is not hazing its corrective action The formal definition of leadership is the “process of social influence in which a person can enlist the support and aid of others in the accomplishment of a common task” and “the action of leading an organization or a group of people”. without disapline and punisment well you tell me.
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SFC Wayne Malcolm
yes and I myself feel that all flags flying over Washington DC should be always be flown in distress by law until such time as those elected to office get what is right for the people and for this great country and not special interest groups and their own pockets / Then maybe just maybe they will be shamed into doing what they were elected for
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MSG Mark Million
while I do see your point, and I defend the rights of people to stand up for what they believe in. I do believe that there are other, likely more effective ways to make a point than to do something that I believe belittles those who have served and protect the freedoms we have to make the very protest that this example entails.
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I don't. Flying the flag upside down means distress.
There are a lot of us with diverse political beliefs that can agree that the country is in distress.
Much better than burning or standing on it.
There are a lot of us with diverse political beliefs that can agree that the country is in distress.
Much better than burning or standing on it.
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Do I find it offensive? No. But, it does attract attention --and that's exactly what the upside-down flag is supposed to do. So, if it does offends you, well, they got their message across. All I would say is: Be careful how hard you want to bite on that hook.
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I have better things to do than worry about what other people do with their First Amendment rights.
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I am offended when the flag is flown upside down, stepped on, soiled, or burned in some attempt to protest. It irritates me personally.
HOWEVER. I served for the freedoms we have to speech and protest. I don't have to like what someone says, but I will die for their right to say it.
In response to Sfc. Williams Reynolds- I know exactly what you mean. Many years ago I noticed the flag flying upside down at a tiny rural post office. I stopped and ran right in. I asked the lady at the desk if everything was OK. She said (in an exasperated tone) "yeah. People have been asking me that all day"
I told her that the flag outside was upside down. She rolled her eyes and said she KNEW that. I told her if she is not in distress and in need of help then she needed to get right outside and put it right, as this was a federal facility. She said that it was near to closing, and she would take it down then. That pissed me off pretty good, so I got on the telephone and called the postmaster of the entire state of Arkansas. He, too, was a veteran and appalled at her attitude. He said it would be fixed immediately. I stood outside and watched. She was out there in TWO minutes and removed the flag from the pole. I got a dirty look courtesy of her, but with her previous attitude I did not care a scrap. Simply unacceptable.
HOWEVER. I served for the freedoms we have to speech and protest. I don't have to like what someone says, but I will die for their right to say it.
In response to Sfc. Williams Reynolds- I know exactly what you mean. Many years ago I noticed the flag flying upside down at a tiny rural post office. I stopped and ran right in. I asked the lady at the desk if everything was OK. She said (in an exasperated tone) "yeah. People have been asking me that all day"
I told her that the flag outside was upside down. She rolled her eyes and said she KNEW that. I told her if she is not in distress and in need of help then she needed to get right outside and put it right, as this was a federal facility. She said that it was near to closing, and she would take it down then. That pissed me off pretty good, so I got on the telephone and called the postmaster of the entire state of Arkansas. He, too, was a veteran and appalled at her attitude. He said it would be fixed immediately. I stood outside and watched. She was out there in TWO minutes and removed the flag from the pole. I got a dirty look courtesy of her, but with her previous attitude I did not care a scrap. Simply unacceptable.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
A1C Melissa Jackson Are you married? You sound like my concept of a wife!
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
A1C Melissa Jackson - No problem, I have lost 2 wives. Small wonder I don't want to be married again.
First wife, mother of our sons was an out-spoken, independent minded Vermonter. She too, spoke out!
First wife, mother of our sons was an out-spoken, independent minded Vermonter. She too, spoke out!
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A1C Melissa Jackson
Bless your heart, CSM.
I am so sorry your wives passed away. I hope you have lots of friends to keep company with.
I am so sorry your wives passed away. I hope you have lots of friends to keep company with.
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Talked to some of them and left with feelings that range from disappointment to "you can't argue with an idiot". We MILs look at it through our lenses. Others have a different lens. The Constitution, laws, courts, etc. say it's OK but we are not required to like it. Just like some of the stuff they call music; now I'm dating myself.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
CAPT Kevin B. Captain, if you are dating yourself, who is the lady in your profile photo? :)
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I find it offensive ....but I live in a country that elects John Kerry Secretary of State and Jane Fonda woman of the year,just saying
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT Philip Roncari - They were his medals. He can do with them as he pleases. I am also A Vietnam era vet.
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SGT Philip Roncari
I did not mean for this post to be the start of aback and forth argument about the merits or the lack of them in both cases Jane Fonda or John Kerry ,but only to say the country seems to not care about the principles that I was raised to respect and honor
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MSG Mark Million
Principles, as well as respect and honor are a fundamental core of military service. Our rights as individuals should never take away our good sense to metaphorically slap our fellow brothers and sisters that have served in the proverbial face.
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SGT Philip Roncari
I return to the original question I do find it offensive when individuals fly the American flag in what I view as a disrespectful manner. My personal opinion of these other two individuals should not have been brought up I stand corrected
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