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Backwards Flags
self | 2/9/09 | CTOCS

Posted on 02/09/2009 9:26:58 AM PST by CTOCS

What's with all the backwards US flags I'm seeing on TV and the movies these days?

On 3 separate episodes of NCIS, one of the cast members was in military BDU's and wearing the US flag on the upper right shoulder. Problem was the flag was made backwards (blue union on upper right instead of left). In one Van Damm movie the flag was draped over a casket upside down AND backwards. This at a military funeral. In one war movie, the flag on the tank was backwards.

This is the epitome of ignorance, apathy, and disrepect as far as I'm comcerned.

I can't expect the poor, dumb, Chinese bastard who made it to know the difference, but I damned well expect the American who ordered it and spec'd it to.

Why aren't the viewers complaining? Why are we putting up with this crap?

Is anyone else noticing this?


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: flagetiquette; ignorantvirginian
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To: TankerKC

It means he’s been cornered and doesn’t want to admit wrong.

I’m a “youngster” of NO service - just a long history of knowing my stuff - and I don’t have any problem with the way they display flag insignia.


181 posted on 02/09/2009 2:40:54 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: XeniaSt

“All European flags have no left to right direction,”

Actually, that’s incorrect. France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Norway, Finland, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, have an asymmetrical flag that has a clear left to right direction (and those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head), and many other European countries (like Spain) have otherwise symmetrical flags with symbols, seals, or coats of arms on them that are asymmetrical as well. In fact, countries with symmetrical flags that have no left-to-right direction are well in the minority in Europe.


182 posted on 02/09/2009 3:06:01 PM PST by Hyzenthlay (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Yes! Why not?


183 posted on 02/09/2009 3:47:02 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: XeniaSt
All European flags have no left to right direction,

With the exception of: Belgium, Boznia-Herzegovinia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Demark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechenstein, Malta, Moldova, Monrenegro, Noray, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

But otherwise that post was as correct as all your others have been

184 posted on 02/09/2009 3:48:16 PM PST by Oztrich Boy
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To: XeniaSt

“Then some Gaydar in DOD thought it would be cute to violate then current US Code.”

What Code? It was NEVER in the Code about where or how to where flags, except the specific about lapel pins.


185 posted on 02/09/2009 3:48:55 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: XeniaSt

I suggest you stop digging. Pretty soon you won’t be able to climb out of that hole.


186 posted on 02/09/2009 3:49:11 PM PST by Uriah_lost (Is there no balm in Gilead?....)
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To: CTOCS
The blue field must always be facing forward. It's a recent discovery for the media and many state municipalities.

However, hanging the flag backward, vertically, is inexcusable.

187 posted on 02/09/2009 3:53:42 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: Travis T. OJustice

LOL, this is the kind of thing I was thinking regarding these people so offended by the union to the right.

I can see it now, following the flag into battle - oops, we must all be to the left of the flag so we see it in the respectful position! Too bad that means there’s only 1 flag, then, also, for the entire order of battle.
Perhaps they have the flag always mounted on the left (facing out) side of the house so when it hangs we only see it the respectful way.

Oh good God.


188 posted on 02/09/2009 3:59:53 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
At the risk of further irritating those who believe our national banner is in need of some additional decoration let me say that an additional flag or pennant on the same staff is at best irreverent clutter and at worst desecration.
189 posted on 02/09/2009 4:18:31 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Oztrich Boy
XS>All European flags have no left to right direction,

With the exception of: Belgium, Boznia-Herzegovinia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Demark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechenstein, Malta, Moldova, Monrenegro, Noray, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

But otherwise that post was as correct as all your others have been

They are all displayed on the left or right sleeve the same way.

Only ours has been changed from it's historic display for someone's pleasure.


190 posted on 02/09/2009 4:20:08 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their ROCK, And the Most High God their Redeemer.)
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To: TankerKC

You have no idea how tough duty in Albuquerque can be. I was on a naval base there for three years.


191 posted on 02/09/2009 4:23:59 PM PST by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: Richard Kimball
You have no idea how tough duty in Albuquerque can be. I was on a naval base there for three years.

Are speaking of the Tri-service base where the navy ran the mess ?

192 posted on 02/09/2009 4:34:11 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their ROCK, And the Most High God their Redeemer.)
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To: XeniaSt

No, I was yanking chains. The closest I’ve ever been to being in the military was watching Heartbreak Ridge four times in a row.


193 posted on 02/09/2009 5:44:11 PM PST by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
XS>“Then some Gaydar in DOD thought it would be cute to violate then current US Code.”

What Code? It was NEVER in the Code about where or how to where flags, except the specific about lapel pins.

The US Code on how to display the US Flag was setup, June 14-15, 1923.

The US Flag when displayed against a background the union is alway placed in the upper left.

When the Boy Scouts of America applied a US Flag on the right sleeve,
of their uniform over thirty years ago, it conformed to the then current
U S Code for display of the US Flag.

It was required to have the union on the upper left.

Later someone in DOD decided to violate the then current U S Code on military uniforms.

Later the U S Code was updated to cover the the design of the backward flag.


194 posted on 02/09/2009 5:59:36 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their ROCK, And the Most High God their Redeemer.)
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To: XeniaSt

Extra-terrestrials did it.


195 posted on 02/09/2009 6:24:28 PM PST by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: XeniaSt

I do believe the Code ALWAYS stated “against a wall” and that such. Not just any “background”.

My flag book is from 1979 and it had the same wording, never indicating anything but a wall.


196 posted on 02/09/2009 6:35:37 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

“At the risk of further irritating those who believe our national banner is in need of some additional decoration..”

No, I don’t feel it needs decoration; I am irritated only that some push on an issue that is moot, because there is no violation, whether “backward flag” on a sleeve, or multiple banners on a pole.

“..let me say that an additional flag or pennant on the same staff is at best irreverent clutter and at worst desecration.”

Believe as you wish, but it has never been officially considered so.


197 posted on 02/09/2009 6:38:05 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Technological progress cannot be legislated.)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
Good thing its "official."
Conservatives don't always buy what's fed to them by government bow wows.
I expect in a few years, the US Code will make illegal many things we value today.
198 posted on 02/09/2009 6:42:50 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
It is certainly not.

Ignorance can be cured by education. Obtuseness cannot. And opinions should never be confused with facts.

Start with 4 U.S.C Sec 7(f)."When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. "

199 posted on 02/09/2009 7:02:45 PM PST by PAR35
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To: PAR35

How do you think the Founders would have considered state and other banners below the Star Spangled Banner ?


200 posted on 02/09/2009 7:28:28 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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