Did you think Tiddles was the only controversy happening over the Fourth of July celebrations? Of course not. Kaley Cuoco stepped in it too, although I really don’t think she meant to. On Monday, Kaley posted an Instagram of her three dogs in their patriotic gear. The problem was that one of her dogs was sitting on American flag, which was on the ground:
Kaley has since deleted the Instagram, but the initial IG was captioned “Thank you @the_pet_handler for taking care of the squad while im out of town! 4th of July pups!!!!!!!” As in, this might have been a photo her dog-sitter took and sent to Kaley and she just posted it. Did she see that there was an American flag on the ground, and that her dog was sitting on it? Well, she absolutely saw it after she posted the photo, which is why she took it down.
As you can imagine, the comments on the IG post were crazy and harsh. A short time after Kaley deleted the Instagram, she posted this IG with an apology:
I think she’s being sincere, and I also think she probably didn’t even take the photo, and she’s getting the hit for something her dog walker likely did. While I understand the importance of flag etiquette – an American flag should never touch the ground – I also think that if people are going to lose their minds over a relatively harmless mistake, those people should also lose their minds when everybody else makes etiquette mistakes about the flag. Seriously, USFlag.org has a whole list of how you’re supposed to treat the American flag, and if we’re getting upset about a flag on the ground, we should also get upset when the flag is used in advertising, when the flag is made into beach towels and bikinis and ice coolers, and when flags are used for #Taymerica photo-ops.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, Kaley’s Instagram.
or everybody could just calm down, its a piece of cloth.
Reminds me of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRFUu-uWps
thanks for hicks, i’ll give you one carlin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOmQP9guIl0
The flag is far more than just a “piece of cloth.”
SamiHami, yes!
Thank You!!
agreed, maria.
Agreed SamiHami. Men & women have given their lives for that “piece of cloth” and it should be respected. The problem is that flag etiquette (as well as just plain etiquette) has not been taught or passed down from generations.
I feel that these are two seperate things, though. The men and women who gave their lives for their country’s citizens should be respected. Absof***inglutely. But I certainly hope that they didn’t die for a damn flag, yes, a piece of cloth, but for reasons a bit more substantial.
I think through typing my last sentence I’m getting to the bottom of my not-getting it here: To US citizens, apparently the flag stands for all the values they associate with the US, freedom of choice and such? So it’s not about the flag, it really is about US values and culture? And people get up in arms because to them it REALLY means you disrespect the country’s foundation, REPRESENTED by the flag?
Interesting. I still only understand it on an intellectual level, though, I guess you must be brought up with that sort of thing to feel it in your bones.
I agree.
+1 Maria!
I’m not digging the grand percentage of flags that are manufactured out of the U.S. by workers paid in pennies for their work. What’s that supposed to stand for?
Wow. Such lack of respect. If you are American you should be ashamed as many, many people have given their lives defending that flag and what it stands for. I bet you are sitting on your couch typing while you enjoy the freedom that others gave their lives for.
I think people died for your country so that children wouldn’t be gunned down in schools, not because a flag accidentally touched the ground.
Maybe if you had ever served under that “piece of cloth” you would feel differently.
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
Disagree. Using flag patterns to make clothing is harmless. Placing a flag flat on the ground with dog butts on it is over the line. She should never have posted this photo and she’s an idiot for doing so.
The flag is more than a “piece of cloth.”
its not though. be happy that people see it as a piece of cloth, the acts that were commited for this flag are far worse.
Ummm, there is a row behind you. Don’t miss it.
Why?
@Belle Epoch …
Totally agree with everything you’ve said.
Thank you Emma!!!
Cushy life you live, eh? I wish I had so few problems that I could be the flag police for a total stranger. You realize when it’s made into clothing, particularly bathing suits, it spends all its time rubbing up against crotches and a$$es, right?
Cushy life? Judgy much? You know nothing about me – and whether or not my life is “cushy” has nothing to do with this issue.
Do you sing the national anthem? Do you think national pride is meaningless? It’s not too bright to regard an actual the Star-Spangled Banner as a “piece of cloth” no different from a bathing suit. The flag of ANY country is a powerful symbol.
Yes, terrible atrocities have occurred under the US flag. So have tremendous acts of valor. Someone may have given their life for that exact flag, since veterans receive flags when they die. Treating the American flag literally like dirt is a slap in the face to all veterans – including those who were tricked into military service so Dick Cheney could get rich.
We need to get back to a place where the flag is something we can be proud of – which would require pretty much the opposite of Donald Trump’s “make America great” campaign. Spreading an actual flag on the dirt as a doggie blanket is not constructive..
I’m not even American, and I can’t imagine that NOT upsetting at least a good chunk of people. I come from a family of RCAF vets… my grandfather would have been horrified if I’d done something like that. While the flag is a piece of cloth for some people, or a reminder of some of the more negative things associated with a country – it’s also a symbol of what veterans fought for. It’s a symbol of the struggle that they went through to make sure the next generations were able to live a better life. Whether you agree with whatever war or not, I think it’s unfair to cheapen THEIR sacrifice to that. They woke up, not knowing if they’d wake up ever again, they did what they believed was right, what they believed needed to be done. They watched their friends die, they’ve suffered SO many things that every day people can’t begin to understand, and even if you don’t agree with it – you should be sensitive to their feelings when it comes to something as life altering as serving.
Do I think she did this for attention? No. I think this was completely a case of social media oversharing without thinking – and while I don’t like Kaley even a little bit, I think her apology was sincere.
Geez…
I have a flag beach towel and I thought that this was a towel.
I am a true patriot and love my country, and even if this was a flag in the pic and not a towel, I’m not offended.
I really hope you got this upset on the Taylor Swift posts yesterday. That girl used the flag to celebrate herself and her squad, not July 4th or anything it symbolizes. Would grandpa be fine with that?
Erinn, I really respect your opinion, also as s non-American, but please understand that many veterans don’t share this view. Half of my family, both from my mother’s and father’s side, were/are WW2 volunteers and not a single one of them paid much attention or gave much importance to the flag itself. Actually, towards the end of their lives they started to be quite irritated by huge displays of national symbols. My grandmother was the first to say she never fought a flag or a symbol, but because she could stand by and watch bad things happening and not doing anything.
Agreed with this! Symbols have meaning and the flag is an important one for many people. I personally don’t find this to be a big deal, but I respect the fact that there are others who do.
So rubbing your crotch, laying all over, sleeping all over, sitting all over replications of flags are totally acceptable?
…fyi: flags aren’t blessed. They are all replications of the original. If flag pants that contain crotches are acceptable then dog patriots wearing them and sitting on them is not worse.
#myopinion
@Bella: Absolutely correct you are. Towels, shirts, etc. made in the flag’s image are fine but, my Lord her dog’s butt is sitting on a flag itself. Vets coffins are draped in the flag. It represents our freedom. OMG. Just as irritating is her lame apology in which she blamed her “fame.” Girl is clueless. If she wants her privacy so desperately, she should shut down her ig.
@Bella,
So calling some one an idiot for not anticipating the reactions of others is not judgy? The dogs were at a dog sitter when the picture was taken, so I don’t think it’s too much to assume that she is not the one who personally spread the flag on the floor. She posted a picture and when she realized it offended people she took it down and apologized. I would hate to live in your world where any mistake makes you an idiot and apparently a traitor? I have never laid a flag on the ground, but I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and they weren’t being judged by millions of people. I think it is important to have a little perspective…it’s not like she took the flag and wiped the dog’s bum with it or burned it out of disrespect for the USA; then I would be offended.
Where is the outrage with Taylor and her friends going down a waterslide with the flag? Is it just because it’s a dog’s butt, and a dripping wet model’s legs? I thought I’d hear more about that.
I would also love to hear more about that.
How ridiculous. It’s an innocent puppy and nobody thought anything of it until the freaks came out to complain. What about the American flag designs adorning tops with boobs hanging out all over the place? That seems far more disrespectful. Calm down and get a hobby or focus on the more important issues.
Geez people really need to calm down.
.
So Taylor Swift isn’t the only one who picks out her boyfriend’s holiday ensemble. I guess these guys are good sports? I dunno.
Is that a flag or a towel?
Looks like a towel. So a human bottom would be ok if it was?
Yeah it totally looks like a towel people need to chill out.
Yeah, I thought it was a towel as well (still looks like it to me).
It’s not a towel, then? I understand, now, why people would be offended. But before I read this post I honestly wouldn’t have thought anything about it. Obviously, I don’t have a decent understanding about flag protocol, and neither did Kelly or her dog sitter. It’s not good to be ignorant, but in this case I believe it was a mistake and she apologized. She didn’t even throw the sitter under the bus, which is pretty cool.
People should be more concerned about the completely stoopid hat photo. That’s the real crime.
I love being an American, but I would never be upset about a dog posing on a flag.
Same here.
A dog is sitting on a flag. So what? He’s not burning / destroying it or something. I don’t see the problem.
Those little doggies’ butts on the flag at least were better than looking at LeAnn Rimes’ butt selfie with the flag bikini bottom, trying to show off her “pert derriere.” LOL
True! LOL
I’m glad i missed that. Barf
Am I umamerican if I don’t give a rats ass that a flag is on the ground? Please. This country is disrespected by a political system that doesn’t help our most needy, by politicians whos main goal is simply to stay in the game, by congress in bed with big business, by the recent light shed on the many many Americans who would like to have their bigoted agenda helped by a Trump presidency, by a presidential candidate who says outright racist things and yet still gets support, Jesus I could go on and on.
I mean, sure it’s nice to be respectful of the flag. But at the end of the day does it really matter? What matters is how we treat our people…
Well said. Honestly the guy I saw this weekend flying a giant flag in the back of his pickup truck, which was covered with Trump stickers and “don’t tread on me” decals was far more disturbing to me than Kaley’s unintentional breach of etiquette.
I’m British and I feel much the same about the Union Jack. Flags are nice symbols to coalesce around as a nation, sure, but at the point when such symbols become fetishised to the extent of outrage about where a dog sits, you’ve lost me.
^^what sixer said. Love my country, appreciate what the flag represents as an idea, but really can’t be outraged about this. (Not American, but would feel the same about the Canadian flag).
To the point, as always:)
I just swung by again to add the part about the fetish, but Sixer in her wisdom got there first.
When the symbol gets divorced from the reality, we have a problem.
+1 Sixer. This is a tempest in a teapot. Then again, it wouldn’t surprise me if KC did this just to get a reaction so she could trot out her “OMGyouguysI’msosorryILOVEAMERICA” apology on Instagram.
Yeah. As An Aussie this is…. pretty ridiculous.
I completely agree. Additionally, it’s just sweet doggies!
Yeah, I mean I would prefer to see people treat the flag with respect, but really it’s not that terrible. The dog isn’t popping on it or anything, and it may actually be a towel and not a “real” flag.
If anything this was a time for a gentle reminder that the flag shouldn’t be on the ground because it’s disrespectful. But that’s it. No rabid diatribes or vehement scoldings. People just want a reason to blow up, it doesn’t actually matter what it is, which I find the most disrespectful of all. They don’t care about the flag, they care about making somebody else wrong and tearing them to pieces over it.
Thats a non story, everybody should calm down… We have bigger problems
Yup. This. And while Kaley generally annoys the crap out of me, her apology was sincere.
I also can’t stand her but I think it’s crazy that she felt obligated to issue this huge elaborate apology to appease everyone who was offended by her pup sitting on a flag towel.
I wish she had kept the pic up and not apologized. People should be angry with the towel manufacturer, if they have an issue with this.
ETA: Upon closer inspection it looks like it is an actual flag, not a towel, but I STILL don’t see the issue. The person who took the pic was obviously using the flag as a “back-drop” of sorts.
*shrugs*
Wow people are really agitated at the moment aren’t they. I feel the whole world has gone a little bat shit crazy and we’re watching it go to pieces over the small stuff.
Absolutely!
I wonder if it’s because increasingly, people feel less in control of their lives and so they harp and pick on inconsequential things as an outlet for their anger and angst.
That, combined with social media, which lets them pick at everything in a public way.
I agree.Social media has made it worse.
I feel it too, there’s a lot of negative energy in the air these days, especially on the internet.
LMAO I had no idea this is a thing and I refuse to even entertain the idea that anyone should have to apologize for this or take down a cute dog pic because OH MY GOD IT’S ON THE GROUND. Get real. If people were only half as passionate about how minorities are treated – you now, actual people – sh*t would get done. This is ridiculous. If it can cover Taylor Swift’s crotch, it can touch the ground.
This! people have stars and stripes thongs up their butt-crack but that dog is too much? please! reminds me of the religious ones who are willing to burn shit because the quran was somehow improperly handled.
As a Brit, I had no idea about these American flag rules. I mean obviously, burning a country’s flag is a no-no, but having seen loads of clothing/interior design etc with flags on I wouldn’t have known this was a problem. Is it worse that a dog is sitting on it than having it wrapped around its neck and dribbling on it? Is it the fact that it’s a real flag? If it were a beach towel, that would be OK?
Actually, burning a flag is perfectly legal in the US. Frowned upon by many but protected all the same.
Which is a crock IMO.
Honestly – I think it’s more of an issue because it was an actual flag – not something with a flag print on it. They have super strict rules over the flag – but there’s a difference between a literal flag and a shirt with an American flag print on it.
I work for an American web company – we had rules about even placing text in banner images for a website when a flag was used.
How do you know it was an actual flag?
But from a brief Google search, I can find countless photoshoots with nude women using the flag – an actual flag – to cover themselves in a titillating, sexual way? But a dog sat innocently on a flag is somehow grossly unacceptable?
Bingo.
And since many dogs serve in the army, and have served along soldiers throughout history, it’s even more puzzling. Like, dogs actually go to wars, die and surfer because of their masters’ will, but then they take a photo with a flag and it’s suddenly a slap in veterans’ faces? I just don’t understand.
Is it the butt thing? But that’s pure biology and dogs’ physiology. They can’t help the way they sit.
This completely. Peeps be crazy.
speaking for myself, I find them equally disgusting. And to me, there is a difference between a flag print and an actual flag.
I’m not flaming Kaley’s IG or giving this another thought once I close this page…it seems like many of the comments think people who “respect the flag” are right wing loonies who are going to rant and rave for 10 hours about this nonsense…but, yeah. According to the rules of the flag, lying it on the ground and having a dog sit on it is disrespectful. Having a supermodel or Joe Schmoe go down a waterslide with it is disrespectful. This Slate column sums up my feelings: http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/07/is_it_ever_ok_to_wear_american_flag-themed_clothing_slate_commentary.html
Call me a cynic but that Slate column seems like a convenient opportunity for the columnist to plug a bunch of America flag-themed apparel under the guise of sanctimony.
@kitten – you know…you’re probably right. 🙁 Did I foil his plans by not clicking on a single link?
I clicked on the Chubbies link out of curiosity, but I’m not regretting it. They have a page of non-models wearing their shorts, and right in the middle is a hunk of amazing hotness. Definitely worth the click-baity column.
@megs283 says: Thank you!
The pic is silly but that’s it.
Another day of much ado over nothing. I mean is it even a flag? Or a blanket with the American flag on it. Regardless, people just need to chill the eff out. This new trend of going from zero to eleventybillion over silly mistakes and gaffes is seriously exhausting to watch and read about.
Agreed.
Amen. As Kitten said above, I feel bad that Kaley felt like she had to make an elaborate apology and retract the photo. Far more egregious stuff — around the flag and otherwise — happens every day.
Is it unAmerican to persecute immigrants or minorities or any others on whose backs this country was built? Where’s the daily outrage?
We have our priorities firmly up our asses, ‘Murica.
Where’s the daily outrage?
Misdirected as per usual.
Exactly. Getting all teary-eyed over a flag is a convenient way to look patriotic while sidestepping asking the hard questions about your own country.
This is why the rest of the world shakes their collective heads and mutters ‘America – where 20 kindergarten kids get mown down by a psycho and it barely registers but a dog sitting on a goddamn flag makes you all mad as a cut snake’
Shaking my damn head.
I know. It’s exhausting.
This all day!!!
exactly. there are no other countries as obsessed with themselves as america. ask people around the world what the flag stands for for them. or you know native americans.
Preach.
Yup !
I couldn’t agree more. I bet people called her every name in the book on instagram, because it is much more important to show respect to a flag than to a human being.
Bingo, greenmonster.
As a non American, i don’t get this fetishing of flags.
I am an American, and I don’t get it either.
The flag is a meaningful symbol. That has some power. To treat it in a way that is disrespectful for specific reasons is sort of a problem. I do wonder if anyone who says they don’t think this is a big deal would lay down or leave a flag on the ground in front of a vet or enlisted?
The flag is a meaningful symbol, but when it seems acceptable for women to cover themselves in a coquettish, sexy way with the US flag (either in brief bikinis or nude photoshoots) I’m confused as to where the line of etiquette lies.
No, not intentionally.
Lot of vets in my family. Not one of them would give it a second thought, I highly doubt many of them would even notice.
I live in an area with a large army and ex-army presence and given the insane popularity of super classy flag themed items such as shot glasses, beer coolers, wife beaters, string bikinis and pro-gun/hunting stickers in the region, I’ve never gotten the feeling it’s something vets treat with more respect than any other person. Hell, the local strip club (whose clientele is 99% army and ex-army) just did a 4th of July event where all the strippers wore US flag outfits/underwear, advertised out the front with a poster of a naked woman wrapped in the flag (an actual flag). No complaints.
Sigh.
@Just I understand your point, but your analogy doesn’t fit. The flag in question was supposed to be a cute backdrop, while laying a flag on the ground as a sign of disrespect/anger would not be categorized as analogous to “background for a cute dog photo”. I think the comment far above, that pointed out flags are used to drape veterans’ coffins, and therefore it does carry serious significant meaning to people who have lost a loved one through defense of their country is the best and most relate able argument.
And if anybody’s wondering– yes, I am the analogy police.
My husband is a vet that did 2 tours in Iraq ( one of which he informed about 15 minutes before departure) and he doesn’t think it’s a big deal. How many of a vets are homeless or jobless? I think they would be more concerned about the lack of true support they receive from the country they have for. Don’t even get started on the POC serving a country that time and time again tells them they don’t belong here.
Yeah, being a celebrity she should have known better. But these people totally losing their shit over their sacred cow, being all “more patriotic than thou”… I bet they’re the kind of people who’d rat out their neighbours to the secret police for not being “patriotic enough”, McCarthy era style.
Frankly it looks like a beach towel with a flag pattern on it. Much ado about nothing as this was at her dog boarders so it’s not like she put it there or took the picture.
Also, there are american flag bikini thongs. THAT’S more offensive than some beach towel. I’m also waiting for all the outrage for Taylor’s swimsuit. And taking the flag down a waterslide and letting it get soaked and ruined-and most likely dropping it in a pool. I’ll just be over here with my drink.
Yeah, I made a comment about Taylor and the flag and the water slide over on that thread. If the outraged citizen brigade is going to police everyone’s treatment of the flag then they should be consistent, no?
This is why I can’t stand the 4th of July. Sure, if it was really truly about celebrating our win against Britain or sacrifices of our veterans for “freedom,” sure maybe. Lately though it’s become a competition of who can be the most USA and, nowadays xenophobic, for the sake of patriotism, and in addition to the whole “terrible to anyone who’s not a white male” problem it’s just become as bastardized as all the great holidays are.
Yes, that and it seems to me it’s just an excuse to blow up Chinese-made explosives up all day long while drinking as much beer as possible. Grr.
We have fireworks sales tents in even the smallest communities, with people setting them off for days before and after the 4th.
Often it’s the people who seem least able to afford it that happily plunk down hundreds of dollars for a few big booming sparklers, when we have professional, public fireworks displays at no charge just a few miles away.
You never know when a thunderous BOOM will be heard. Our local news talked about not only impact to pets, but to vets who are severely startled by those sounds.
@ Lynnie-YES! Perfect comment is perfect.
@Esmom-They were still lighting off fireworks across the street from me at 11:00 last night. I wanted to scream. So Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, AND Tuesday–fireworks every night and I guarantee they’ll set of more again tonight.
Meanwhile, the noise is so startling and distracting. I can’t watch a movie or relax in my own apartment and my cats FREAK out. And yes I’m aware of the fact that I sound like a cranky old lady but just get off my damn lawn!!!!! *shakes cane*
Aww thank you Kitten 😊.
My friend had the same problem with her dogs, but she put headphones on their ears and put up a video of dogs playing and something like that and they calmed down a bit. I don’t know how well that would work with cats, but it’s worth a try
That’s actually a really good idea, Lynnie! I should remember that for the parade that goes down my street too…because nothing calms the cats down more than the sound of 800 marching bands…
The irony…upset that a woman disrespected the flag that has done everything to keep her in her “place”. Independence in this country has never been given voluntarily.
My father was a WW2 vet of the European theater. His generation fought to give current generations the right to keep their freedoms. A little respect goes a long way. Seems many these days don’t know history or even care to learn. We could all be under German rule right now so the flag means more to some than others. I just get sick of how the sacrifices others have made are forgotten so easily. Yeah, it just a piece of cloth to some, to others it is much more.
Interesting that you should say that, because I have nothing but respect for the veterans who fought in the Alliance in WWII. (I’m saying this as an Austrian, mind you.)
And to me that has absolutely nothing to do with the flag. I’m in awe of these men’s bravery, I feel for them when I think about the shock it must have been to be confronted with what went on in the concentration camps. I honour the men, and what they did. I don’t honour a piece of cloth. I don’t honour these men because they were Americans. I honour them because they were courageous.
To savage: I appreciate the kind words.
Growing up in this country, we would say pledge of alliance to the flag every morning in school. I learned the meaning behind those who came before me to fight for the rights to fly the flag. It is symbolic of something bigger so I have always had respect for it. My father taught me much too. Fine if people don’t feel that way but many still do. I am one of them.
I can totally respect that as well, Dani8. It literally is a foreign concept to me. In my country, and for the most part in Europe in general, somehow the flag itself doesn’t mean as much. Different strokes, I guess.
I’m not “offended” by the flag on the ground, but I know it’s NOT what you do with a flag. Do they not teach flag etiquette in elementary school anymore? I assumed by flag apparel they meant using an actual flag and making it into clothing, I vaguely remember that being popular in the late 60’s with hippies. But replicating the flag for clothing, koozie, etc doesn’t seem wrong.
While cleaning out a relative’s garage we came across 50 or so flags, the type you fly in front of your house. They were pretty ragged and beat up, we had to search out an organization that disposes of flags properly, there was no way we were going to throw them in the dumpster. And FYI, the Boy Scouts will dispose of old flags if anyone needs it done.
As far as I know it’s not in the curriculum in primary grades, at least it isn’t in my district.
I’ve seen pics of women in bikinis made out of the American flag. I guess it’s ok to have the American flag shoved half way up your a$$ though.
I’m thankful that I don’t look good in red, white and/or blue and will never be tempted to wear anything that looks like the American flag (or the Canadian flag, for that matter).
As a non-US citizen, I don’t get what the big deal is. AT. All.
All I see is an extremely cute picture of three extremely cute dogs celebrating the Fourth of July.
I’m sorry, I’m obviously completely ignorant. To me, yeah, it is a piece of cloth. It’s a flag. It’s – what, a country’s calling card? Oh, stars ‘n’ stripes, must be the US flag. Oh, red, white and green, must be either Italy or Hungary. And so on. I didn’t even know that the flag is never supposed to touch the ground. Again, to me, it’s a piece of cloth.
I don’t get patriotism in general. I don’t see how you can be proud of something you never ACHIEVED, you know? I mean, you didn’t do anything! You were, coincidentally, born there, how is that something to be proud of? (Unless you are a naturalised citizen, in that case I would argue that the thing to be proud of is the achievement of passing the test.)
Okay, I obviously just don’t get it. Please don’t go for my throat. None of what I wrote is meant to be snarky. I’m simply voicing my complete lack of understanding the big deal about it. Can somebody please explain it to me, maybe?
It’s just a set of etiquette rules applied to the flag. I don’t know the history of these rules or how they were chosen, but here’s the tip of the iceberg:
Don’t dip the U.S. Flag for any person, flag, or vessel.
Don’t let the flag touch the ground.
Don’t fly flag upside down unless there is an emergency.
Don’t carry the flag flat, or carry things in it.
Don’t use the flag as clothing.
Don’t store the flag where it can get dirty.
Don’t use it as a cover.
Don’t fasten it or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free.
Don’t draw on, or otherwise mark the flag.
Don’t use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red.
There are a lot more rules on how and when to display/fly it, raise it and take it down, and how to discard it.
ETA: Actually this is more than just etiquette, these rules are Federal Law, but rarely enforced. I can’t find how or why they decided on these rules, though.
@KiddVicious: Thank you very much for taking the time to explain it to me.
I’m fascinated to learn that this is actually Federal Law.
I don’t think you need anyone to explain it to you, Sauvage, because you seem to understand it perfectly. FWIW I completely agree with your sentiments, particularly this: “I don’t get patriotism in general. I don’t see how you can be proud of something you never ACHIEVED, you know? I mean, you didn’t do anything! You were, coincidentally, born there, how is that something to be proud of?”
I also don’t understand loving a country out of some feeling of obligation or allegiance. However, I DO understand loving a country because as a citizen of that country, you have benefitted greatly from everything it has to offer. That’s why I love the United States–because the quality of life is great here. I don’t take our freedoms for granted and overall, this country has been pretty damn good to me.
I don’t really see how a flag has anything to do with that though..at least not for me.
I walk over to the Korean war memorial every Memorial Day because I find it to be a beautiful, peaceful, poignant place to reflect on the sacrifices our veterans have made. The American flag, however, evokes none of the aforementioned feelings for me. Maybe because it’s become so commercialized and ubiquitous over the years. Maybe it’s because it’s been co-opted by some American fringe groups as a proud symbol of hate and intolerance, but I remain unmoved by the American flag. I guess that’s why I find the flag etiquette that Kidd Vicious detailed above to be antiquated–an archaic glorification of something that doesn’t hold the same meaning that it did during colonial times.
Anyway, just know that some Americans share your sensibility. I do try to respect others and as such, I would NEVER deface an American flag, but I don’t feel the same reverence and connection to it that some of my fellow Americans do.
I love you, Kitten. That’s all.
She thrives on negative attention, this one.
Chill out, America! Over here in the UK we have real problems. Have you seen our Economy / Politics / Problem with xenophobia?
Thank God we don’t have any of those problems here in the U.S.A.!!!
Right?
I find it offensive for the flag to be on the ground but I look at intent too. I doubt it was placed on the ground, the dogs on top with the intent to be disrespectful. Flag clothing was highly criticized when it started–during the Abbie Hoffman anti war years. Now it’s commercialized and thought of as patriotic. But it’s also not made from actual flags. But I look at the flag (and other countries have rules governing treatment not just the U.S.) as an important symbol. America has no one religion, ethnicity, ideology, majority racial component–not even one language really (even our ‘English’ is a makeup of words from other countries). We celebrate holidays and festivals from around the world. The only tangible thing that binds us as Americans is the flag. Just MO.
That’s what I’m saying: intent and context are so important.
The person was very clearly trying to celebrate the Fourth by paying homage to the US. At the most you could say it was careless, but certainly not malicious.
@Snowpea – so f–king truthfully and poignantly and tragically said. Brava to you for telling it like it is.
I seriously despair that there are people in this world who could look at such a joyful pooch pic and only see the american flag.
I noticed the flag on the ground and it bothered me. I didn’t have a hateful reaction, but I did cringe because the flag is not supposed to be on the ground. I remember my dad teaching me the basics of how to treat the flag. We would put it out on the flag pole in the morning and take it in (properly folded) at night. We would take it down if it was raining. My dad taught me the basics of it and why we treat it that way. He taught me that it represented something, but it wasn’t that thing. However, we respect it as a symbol of what it represents. So I learned that from a young age. I was a part of the group that was responsible for raising and lowering the flag in elementary school. I remember putting it at half staff after the Challenger Shuttle disaster. I associate the flag with important and meaningful events.
For me, the flag being on the ground like that overshadowed the picture of her dogs. However, I would never freak out over something like that. I won’t lose sleep over it. I won’t go on rants about her and I don’t believe it says anything about her as a person except that she loves her dogs, she doesn’t know the flag code and she probably didn’t have a flag flying in front of her house as a kid that she was responsible for.
I can’t stand that there are people that could spew such hate because she innocently shared a picture of her dogs without understanding why it might bother some people. A simple message about why she shouldn’t do that was all that was needed. A simple message, KINDLY stated. I believe that pointing it out to her is the right thing to do because I don’t believe she meant any disrespect.
No Kaley. You did nothing wrong.
There’s offensive, and then there’s just doing something kind of dumb but with no malice, this is the latter.
By the way, since people keep mentioning flag etiquette, I did not learn flag etiquette in school, not that I’m running around doing stuff to the flag, but I wouldn’t know all the ins and outs.
What I find offensive is when people have a flag on their vehicle and it’s half ripped to shreds, it looks tacky and seems disrespectful.