How to Desecrate Our American Flag

Use it as clothing; place it on the ground, etc. The photog is a retired US Army LTC, MD (Lieutenant Colonel, O-5). Of all people, he SHOULD know better.

http://www.Flickr.com/people/PathDoc/

Desecration is defined as
• “the act of depriving something of its sacred character—or the disrespectful or contemptuous treatment of that which is held to be sacred by a group or individual,;”
• to “treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate;”
• “to profane or violate the sacredness or sanctity of something; to remove the consecration from someone or something; to deconsecrate;”
• as “an act of disrespect or impiety towards something considered sacred;”
• and to be “treated with contempt.”

Flag Desecration - writing on flag, and used as a garment

Flag Desecration - flag on ground, written upon, used as garment

The word “desecrate” is formed from the article “de” – which means to “do the opposite of” – and the word (con)”secrate,” which means “to make holy, devote, enclose, protect.” The word “desecrate” was first used in 1674, while “consecrate” and “sacred” – the root words – were first used and originated in the 14th century, even to the 12th century French “sacrer,” and the Old Latin.

Flag desecration statute:
4 United States Code  Sec. 8, Respect for flag –
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.
(g) 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.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
– ref: http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt

It’s difficult to say if his photographs were a sentiment of ‘I don’t give a rip,’ or ‘I’m an ignoramus.’ One would presume that he, being a retired officer, has a certain level of intelligence, and adherence to decorum and respect, even AFTER service.

For example, I have NEVER forsworn my oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” It’s my opinion that this does NOT speak well for him.

During my time in uniform, one of my greatest joys, and source of pride was the duty to hoist and lower the symbol of our nation’s unity – rendering Honor To The Flag. My greatest contempt was reserved for those men in uniform – some officers – whom would deliberately stay inside a building or automobile to avoid rendering their due respect by standing at attention and saluting Old Glory.

Concluding, I also endorse these sentiments: “…responding by removing freedoms is a very drastic and wrong direction… peaceful protest is NOT a threat to America. I respect the flag as much as any of you do. Believe me. I don’t burn it. I don’t plan to. But I don’t want to see peaceful American citizens thrown in jail. And I don’t want to see the current situation used as leverage in a debate that ought to be conducted rationally and logically. Seriously — if we are going to modify the constitution and remove part of the First Amendment, we need to think that through — not act out of anger or fear in the heat of passion. We don’t need an amendment to the constitution. We need to show the enemy that we will not stoop to their levels. In America, we don’t put people in jail for protesting against the government. That’s what they do in Afghanistan, China, or Iraq. Here’s my solution to the dilemma. The main cause of flag burnings since the end of the Vietnam war has been protest over flag burning laws. Flag burners in general are not “Anti-American.” The people who want to “protect the flag” have incited more flag burnings than anyone else. So, keep the law the way it is. Now and then someone will burn a flag to protest a war, or a law, or something. We should be strong enough as a country to accept criticism and allow some people to offend us now and then.”