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I am awfully disappointed to see so many good conservatives fall all over themselves to be enraged over this, when in fact they should be supporting it.

On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, students at one high school were not allowed to wear clothes with an American flag.Under a new school rule, students at Hobbton High School are not allowed to wear items with flags, from any country, including the United States.

Both John Hawkins and Michelle Malkin, two conservatives I agree with 99% of the time, immediately jumped on this and decried the un-Americaness of this. Both harshly spat upon this school districts behavior as outrageous and beneath contempt. I even heard at least one conservative radio talkshow host do the same. Unfortunately I have to agree with the schools behavior, although they only got it right on accident….for the wrong reasons.

See, in an America long long ago, people actually used to respect the flag. They didn\’t burn it, they didn\’t let it touch the ground, they didn\’t use it for advertisement, and they didn\’t WEAR IT AS CLOTHING!!!

I really really wish some conservatives would get off their high horse long enough, to know of what they speak (or type). As a public service, I refer you to Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1 : The Flag Code. It\’s right there in black and white people, how the flag should be treated, how it should be displayed and what shouldn\’t be done with it.

Heh, I\’ll even save you the trouble and quote the relevant text. From Section 8,

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker\’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general….

(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.

…

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

Basically to sum it all up, you\’re not supposed to wear the flag as clothing. And basically any representation of the stars&stripes is considered a flag. Clothing is temporary and is eventually discarded. It\’s all about respect for the flag and what it stands for. It\’s not supposed to be part of something that will be easily soiled or cast aside. It is supposed to be held high with dignity.

How many of you hold your T-Shirts in such high esteem??

I thought so.

So get down off your high horse, and admit it. The school had it right….for the wrong reasons. The kids shouldn\’t be wearing flags. Period. End of Discussion. It\’s not about LACK of patriotism (although I suspect that was their reason), but rather it\’s a reflection of patriotism that you hold your flag in high regard and are not going to demean it by making it a fashion statement.

Unfortunately, this is a statement upon today\’s culture. I absolutely cringe when I\’m at a July 4th parade and see them handing out the little plastic US flags. Not because they are handing out flags, but because I know most of them will be regarded as a toy, and more than likely dropped on the ground and trampled upon, shat upon by horses and eventually swept into a garbage bin. And usually I\’m correct.

Make sure the flag you are waving is patriotic, not hypocritical.

NOTE : Oh and because I heard one caller to the above mentioned talkshow cry about how then even something like a Boy Scout uniform is off limits, let me point something out.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

Hope that clears that up. Once again, know that of what you speak.

[Cross Posted at True North]