Flags
I've been watching a lot of the Olympics recently. The Track and Field events started within the last day or so. And while I love the events, it also brings with it something that annoys the hell out of me: improper use of the flag. For some time now it's been standard practice for American medal winners to grab a flag out of the audience and run around the track with it. This isn't entirely a US phenomenon as I've seen athletes from other countries do it.
If this is a show of patriotism, I wonder if these athletes realize they're doing the exact opposite. I fail to see how wrapping your sweaty body in the flag is patriotic. I fail to see how dragging it or throwing it onto the ground and sometimes walking on it is patriotic. And I fail to see how wearing it around like a shawl is patriotic.
I'll readily admit I'm being something of a curmudgeon here, but then again, these athletes are representing their country on a world platform. If there's any time for patriotism, it's during participation in the Olympics. I wish more people would pay attention to the United States Flag Code which sums up a lot of these long understood rules. They'd find such pointers as...
4 U.S.C. §8(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
4 U.S.C. §(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel [...]
4 U.S.C. §(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
4 U.S.C. §(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
Now of course these aren't really enforceable other than perhaps stern looks by the 1% of the population who cares. Well I guess if you're a post office or something they are. But post offices aren't running the 100 meter hurdles yet.
Maybe there should be an amendment to the section:
4 U.S.C. §(l) Don't wrap the flag around your sweaty body. We know you're patriotic. It says USA in big letters on your chest and you're dressed in red, white and blue. Don't worry, no one's going to confuse you for the French (who can't run to save their lives anyway).
As an aside, it annoyed the hell out of me when one of the fraternal organizations in Mountain View (whose members I'm sure consider themselves very patriotic) placed a flag pole on their roof and left the flag flying 24 hours a day with no illumination at night. They finally fixed this, but I sort of wish I'd sent them a letter asking them why they were ignoring 4 U.S.C. §6(a). I'm sure it was an oversight.
I guess in the end I'm just annoyed by the hypocrisy of the whole thing.
If this is a show of patriotism, I wonder if these athletes realize they're doing the exact opposite. I fail to see how wrapping your sweaty body in the flag is patriotic. I fail to see how dragging it or throwing it onto the ground and sometimes walking on it is patriotic. And I fail to see how wearing it around like a shawl is patriotic.
I'll readily admit I'm being something of a curmudgeon here, but then again, these athletes are representing their country on a world platform. If there's any time for patriotism, it's during participation in the Olympics. I wish more people would pay attention to the United States Flag Code which sums up a lot of these long understood rules. They'd find such pointers as...
4 U.S.C. §8(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
4 U.S.C. §(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel [...]
4 U.S.C. §(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
4 U.S.C. §(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
Now of course these aren't really enforceable other than perhaps stern looks by the 1% of the population who cares. Well I guess if you're a post office or something they are. But post offices aren't running the 100 meter hurdles yet.
Maybe there should be an amendment to the section:
4 U.S.C. §(l) Don't wrap the flag around your sweaty body. We know you're patriotic. It says USA in big letters on your chest and you're dressed in red, white and blue. Don't worry, no one's going to confuse you for the French (who can't run to save their lives anyway).
As an aside, it annoyed the hell out of me when one of the fraternal organizations in Mountain View (whose members I'm sure consider themselves very patriotic) placed a flag pole on their roof and left the flag flying 24 hours a day with no illumination at night. They finally fixed this, but I sort of wish I'd sent them a letter asking them why they were ignoring 4 U.S.C. §6(a). I'm sure it was an oversight.
I guess in the end I'm just annoyed by the hypocrisy of the whole thing.