Okay, this may be out of place on the GD forum but here goes.

How many of you when you go to school, or drop your children off at there school, or even go to a place that has the American Flag out front look at it and salute it ? I do in general, I may not always salute it but I do always pay it it's respect as I pass by under neath it. Well this morning was my typical morning of taking my daughter to school. There was a lady attempting to hang the American flag up, it was haphazardly thrown over shoulder like someone would with a towel. So needless to say, to me it looked like she was putting in on upside down, but it also looked like she may have noticed it and was trying to fix it. So I take my daughter to her class and sign her in. On my way out I look back up the Flag, and sure enough, it was flowing on the morning sun upside down!!! The state flag was hung right but the American flag, the symbol of our nation was not!. So I head to the office which is just underneath where the flag is displayed and run into the school principle walking in. She starts to tell that she doesnt know how well I will be helped because her staff isnt fully in yet and tell her that isnt why I am here, I just want to let you know that the Flag is hung upside down. She replys with Again!!! at this point I am getting a bit hot under the collar, I mean come on, this is a school for crying out loud, where we are supposed to be teaching things like American History and morales and instilling ethics and all that, granted we cannot seem to say the pledge because it mentions GOD, yes I said GOD, geez get over it people when is enough enough ? wellany who. She says she will ahve it fixed. So as Im walking to my vehicle I see the woman that hung the flag and let her know that she put it up upside down. And she laughs about it!!!! Where is the pride in ones country ? I remeber when I was in Elementary School, we had a thing called the Honor Gaurd. Was a small group of 3 that had the privillage to escort a neatly folded American Flag to the Flag pole, and put it up for all to see, then lead the school in the morning Pledge. I looked forward to doing this every morning, doing that and being an Altar Boy in Church. What do children have now ? The only ones that can really lead children on the proper path are the parents themselves. Not only do we have watch dog against pedophiles now a days, but we have look out for children who just have no love for life or anothers right to live it. Okay I am digressing, this is was supposed to be about Flag raising and has now spiraled out, but tese are things that I feel strongly aout. So I ask you, when is enough, enough ? When do we stop the ignorance?

[ 05-07-2004, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Elif Godson ]

<font color=skyblue>You have a right to be angry, and if I were you, report it to the county or something. Go over their head and have someone lecture the old fool on what is and is not to be taken lightly. I am sure you can find a sensitive ear in the higher-ups that will be just as angry as you are at this lack of care and attention.


Having served as a TA for a techer at a particular school last month, I can tell you that teachers seem to be no more educated than my grocery bagger is at Food Lion. </font>

[ 05-07-2004, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Hah! We got one that can't be hung upside down over here [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I fail to see why anyone would care 'bout a friggin flag though <_<

I can understand the frustration... believe me.

I would add just one more thing to the mix, that the principal and the *person* who can't figure out which way is up might want to be aware of. A US flag flown upside-down is a signal of distress, as in "help us!". In today's world, it being flown in front of a school can bring to mind all sorts of potential problems.... :(

But what to do about it, since the school administration is apparently oblivious?

What about... retraining them? What if some outside group or person were to come in, talk about respect for the flag and what it stands for, and re-establish that old practice of an honor guard to raise the flag each morning, and take it down each afternoon? Some folks might want to have it up all day, but I personally would rather see it treated respectfully twice a day than treated ignobly for the whole day.

You might be able to get a local Veterans group to help with the practice.

Bypass the adults who've forgotten the reason for respect. Go straight to the kids who can still learn it.

The problem is there are no standards anymore. People are afraid of stepping on a persons toe's becuase they may get sued. It still urks me that the lady that hung the flag just laughed about it.
Being an Eagle Scout I have hung my fare share of flags and retired them as well, and I know on several occasions at the school there have been several organisations that have gone in and talked to the children about the Flag and what it stands for. My daughter has come home with al kinds of information ans boy when she gets fired up about something the questions fly so I have to be spot on on my answers, hehe As to the the post about it just being a flag, no it isnt just a flag. The American Flag stand for the struggles that this country has been through, granted not all of them glamourus but it is a symbol that is known through out the world ! It should be shown proper respect, not only because of what it stands for, but for all the men, woman and children that have fought for and grown with it.
As in most great nations they have there symbols and beliefs and those who decide to disrespect them, but in other countries it is a Crime where as here in the States, well you will get some dirty looks.

Crazy Americans ;) Down here, most people don't even look at the Dutch flag when it is displayed. The only thing that draws some attention is the EU flag, because it usually marks some kind of special EU-funded project.

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"Old Glory" - A new thread, directed by Elif Godson. Tells the story of one man's struggle to cope with people holding different values, priorities and nationalist ideas to his. Rated Mp13, contains medium level old-timer ranting and occasional illicit soapbox tirades.
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Seriously though, as I'm sure you are well aware Elif, some people just don't hold the same values as you. It's one of the side-effects of people having their own individual brains. But instead of getting mad and frustrated about it, and wishing everyone thought the same way you did, why not just take a deep breath and accept it as part of that delicious, vibrant diversity called individualism. You'll give yourself an ulser otherwise ;)

By all means, believe what you want to believe. Hell, even impose your beliefs upon your children if you like, but don't get mad because other people have different ideas on what's important and what's not.

To you, the flag is sacred, a true symbol of what you believe in, and that's super. But to some others, it's just a scrap of cloth with a stripy pattern and a few stars on it, which they are forced to hang up at their workplace each day because their state and employment contract demands it. People, whether they believe it or not, are free to devise their own ideas of who and what they should be loyal to, perhaps they don't need a nationalist symbol to give themselves a sense of identity.

You're obviously pretty keen on your nationalism. A real patriot. That's great. More power to ya. But not everyone feels a need for that sort of psychological self-stamping. Just accept it man. You to yours. Them to theirs. Whaddya think?

I pay my respect to PEOPLE who deserve it, not to the flag. And i don't get all misty eyed when they play the national anthem either. In fact, i hate the damn song.

Yes it is. It's nothing but a flag. You can read what you want into it, but it still won't be anything but a piece of cloth.

*snif* http://pandemonium.phpwebhosting.com/flag.gif