Recently, Fox News reported an incident where five students were sent home for wearing the U.S. Flag on Cinco de Mayo. As a result, several of my patriotic Facebook friends responded in outcry. What right did the school have to send these kids home who were expressing their heartfelt patriotism?!
I found the whole thing somewhat amusing. I agree that no institution should infringe upon a person’s desire to express their patriotism. Clearly, the school was wrong in this instance because their motives were just that; to squash patriotism for this nation. Shame on them! That said, you should know that the students were expressing their patriotism inappropriately just as we Americans do all the time.
Most of us (at least those of us that consider ourselves patriots) agree that we should read and be thoroughly familiar with the United States Constitution. Additionally we should know the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers. Why is this so? Because by doing so, it informs us on how to live properly as citizens of this great country. Furthermore, it gives us the knowledge to hold accountable our elected officials who, so it seems with the current administration, are confusing the United States Constitution with the Communist Manifesto, but I digress.
There are other documents with which we should familiarize ourselves. We should be familiar with the laws of the land. If in the military, we should study military regulations like the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If we want to drive, we should know traffic regulations. If we want to fly a plane, we need to know the laws under the FAA and such. If we want to express our patriotism using the U.S. Flag, we should know if there are rules according to which this is done. Interestingly, many of my conservative, patriotic friends who wish to express their patriotism in any willy-nilly manner would be surprised to know that there is actually a regulation regarding the proper use of the U.S. Flag. This is covered in United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1.
Now before I get all self-righteous and everything, I must confess that it was not long ago that I was sporting a bandana, a t-shirt and other such apparel. However, the U.S. Flag Code, defines what constitutes a U.S. Flag as:
“The words "flag, standard, colors, or ensign", as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.” United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1, Section 3
The code also states that:
“The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.” States Code Title 4 Chapter 1, Section 8d.
Clearly, these students and most of America on the Fourth of July are in violation of the U.S. Flag Code. Now, before you tell me that I’m just being anal retentive just hear me out.
The U.S. Flag code is intended not just to instruct on the proper handling of the U.S. Flag but also to prevent it from being used in a manner that would dishonor it and, in my opinion, those who sacrificed to protect what it represents. I was discussing this with a Vietnam veteran who told me that it “heartens” him to see young people wearing the U.S. Flag on their t-shirts. I understand his sentiment. But we must also understand that when we decide to use the flag as a t-shirt, we lessen its significance. If we ignore the code, we can say nothing about the U.S. Flag being used as, a dress shirt, a tie, a hat, a cocktail napkin, a credit card, toilet paper, underwear, or even an object to show hatred for America.
It seems to me that if we truly want to express our patriotic spirit by using the U.S. Flag, we should do so, first and foremost, by honoring the provisions established to protect its honor. So, rather than wearing it, fly it! Just do so according to the Code.
Well, I missed Cinco de Mayo this year. Actually, not being Mexican, I’ve never celebrated it. Maybe we will celebrate it next year. I’ll make a batch of my Two Time’s Hot Salsa with chips and enjoy a Margarita with my wife. Furthermore, I’ll proudly fly the U.S. Flag and we’ll celebrate how blessed we are to live in a nation where Mexicans, Ethiopians, Swedes, Germans, Italians and people from all nationalities can live, work, play and worship as United States Citizens!
God bless America!