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Brace yourselves, Old Glory Desecrated. Posted at Freerepublic.com
What can I possibly say? I am beside myself with shock, horror, and rage.
h/t to digger48. Nice catch and thanks for posting this piece of news to begin with.
Find these idiots, arrest them for breaking Federal Law, and make an example of them. This is an act of treason, and needs to be taken seriously.
And let’s ask Obama what he thinks about this. I’d be curious to see if he can look past his own need to be glorified and condemn this action.
What has happened to our Nation? Even a liberal surely would admit that this is simply too far.
The Flag Code
Title 4 United States Code:
§ 8. Respect for Flag
(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. (h/t to Kenny Solomon for this info!)
[update] Picture of desecrated American Flag for sale on the internet
Long Live the Republic! (If the Obama worshippers don’t destroy it!)
ANOTHER Seller has posted illegal Obama flag – new item #270421532442. CALL EBAY AND REPORT THIS!!!!
Phone 866-934-9647 and Press 2.
Tell them this is a FEDERAL OFFENSE!
UNITED STATES CODE TITLE 36 CHAPTER 33 Title 18
§ 700. Desecration of the flag of… the United States; penalties
(a)(1) Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both
I am outraged that anyone would even think to do this to our flag that represents our heritage and our liberty. This is the flag that those of us who are true Americans display with pride. I hope and pray that whatever individual/s are responsible for this will be found and punished. We truly need to unite as a nation under God to fight these oppressors of our families, our God and our country. America, don’t let them win!!! We are strong when we stand together.
I just called. The e-bay representative said they have a legal department that she was going to submit this to. Nonetheless, keep calling!!!!!!!!!1
just in case anyone is trying to track down the law on this:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sec_04_00000008—-000-.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/usc_sup_01_36.html
Criminal penalties for certain acts of desecration to the flag were contained in Title 18 of the United States Code prior to 1989. The Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson; June 21, 1989, held the statute unconstitutional. This statute was amended when the Flag Protection Act of 1989 (Oct. 28, 1989) imposed a fine and/or up to I year in prison for knowingly mutilating, defacing, physically defiling, maintaining on the floor or trampling upon any flag of the United States. The Flag Protection Act of 1989 was struck down by the Supreme Court decision, United States vs. Eichman, decided on June 11, 1990.
While the Code empowers the President of the United States to alter, modify, repeal or prescribe additional rules regarding the Flag, no federal agency has the authority to issue ‘official’ rulings legally binding on civilians or civilian groups. Consequently, different interpretations of various provisions of the Code may continue to be made. The Flag Code may be fairly tested: ‘No disrespect should be shown to the Flag of the United States of America.’ Therefore, actions not specifically included in the Code may be deemed acceptable as long as proper respect is shown.
Here is a link for some perspective
http://conservativebuys.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop/reagan.rightwingstuff.1359608+reagan—flag-face.html
When the US Postal Service does it, you know its BAD!!!
http://stamp-search.com/images/lib0142ss40reagan.jpg
How is it that this is constitutionally protected “free speech”
http://antiprotester.com/Scumbags7.jpg
And this is constitutionally protected “free speech”
http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/moonbats-burn-flag.jpg
But THIS is an OUTRAGEOUS threat to democracy?
http://www.artofobama.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/obama-flag.jpg
Who here, or anywhere in Donald’s article, did it say any of those things were ok? Come on PJ, your avoiding the issue with that one.
PJ, those are not actual flags…unless I am wrong (not perfect here) the one in the article is an actual flag. There is a difference.
Chet -
Sorry, from the title of the article, and the posts from the first few people to comment, I thought people were thinking this was illegal (which it obviously is not).
I suppose most of these people were making the same comments about Ronald Reagan flag tee-shirts, Ronald Reagan Flag Mugs, Ronald Reagan Flag Stamps. Really disgusting that someone would combine a powerful symbol that they love with a leader they admire.
Honestly, I do not like modifying the flag for commercial or political purposes (I think it is disrespectful). However, it is certainly NOT illegal, nor inappropriate, and I suspect the OUTRAGE here was just not present when Saint Reagan’s face was all over flags art everywhere. (seems like a double standard)
Chet:
I agree that modifying an actual flag is not the same as modifying a picture of a flag. Still – I think the outrage is hypocritical, and was just not there for Reagan flags. I know, knocking down the President, or pushing the meme that his supporters are over the top zealots is the order of the day. I am personally not surprised that an admired leader will be represented in art, song, satire, prose, poetry, sculpture, and as many other forms as humanity can imagine.
From: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000700—-000-.html
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 33 > § 700Prev | Next § 700. Desecration of the flag of the United States; penalties
Title 18 of the US Code as currently published by the US Government reflects the laws passed by Congress as of Jan. 8, 2008:
(a)
(1) Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(2) This subsection does not prohibit any conduct consisting of the disposal of a flag when it has become worn or soiled.
(b) As used in this section, the term “flag of the United States” means any flag of the United States, or any part thereof, made of any substance, of any size, in a form that is commonly displayed.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to deprive any State, territory, possession, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of jurisdiction over any offense over which it would have jurisdiction in the absence of this section.
(d)
(1) An appeal may be taken directly to the Supreme Court of the United States from any interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order issued by a United States district court ruling upon the constitutionality of subsection (a).
(2) The Supreme Court shall, if it has not previously ruled on the question, accept jurisdiction over the appeal and advance on the docket and expedite to the greatest extent possible.
admin:
yeah – unconstitutional though Texas v Johnson then U.S. v Eichman.
that is why we still see flag dragging and burning today.
in 2006 a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning missed passing the senate by one vote.
What does flag burning have to do with a person flying an American flag with Obama’s picture that is in place of the stars? Which, by the way, is illegal.
PJ,
I am apologizing now, before I say what I am about to say, because I am about to become terse and immovable in my wordings, and I do not wish you to take this personally.
I could care less about what the hell happened here under Reagan. That was the 80’s. I was so deep into the military then, that I must have missed what you seemed to have caught as some kind of irreverent behavior on the part of Reagan fans nationwide.
Today is today. Obama is President. Did anyone teach songs to public school children that praised Reagan? Did Reagan’s White House vilify one specific media outlet? Did Reagan scare the hell out of Iran when he took office, or did Reagan want to have deep and meaningful discussions with terrorists? Please do not insult my or anyone’s intelligence by referencing Reagan and comparing him, ever, to Obama. Reagan is dead.
That tactic of essentially saying, “Yeah, well what about…?” to illustrate a point screams intellectual bankruptcy, and ideological drought. It is straight out of Alinsky’s little liberal book, and I am disappointed that you would behave in this fashion. I had hoped you would provide more than this 13-year old teeny-bopper rhetoric, but it appears I was mistaken.
PJ, I respect you as much as I am able given that we are simply Internet acquaintances and have no real knowledge of one another save for what we choose to volunteer to one another. But by you referencing Reagan when it is blatantly obvious that Obama Worship is far, far beyond any warm feelings people may have had for Reagan, simply stupefies me.
Good evening, PJ. Until tomorrow, Donald.
Oh my gosh, what’s next? Obama on the box of wheaties?
Christine,
Please don’t ask that question…I won’t be able to sleep tonight!
Don,
We all get mad sometimes.
My point in posting the Reagan flags is not “oh yeah, well what about this”. The point is look, this has been going on for the past 25 years, and apparently no one really minded. Now that someone has brought another flag with a President’s face on it to your attention, but this time with a President that you love to hate, and said to you “THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!”, for some reason, you are outraged.
There seems to be some kind of a disconnect. I just don’t understand how this was just fine for so long and is now completely out of bounds. You would think that if it were really THAT bad, someone would have noticed all these other flags with presidents on coffee mugs, and tee shirts, and paper plates, and US stamps.
As far as the legality goes. I realize that not everyone follows these issues, but it really isn’t hard to look it up. I know you don’t really like wikipedia, and it is certainly NOT the best place for authoritative information, but at least then you would have a starting place for tracking down some relevant information, tracking back to original sources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_desecration
A lexus/nexus search at your public library could give you a long list of court cases where local flag desecration laws were ruled unconstitutional or just thrown out after Texas v Johnson. Recently a flag desecration lawsuit in Kansas was allowed to move forward, as the prosecution attempted to change the focus from a constitutional flag desecration issue, to a public disturbance, inciting violence issue. (flag desecration could incite violence)
Justice Stevens has some very interesting reflections on the Texas v Johnson ruling, and how today (well really 2006) he thinks he was wrong in his decent of the Supreme court ruling. http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=17825
“burning the flag is now a symbolic act that conveys a far different message than it once did. If one were to burn a flag today, the act would convey a message of freedom that ours is a society that is strong enough to tolerate such acts by those whom we despise.”
Desecration of course is not limited to burning alone, but there was a time that burning the flag represented the most powerful visual symbol of protest. As Justice Stevens said, today many see these acts of protest (desecration) against our flag, as a sign of the strength of our constitution and our democracy.
Is beating the drum for a party beating the heck out of our country? I submit it is. I don’t want to see Reagan’s face on a flag anymore than I want to see Obama’s. As for my party, I don’t have a party, it left me.
The more this is talked about the more free advertising this will get. Let them do as they wish nobody will die because of it.
This is completely unacceptable. Where do people get off with this kind of idea and actually have the lack of intelligence to go through with it. They need to be punished one way or the other.
Hi Rob,
Why is it unacceptable? His picture on the flag says volumes about how his misguided and blind followers see him. As most Americans know, the stars represent the states — take the states out of the picture — put Obama in their place — and you have the type of administration we have today. He sees himself as the savior of the world, not just America — his agenda is far more important than Constitutional rights — including listening to the States and the citizens who live in them. His agenda is to alter America to the point that we are no greater than the worse third-world country and that no one person in American is richer than the poorest one. Of course there is the exception — Him, his family, and all those Orcs (Czars) who work for him–after all, why should they have to suffer — thats the job of the American peons. Lets see how immigration works then. Bet we have no illegal immigrants trying to sneak into America when his four years are up.
If you live in a united states of america that says it’s okay and not such a big deal to modify the flag, then so be it.
I, on the other hand, count myself as a citizen of The United States of America where we have flown the most glorious and wonderful of National Colors, and have even fought with it embroidered onto my right shoulder.
Perhaps we just need to divide America into two nations. You guys can have your free-spirited-it’s-all-good side, and I’ll live in the Christian-religious-freak-right-wing zealot side. Oh, but we will be keeping our guns.
Cheers.
Did you notice where Reagan’s picture was located on the stamp — over the strips, not the stars! It seems to me that a subliminal message is being sent — and one I don’t want to ever see again! When we talk about stamps or pictures — we are not talking about a flag in the true sense — a flag goes up the flag pole and waves around in the breeze – if there is one. Use to be school children were taught how to care of such a Standard (flag). We throw stamps with pictures of the flag away in the garbage — which ends up in a dump — Good grief! These people are not selling pictures of an American flag with Obama’s face on it — they are selling up the flag pole flags. Spouting law school rhetoric is all fine and dandy — I too, know those laws — but something happens inside of a person who is forced to participate in the desecration of their flag — watching something illegal take place and not intervening in some way is participating in the act yourself — Is this not what is called being an accomplice?
Sure you are an accomplice when you participate in a crime.
In the US it is NOT a crime to deface, damage, walk on, spit on, drag, burn, use as a napkin, fly upside down or in any other way desecrate the flag.
Here is one that John McCain defaced
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/images/mccainflag.jpg
Here is one that President Bush defaced
http://www.makethemaccountable.com/images/saved/BushSignsFlag.gif
Here is a brave American who served our country
http://www.theodoresworld.net/pics/0408/MaineImage8.jpg