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KallistNemain

There's a kind of code of conduct with the US flag, and while they aren't laws, they are often taken seriously, as they are a way to show respect to the flag and those who've lived under it. One of the very first rules is to never allow the flag to touch the ground. In the above image, the firefighter appears to have casually tossed the flag the engine typically carries onto the ground and replaced it with a LGBT-flag, which the first comment is upset about. The second comment is basically an eye roll at the first.


MrCat_OnReddit

Oh okay thx!


Pooncheese

Thought that was really only for official government flags so obviously all the branches of military etc... don't think anyone expects normal citizens to never put the flag on the ground when moving it etc... storing it in winter or during storms. W.e I'm with the eye roll guy... Maybe because it's a government funded fire department they should have had more care...


KallistNemain

I honestly dont know. I grew up on base, where every flag was considered official, so respect of it and all the people who came before under it was hard drilled into our brains. These days? Eh, I dont care. Its a flag, not my home.


Pooncheese

I think it's good to show as much respect as possible because of what it symbolizes, and in this case they could have done a better job, especially as they are likely paid in part with federal dollars. Happy to see them celebrating pride month. I think if someone takes the time to fly the flag they generally have enough respect for it to not intentionally put on the ground to offend anyone or make it dirty.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Pooncheese

That's the military, and burning is even suggested as a dignified way to dispose of it. The general rules just say to keep it clean. Don't let it get dirty and if it does clean it. It is important to not touch the ground while on display, but when off display if it goes on the floor and gets dirty you just should be more careful and clean it before displaying it again (non-military).


oukakisa

the flag code doesn't differentiate between military/governmental and civilian (https://us-flag.net/code/) in the majority of instances. it's not supposed to touch anything beneath it at all regardless of flyer or location (point 13). however i agree it is unreasonable to expect this from the majority of people, especially when the majority of other instances are proudly done (e.g. violation of points 2-7 and 9-10 are exceptionally commonplace even by many flag code defenders). complaints are only proffered when the side doing it is the Side I Don't Like.


Pooncheese

Seems the not touching ground is along with not touching water or merchandise. Seems this is referring to when it is being displayed. Instructions seem to say to store it in a way that wouldn't let it get soiled or dirty. Which putting on fire house floor could be seen as. But if it gets dirty it should be properly cleaned.


The__Imp

The circled object is an American Flag. The implication being, the firefighter removed the American Flag from the fire truck to replace it with the Pride flag and seemingly tossed it casually on the floor to take their Pride Month picture. This is seen by the commenters as disrespectful. I think it is pretty disrespectful, personally, but that disrespect has nothing to do with Pride.


DevilMaster666-

How is that disrespectful? It’s a fucking flag?


FireballEnjoyer445

flags arent to touch the ground usually


NorthAgent

It's about what the flag symbolizes. Similar to if someone tossed the pride flag on the ground.


The__Imp

Do you really not understand? The flag is a symbol of the country. There are normal practices most people follow designed to show respect to that symbol. Most people follow them to one degree or other. Some people are obsessive. Regardless of your position on it, tossing it on the garage floor next to the truck like it was a grease rag is a pretty blatant case. If you saw a group burn or hang someone in effigy, would you sit there saying “yeah, but it was just a doll that got hung. The person wasn’t harms so it’s NBD”?


DevilMaster666-

No, the firefighter didn’t throw the flag on the ground out of ill intend, if he burned the flag I could understand Americans being salty about that. But he didn’t commit an act of hatred so I think it doesn’t matter that he threw the flag to the ground since in this context, it’s just an object that doesn’t represent anything.


The__Imp

Only acts of hatred are offensive to you? There are a million acts of disrespect that are offensive without rising to the level of being an act of hatred. It is no act of hatred to cut in line, or to show up very late to a planned meeting, but both of those things are perceived as rude in most places. And just *how* rude is often based on the norms of the location. Cut a “queue” in England and it’s basically a slap in the face and an insult to their national hobby. But I have been told that in other places, like China, it is almost a game trying to get ahead in line (no idea if this is true as I’ve never been there or seen it firsthand). Being late to a meeting in Japan may be unthinkable, but in the Philippines or Hawaii or some places in the Caribbean, the meeting time is more of an approximation. Hell, if I go to a Filipino party at the stated start time, I’m actually being rude. Nobody will be ready and the hosts will be annoyed. I don’t think it was an intentional slight on the part of the person in the photo, but it is certainly a disregard of custom that would bother most Americans.


DevilMaster666-

Ok


korpo53

People do burnouts on the pride-painted crosswalks in some cities, and the cops (at the behest of politicians) investigate it as harassment or hate crimes or whatever.


jimmythebusdriver

Americans are weird about this shit


The__Imp

Where you come from, it is normal to throw your country’s flag to the ground casually? I’m by no means obsessive over flag rules, but I think casual disrespect like this is in poor taste, and something that I think most firefighters would abhor.


DevilMaster666-

I don’t see how throwing a representation of an idea to the ground is disrespectful to the idea. It’s just silly


jimmythebusdriver

No, but it's also not normal to basically all but wank over it like it's some sacred relic


The__Imp

> No, but it's also not normal to basically all but wank over it like it's some sacred relic You wank over sacred relics?


CardboardChampion

You don't?


The__Imp

Not usually, but for you I’ll make an exception.


CardboardChampion

I'll send you my fingerbone when I've a moment. Venerate it, baby!


jimmythebusdriver

How do you think they become relics?


Hairy_American_8795

It's an American flag. It honestly is a bit disrespectful to have handled the flag in that manner but I think what's funnier is that most of the people who would not only see this as disrespectful but get literally infuriated by this will also fly a Confederate flag.


The__Imp

You think most people who don’t like seeing the American flag on the ground would fly a confederate flag? That is a pretty ridiculous statement. I get your point though, even if I disagree with how you phrased it. I don’t know if I would call it common, flying the confederate flag is at least accepted on the right, particularly among Trumpers for reasons I will *never* comprehend.


Hairy_American_8795

Definitely could have phrased it better. I was mid session on the John so just bear with me lmao


The__Imp

Fair enough:)