Is US Flag offensive?

[Trey of Diamonds]

Should people be allowed show their pride in America by displaying the US Flag? Should others be allowed to throw another person's flag on the ground or floor, something that is considered seriously insulting and should result in the destruction of the flag itself if tradition is followed? Note: this question is not about what someone can do with a US flag that they purchased, but rather what they can do to someone elses property.

Supervisor Asks Woman To Take Down American Flag

UPDATE: Hospital Says Woman May Re-Hang Flag (Read More Below)

Woman Upset After American Flag Taken Down At Work - cbs11tv.com

Is it okay to show your patriotism at the office?

For one Arlington woman, the answer was "no" after she hung an American flag in her office just before the Memorial Day weekend.

Debbie McLucas is one of four hospital supervisors at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield. Last week, she hung a three-by-five foot American flag in the office she shares with the other supervisors.

When McLucas came to work Friday, her boss told her another supervisor had found her flag offensive. "I was just totally speechless. I was like, 'You're kidding me,'" McLucas said.

McLucas' husband and sons are former military men. Her daughter is currently serving in Iraq as a combat medic.

Stifling a cry, McLucas said, "I just wonder if all those young men and women over there are really doing this for nothing."

McLucas said the supervisor who complained has been in the United States for 14 years and is formerly from Africa. McLucas said that supervisor took down the flag herself.

"The flag and the pole had been placed on the floor," McLucas said. But McLucas also said hospital higher-ups had told her some patients' families and visitors had also complained.

"I was told it wouldn't matter if it was only one person," she said. "It would have to come down."

McLucas said hospital bosses told her as far as patriotism was concerned, the flag flying outside the hospital building would have to suffice.

"I find it very frightening because if I can't display my flag," McLucas asked, "what other freedoms will I lose before all is said and done?"

Kindred Healthcare's corporate headquarters are located in Kentucky. We called them for comment when we were first working on this story Tuesday, but they did not return our calls.

Wednesday morning, however, our story received nationwide attention. We have received dozens of emails and comments from people who had something to say about it. And a receptionist at Kindred's headquarters told us they received many phone calls.

Then, late Wednesday morning, Kindred posted on its website a statement about the incident. It reads, in part: "The disagreement was over the size of the flag and not what it symbolized. We have invited the employee to put the flag back up."

 

[Delilah Roo]

I am very attached to my first amendment rights. That story is horrible. Flying one's american flag is free speach, in my opinion. Just like if I burn or do anything else to the flag it is free speech. That story is very suprizing. I think if the flag was hug on her wall space at work, they had no right to take it down. Some people are very passionate about what the american flag meens to them. People do not have to respect her beleifs, but they sould not F with her first amendment right.

I just want to add that I am not a flag person, I probably would of made fun of this woman behind her back at the office, but as long as it was in her space I would of left it alone.

--Respectfully, Delilah Roo

 

[Storm]

I'm not sure about this, Trey. The article you posted said the size was the issue, but it's a bit contradictory.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I'm not sure about this, Trey. The article you posted said the size was the issue, but it's a bit contradictory.

They said that after the fact. Sounds more like a cover their A kind of statement. I'm sure the management was just trying to avoid conflict and doesn't really care one way or the other. They don't think, they just react.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

They said that after the fact. Sounds more like a cover their A kind of statement.

Definitely.

I'm sure the management was just trying to avoid conflict and doesn't really care one way or the other. They don't think, they just react.

People feel very self-righteous and completely justified when they're "offended." Bad press is one of the few remedies for this.

 

[Storm]

They said that after the fact. Sounds more like a cover their A kind of statement. I'm sure the management was just trying to avoid conflict and doesn't really care one way or the other. They don't think, they just react.

It does indeed, but I find the alternative hard to believe.

 

[Nepenthe]

It does indeed, but I find the alternative hard to believe.

I'm with Storm on this one. Of course these things happen but I always wonder what kernel of info' may be missing.... I remember a similar flag issue here in Cali' where a gas station owner had something like 20 American flags at full mast and he was ordered by the city to remove some. The usual patriotic press hysteria jumped all over it when the truth was that the nearby residential area was complaining that the flags were incredibly loud snapping in the wind at night.
But I can't help but laugh and roll my eyes at this nonsense:
Stifling a cry, McLucas said, "I just wonder if all those young men and women over there are really doing this for nothing."
Yes, American troops invaded Iraq so she could display a flag at her desk.
:sarcastic

 

[3.14]

depends if its one of these

or one of these

 

[Don Penguinoini]

That is a BIG flag. A little too big. Maybe a smaller flag would have sufficed. The fact that someone found it offensive is silly.

Maybe all those stars are swearwords.

 

[Evee]

Yeah, I'm really not sure where the "offensive" part came into this. I presume the story took place in the US? How is it offensive to display a country's flag when in that country?! Weird. There's got to be more to this story that we just don't get through the article.
That woman is seriously melodramatic, though. Wow...

 

[whereismynotecard]

Referring to taking someone else's flag and throwing it on the ground, I'd say I don't think people should do that. Not because it is a flag, but because it belongs to someone else. If I had a notebook or a dollar or a pretty coat I wouldn't want someone to throw it on the ground.

But I think if someone wants to display a flag, as long as it isn't huge and obnoxious then they can go ahead. Just don't display it in a way that implies any sort of rivalry like "our country is better than yours," and don't hang up huge ones that will obstruct people's vision or get in the way of other signs and whatnot.

 

[Draka]

It all sounds like BS to me. If it was on a pole the only thing the flag was doing was hanging. It's not like it was somehow in someone's way unless she stupidly put the pole right in the middle of a walkway or doorway. It was inside, so not blowing anywhere. The size thing does sound like a ridiculous cover. Especially if the reason it was put up was for Memorial Day. It's not like she planned on having it up forever. Second, if it really was due to someone getting "offended"...that person should have been told that if they find the flag of the United States of America offensive then they have no business being in this country and to get the hell out of it. JMO

 

[Dezzie]

Um... another Countries flag should never be trampled on. Not unless you want to cause problems... You can have your pride, but if you have so much as to stomp on anothers? Wow........ That is no way to act. Your personal pride just goes down hill. If I saw someone do that act, I would see no pride for their Country what-so-ever. Everyone should be appreciated no matter where they are from.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Referring to taking someone else's flag and throwing it on the ground, I'd say I don't think people should do that.

Taking my flag down and throwing it on the ground could be hazardous to the persons health. :yes:

 

[Falvlun]

But McLucas also said hospital higher-ups had told her some patients' families and visitors had also complained.

This is what gets me. I could see a small number of people being offended by the American flag (displayed in America, that is), but to hear that a bunch of people were so offended by the symbol of the USA that they would complain about someone else's display of it, is a bit disheartening.

 

[Smoke]

I am very attached to my first amendment rights. That story is horrible. Flying one's american flag is free speach, in my opinion. Just like if I burn or do anything else to the flag it is free speech. That story is very suprizing. I think if the flag was hug on her wall space at work, they had no right to take it down. Some people are very passionate about what the american flag meens to them. People do not have to respect her beleifs, but they sould not F with her first amendment right.

She installed a 3x5 foot flag in an office she shared with other supervisors.

Would you support the free-speech right of anybody at all to hang whatever 3x5 foot item he wishes in his work space -- a space that is not his property and which he shares with others? That seems ludicrous to me, and I think the woman's arrogance is astounding.

 

[BucephalusBB]

She installed a 3x5 foot flag in an office she shared with other supervisors.

Would you support the free-speech right of anybody at all to hang whatever 3x5 foot item he wishes in his work space -- a space that is not his property and which he shares with others? That seems ludicrous to me, and I think the woman's arrogance is astounding.

I agree..
But then again, I don't get that flag thing americans have anyway. I couldn't care less what anybody would do to a dutch flag right in front of me, as long as I didn't pay for it.

 

[Storm]

I agree..
But then again, I don't get that flag thing americans have anyway. I couldn't care less what anybody would do to a dutch flag right in front of me, as long as I didn't pay for it.

We have certain flag taboos, one of which is never letting the flag touch the ground. I thought they were universal, was I wrong, or do you just not care? (Not a judgment, just a question.)

 

[BucephalusBB]

We have certain flag taboos, one of which is never letting the flag touch the ground. I thought they were universal, was I wrong, or do you just not care? (Not a judgment, just a question.)

We have certain taboos as well I believe. Wich ones I do not know though. And Indeed I do not care
I place very little value in symbols.

Small example, if it is possible to break your pride by throwing a flag on the ground, you need to check your pride again. But that's just me.

 

[sandandfoam]

I agree..
But then again, I don't get that flag thing americans have anyway. I couldn't care less what anybody would do to a dutch flag right in front of me, as long as I didn't pay for it.

ditto