Patriotism First Means Respect for our Constitution's First Amendment.

Ray,
I'll capitulate that a little kid flying a Mexican flag on the back of a bicycle is really just mox nix. It's nothing to get excited about. We haven't been at war with Mexico in many years. Our nations currently have a friendly relationship despite the problems. Ancestors of people killed during wars with Mexico might get much more excited about it than me.

If it is the USSR Sickle and Hammer, Swastika, or a North Korean flag (the only nation the USA is officially still at war with), being flown from the back of the bicycle that might get me to wondering about the kids parents, Freedom of expression? Yes. Possible incitement of violence? Definitely. Display of support for an enemy is something Jane Fonda did during the Vietnam War, and I and many veterans consider that despicable and treasonous.
I do not ever want to travel the streets of this nation and see neighborhood after neighborhood, city after city, of some other nations flag flying in the highest position of honor in place of old glory.

If a citizen of the United States of America is panicked over corruption by government and feels the urgency to fly the US flag upside down in distress, I support that right, as a matter of freedom of expression. (Government thugs kicked in the door of a home and assaulted a guy in Asheville who flew the flag upside down as a sign of distress during the Bush administration). I also support someones' right to set the US flag on fire in protest of the corrupt and abusive government which has stopped being representative. I might disagree with the political idealogy that drove the person to be so enraged, but I defend that right to expression, even if it tears me up to see the flag on fire. Like many of us, I descend from a long line of people who fought on the front lines in battles, War has taken its' toll on my family. know the importance of the flag on the battlefield as an advancement of conquered position. It is the staking of a claim and a promise to defend that position.
I would never raise the Confederate States of America (CSA flag) in the highest honored position of honor over my home. I support the right of people to have rebel flags in their homes. I had a small one once and put it on a vehicle. I've had CSA flag stickers on my helmet, even though one of my ancestors was a Union soldier. There is no longer a CSA government. SC had some CSA symbolism as part of their state flag. People made a big deal of it, but I saw nothing wrong with it, because it was artwork as part of their history and heritage, and the flag itself was not a CSA flag.

Mexico is a foreign nation on our southern border. If property owners along the American border with Mexico began flying Mexican flags at the highest position of honor over the land, it would be a claim that the property is within the territories of the nation of Mexico.
As international companies buy more and more property in territorial USA, are we going to see Chinese or Russian flags flying all over the land? I'm sure it won't be allowed. Here's something to think about...Would anyone here fly a North American Union flag or pledge allegiance to the flag of the North American Union, and to the New World Order which it serves? There are people in very high places who would.
If I were young and in battle, the US Flag is the only flag I would die for in order to raise to show the taking or holding of that position. I have seen videos of protesters in America taking down a US flag and putting up a flag of the nation of Mexico in its' place on a flagpole in California. This was absolutely wrong to do. Some people look at it as a display of unity for their people, and I understand that completely, but they need to understand that the raising of another nations flag is a claim of territory by the Mexican government, and Americans have died in the field of battle fighting for one hill at a time. So I don't see it as freedom of expression but an act of claiming territory for the government of another nation.
I'm of Scottish heritage (and English and native American) and would like to have a Scottish flag - it's a nice looking flag, and the government is an ally. Would I put it on a helmet sticker? Sure! Bring a small Scottish flag to the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain? Probably, as a sign of respect and solidarity with the people. Run it up the flagpole in place of the USA flag? No, I know better.
jan

Ray is correct, as usual, and First Amendment rights allow someone to express themselves by flying a Mexican, Irish, Italian, etc flag on their premises, property or on clothing they wear. The flag protocols for our country instruct that if another nations flag is flown near the American flag, it must be lower than the American flag. That holds true for state flags or flags of organizations also. There's a lot more to it, and you can find the correct protocols by searching for flag protocols. It gets pretty descriptive and there's a lot of info about it. Certainly, we should not disrespect anyone's right to fly any flag they want under the protections of the First Amendment. To do otherwise is hypocritical when we espouse defense of our Contstitution. The line must be drawn when people disrespect the flag (even that has been considered a right of expression in some courts) or when protocol isn't followed, like when the Mexican business flew the Mexican flag above the American flag and a veteran was caught on film cutting down the American flag and taking it into his protection and dropping the Mexican flag to the ground in disgust. I can relate to his anger there. Pride in one's heritage is rampant in Milwaukee and during the summer there are a number of ethnic festivals weekly on the Summerfest grounds (where Harley holds it's celebrations every five years). Polish, German, Italian, Mexican, Asian and Native Americans are among the festivals flying national flags every summer, with no complaints from anyone. Before criticizing or condemning someone for flying another country's flag, consider how the flag is displayed and the protections under the Constitution for doing this. Forget about what other countries do or allow. That has no relevance. This is America and we allow diversity and preach freedom of thought and expression. If we choose whose freedoms or expressions we allow, we are nothing but hypocrites.

Pan

If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room
Ray,
IMO, yours is best post on the issue. You expressed yourself magnificently, and I agree with you on all counts.
The issue is emotional, understandably so. (My husband is a retired Vietnam Vet and still despises Jane Fonda.)
I would add that, in essence, our flag symbolizes our Constitution and all that it embodies, and it is sacred to many - the way a cross may be a sacred representation of Christianity. But, the cross is NOT Christianity; our flag is NOT the Constitution. As patriots, our first duty is to assert our Constitutional rights and to tolerate others' inalienable right to express themselves. Because in the end, the Constitution supersedes the symbol.
TigerLily
Southwest Ad Manager/Correspondent
QuickThrottle Magazine
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