Autographing the American Flag at the Mosconi Cup???

dr9ball

dr9ball

"Lock Doctor"
Silver Member
I noticed Dennis Hatch was displaying what appeared to be an American Flag that some if not all of the US Team had signed. It may have just been some material that looked like a US Flag.

2012MosconiCupUSFlag.jpg


However, IF it was a US Flag. How do people feel about this? Is it desecration of the US Flag? Does it even matter to people anymore?

Here's a link to the US Flag Code for reference.

Chapter 1: Section 8:G

(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.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt
 
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Ouch. Definitely see the issue here. This should make for an interesting discussion.

While every U.S. citizen SHOULD know that it's against "code and conduct".....I'd probably gently tell the team that autographing it isn't "the right thing to do", in respect to the flag and country.

Hopefully they wouldn't do it again and I certainly wouldn't harshly berate them over it.

It honestly probably didn't even cross their mind. They probably just thought they were doing something nice for a fan.
 
I'm on the fence

I do dislike whenever a flag is allowed to touch the ground
Or whenever other flags , like state flags, are flown at same height as national flag
 
While the "code and conduct" are stated, maybe it's not such a bad thing. They all signed the flag and gave it to team Europe and Europe did the same? Honestly, I can't see a better reason to break a rule, so to speak, than to present your country in that manner. For whatever reason it was signed, I'm sure it was not done in any disrespect or less than tasteful reason. Just my .02.
 
dr9ball said:
I noticed Dennis Hatch was displaying what appeared to be an American Flag that some if not all of the US Team had signed. It may have just been some material that looked like a US Flag.

However, IF it was a US Flag. How do people feel about this? Is it desecration of the US Flag? Does it even matter to people anymore?

Here's a link to the US Flag Code for reference.

Chapter 1: Section 8:G

(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.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt
Click to expand...

Since the "code" you cited was promulgated by Members of Congress, it is true that VASTLY more harm than good has been done to this nation by the often mindless and counter-productive claptrap they issue as statutes.

In the same Code comes this bit of UTTER NONSENSE appears...(referring to non-military persons viewing the flag at public events.

"All other persons present should face the flag
and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if
applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold
it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart."

Can you IMAGINE THAT???? A bunch of Congresspeople telling us WHICH HAND we have to use to remove our HATS?????

If they would keep their BIG FAT NOSES out of our lives we would be a LOT better off.

As for signing the flag...the Mosconi Cup is an international event and I am sure nothing but RESPECT was shown by the players signing the flag.

Besides, the First Amendment has been ruled to have virtually done away with any illegalitiy regarding treatment of the flag. That is THE LAW OF THE LAND. So, I for one...have MUCH more respect for our Constitution than any stupid little Codes coming from Congresspeople...most of whom ought to be ashamed of themselves most of the time...but NEVER are.

EagleMan
 
tank69 said:
While the "code and conduct" are stated, maybe it's not such a bad thing. They all signed the flag and gave it to team Europe and Europe did the same? Honestly, I can't see a better reason to break a rule, so to speak, than to present your country in that manner. For whatever reason it was signed, I'm sure it was not done in any disrespect or less than tasteful reason. Just my .02.
Click to expand...

I didn't see that they presented the flag to Team Europe. I will have to view the replay.
 
THEY DID WHAT!!!

Seriously people, this is CRAZY outrageous. Who do they think they are, writing on the American flag? I've gone ahead and notified the Secret Service. They told me that they will dispatch Team America to handle the situation.

Hopefully they let Team CJ Mullet Wiley beat the Europeans before executing them and getting blood stains all over the brand new 860. That stuff NEVER washes out!
 
SkyscraperChris said:
THEY DID WHAT!!!

Seriously people, this is CRAZY outrageous. Who do they think they are, writing on the American flag? I've gone ahead and notified the Secret Service. They told me that they will dispatch Team America to handle the situation.

Hopefully they let Team CJ Mullet Wiley beat the Europeans before executing them and getting blood stains all over the brand new 860. That stuff NEVER washes out!
Click to expand...

So far, it doesn't seem to matter to anyone. Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your sarcasm.
 
No, it does matter anymore. It only matters to those who take their country pride waaaay too far. They did absolutely nothing disrespectful. Intent is a major factor. If they were an anti-American terrorist group, and defaced the flag, then I MIGHT have a problem. But even then, so what? It's a flag. There are zillions of them.
 
Not only does it not matter anymore, it never did matter. A flag is a bit of cloth and a gesture (like burning it or signing it) is a way of communicating an idea. The idea is always what counted, not the nylon.
 
SkyscraperChris said:
No, it does matter anymore. It only matters to those who take their country pride waaaay too far. They did absolutely nothing disrespectful. Intent is a major factor. If they were an anti-American terrorist group, and defaced the flag, then I MIGHT have a problem. But even then, so what? It's a flag. There are zillions of them.
Click to expand...

RIGHT!!! Hey...many of us would CHOOSE not to sign a flag (which I agree exhibted zero intent to be disrespectful) and would never actually do anything disrespectful to it...but hundreds of thousands of brave American men and women have given their lives so that we CAN exercise "free speech" in any way we want...so long as we do no harm to other people in the process.

So, the CONSTITUTION says you can throw the flag on a bonfire if you want....and I say GO AHEAD. I'll personally hate your guts for doing it....but I'll do so silently because you will have just exercised your RIGHT as an American.

Tough to swallow but TRUE.

EagleMan
 
I think the attitudes being displayed here are a signifier of what's going on in this country. As you can see, I rarely post, but these remarks got me thinking. People have no pride in their country anymore, simple as that. I agree that signing the flag is not a horrendous offense, but no, it's not right and it is disrespectful.

Many of you say, "who cares"? You should. We all are so wrapped up in how something affects "me" that we no longer consider what that event means to anyone else. Who cares, right?

You're right, it's a piece of cloth. But it's a piece of cloth that represents this nation and its people, its ideals and values. Maybe it's because we've become a nation of self-centered narcissists and our national ideals and values have disappeared that we no longer care for our country and therefore our flag.

I don't think signing it is a reason to have them arrested, or to even get a little riled up over, but it's just my opinion that no, it should not have been done and people should not be so flippant about it.
 
Hobbes said:
I think the attitudes being displayed here are a signifier of what's going on in this country. As you can see, I rarely post, but these remarks got me thinking. People have no pride in their country anymore, simple as that. I agree that signing the flag is not a horrendous offense, but no, it's not right and it is disrespectful.

Many of you say, "who cares"? You should. We all are so wrapped up in how something affects "me" that we no longer consider what that event means to anyone else. Who cares, right?

You're right, it's a piece of cloth. But it's a piece of cloth that represents this nation and its people, its ideals and values. Maybe it's because we've become a nation of self-centered narcissists and our national ideals and values have disappeared that we no longer care for our country and therefore our flag.

I don't think signing it is a reason to have them arrested, or to even get a little riled up over, but it's just my opinion that no, it should not have been done and people should not be so flippant about it.
Click to expand...
You're right, it is a signifier. One that tells us that we aren't in 1900. Times change. Our priorities don't need to be our flag's integrity. Our priorities are global warming, equal rights for all citizens, and an end to oil dependence.

But the conservative types, like those who are offended by flag incidents, don't want any of that, see things in terms of black/white, wrong/right, good/evil, and would rather shoot such flag offenders with their Wal-Mart shotguns. Grow up. America has not been hurt.
 
It's only a piece of cloth but we all know a country's flag has considerable meaning. And so, as *guidelines,* there are various "codes" pertaining to how an American flag should be treated.

IF it was indeed an American flag, I honestly doubt any kind of disrespect was intended by the players. And most "civilians" are not as familiar with the proper handling of a US flag as those who have served in government and the military typically are. However, by generally accepted standards, signing it or defacing it in any way would be wrong.

I'm a vet -- did my 20 in the USAF. My hair did not burst into flames when I read about this. But it did bother me nonetheless. What I would suggest -- if it's a US flag -- that someone inform the players and that they discontinue what they are doing and dispose of the flag properly.

They're representing our country. At the minimum they could show our flag proper respect.

Lou Figueroa
 
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I apologize if someone has already brought this up......but:

What if the Your-a-peein team won it all, and then they all signed an American flag as some sort of poke at us....

Just a piece of fabric?
 
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