1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

GI flies Flag upside down

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Salty, Jan 17, 2013.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
  2. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    I understand her frustration. Since it was her flags and her private property (off post) I hope she does not get punished.


    I suspect this display, intended to be a sign of distress, will become much more common if Obama does not back off.
     
  3. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,376
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    It was more a sign of protest than distress, dont you agree? BTW, I have been considering the same protest....especially up here in the NE.
     
  4. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    I don't know why it wouldn't be both a protest and a sign of distress.
     
  5. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,376
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You probably have a point but I view them as different. Im not sure how the Army code of conduct works... today! Does it change per administration?
     
  6. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2003
    Messages:
    26,806
    Likes Received:
    80
    Back during Vietnam this 'sign of protest' was seen as almost treasonous by the right.

    How things have changed.
     
  7. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    You're right. It was seen that way. I am sure in many cases it was. We'd have to look at the cases individually to know for sure.

    Hanging it upside down because you are opposed to a war being fought overseas is one thing. I believe it is treason to aide and abet our enemies. Being their voice here and abroad is an example this. Jane Fonda, John Kerry, and many others in our media are guilty of this, IMO.

    Hanging it upside down because of attacks stateside is another thing. Since our oath is to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic I believe it is not treason to hang the flag upside down in a time of direct attack from our own government.
     
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    So because of this one single person you want to paint the entire "right' by it? Really?
     
  9. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2003
    Messages:
    26,806
    Likes Received:
    80
    Americans still have a free vote. Just because votes don't go a certain way is no cause to take this step. This is a huge step in my mind. I find it as offensive now as I did then.
     
  10. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    I didn't expect any other response and that's your right, C4K.
     
  11. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2003
    Messages:
    26,806
    Likes Received:
    80
    The American people freely and legally elected President Obama in November. The constitution is working the way it was meant to work. An upside down flag is an appalling way to protest a legal election.

    If it is acceptable now then we have to accept to as a acceptable sign of protest by those who opposed an illegal and immoral war that did nothing but profit the US military industrial complex and killed tens of thousands of America's children.
     
    #11 NaasPreacher (C4K), Jan 18, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 18, 2013
  12. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    I am aware of your opinion on the matter.
     
  13. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    It's incorrect to call what Kerry or others did "treason." Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]."

    In other words you have to do something such as bearing arms against your parent country or assist a foreign government in overthrowing the country.
     
  14. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    There are many ways to do violence against a person or a nation. Nothing in the definition you posted demands a physical weapon to be used.

    The link below includes giving aid or comfort to our enemies. This is the clause I base my opinion on regarding those individuals. I understand many do not agree with me.

    http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A3Sec3.html
     
  15. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2003
    Messages:
    26,806
    Likes Received:
    80
    I agree. I would contend that the real enemy during Vietnam was our own government who traded soldiers lives in order to profit the weapons manufacturing firms. If you make weapons to build the economy you need someone to use those weapons.

    However, flying the flag upside down is not treason. It is simply a violation of the flag code for which there is no penalty. Those who did this during Vietnam had just a valid a point as this soldier in the OP .
     
  16. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Maybe their actions couldn't be prosecuted, but opposing points can't have equal validity unless they're both wrong. Where one is descrating the flag in support of a communist revolution, and another is flying the flag upside down to protest the violence being done to the Constitution, one is right and the other wrong.
     
  17. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2010
    Messages:
    3,942
    Likes Received:
    1
    From the article: "Flying a flag upside down is considered a sign of distress, and Section 176 of Chapter 10, Title 36 in the U.S. Code of Laws, referred to as the U.S. Flag Code, says the flag should be flown upside down only in “instances of extreme danger to life or property.”"

    I'm conflicted by this. Though I agree with the sentiment of the individual, I'm not sure that the reason doesn't cheapen the act of flying the Flag upside down; that is to say, I'm not sure that it's appropriate to do so for political reasons.
     
  18. Bob Alkire

    Bob Alkire New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2001
    Messages:
    3,134
    Likes Received:
    1
    My father would have agreed with you. He came back from WWII with a total dislike for our government. I think he believed that FDR was the antichrist. He would tell us don't discredit him by working for the government or being a democrat. When I taught in public school while in seminary it did violence to him, I didn't realize how much till after the fact.
     
  19. Bob Alkire

    Bob Alkire New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2001
    Messages:
    3,134
    Likes Received:
    1
    I agree!! So many of our so called political acts or reactions have cheapen our political actions. We as a nation have cheapen our care for our country and flag. So many of our Christians today are saying it is wrong to be a patriot or care for your country.
     
Loading...