Flying Large Flags In The Bed Of A Pickup

[Charlies.Contingency]

Well in my opinion wading in a Memorial pool in Portland Oregon bears about as much in common with flying an American flag as does skinny dipping on Omaha Beach. Whoever came up with the idea of moral equivalence told a whopper of a lie.

Is it your contention that those people believe they are demonstrating their patriotism?

Can you explain your point a little better for the benefit of us old schoolers?

Flag shirts? No. Are you now maintaining that the flags these people are flying are violating the flag code? What is your point? You either support flying the flag, (and the flag code says nothing about moving vehicles) or you don't. I'm a simple kind of guy - seems pretty straightforward.

I'm simply dumbfounded that the idea by some on here that when it comes to flying the flag everyone has to either fly it exactly like the committee on this forum says, or somehow you're just an OCT type looking for attention.

First off, you should calm down. I wasn't asserting any opinion or making any contentions . I only posted a pic and asked some questions to get some feedback.

For the record, I do not have a problem with people or kids flying the flag on their trucks as long as they take proper care of them and retire them properly once they become torn and tattered. I also do think some are doing it more for attention than true patriotism. However, that's their business.

Personally, I don't like to see the flag made into clothing. I would not wear such. However, I've seen others do it, including some old war vets and it's obvious they are going it out of pride for their country. I overlook my personal taste.

As far as the war memorial pool, I was just asking as this picture has been circulating on Facebook and has drawn the ire of many while some say they are not being disrepectful and they are showing their respects by being there and that's enough.

Jumping to conclusions helps in ginning up a debate and argument but seldom serves one well. I was only looking for opinions and you chose to try to make an argument based on what you assumed were my "contentions".

If you just want to argue, I let others come join your game as I'm not interested. If you want to respond and offer your opinions, I read and consider them.

I'm with Mojo for the most part. I support the flag no matter where it flies or who flies it. I do have my "preferences" on how it should be flown, but that's just as opinionated as choosing your EDC and carry style.

I like carrying my caliber, in my make, in my gun, in my way. It may not be tasteful to you, but I'm certain you'll support me in my right to carry, just as I would support you in your "odd to me" ways.

It's all opinion, and as of yet, I really haven't seen any real maliciousness towards anybody, aside from comparing them to OCT, which is truly unfair to judge the whole as such. Which is why I stated that even I fly flags out the back of my truck, though I admitted that I found it distasteful how others flew their flags. All in good cheer.

[ShootDontTalk]

First off, you should calm down.

I am calm. I'd probably violate some forum rules if I wasn't.

I wasn't asserting any opinion or making any contentions . I only posted a pic and asked some questions to get some feedback.

That is exactly what you got from me - some feedback.

For the record, I do not have a problem with people or kids flying the flag on their trucks as long as they take proper care of them and retire them properly once they become torn and tattered.

Okay. No problems. I agree 100%. However, this is what you posted with your picture:

Is this acceptable exercise of one's rights? They are visiting the memorial after all.

It's pretty hard to get from this to what you posted later without trying to read your mind. I responded to the people in the pool. I stated they didn't look to me like they were expressing their patriotism by flying a flag. I think my statement is true. I asked you for clarification.

As far as the war memorial pool, I was just asking as this picture has been circulating on Facebook and has drawn the ire of many while some say they are not being disrepectful and they are showing their respects by being there and that's enough.

Fair enough. I still don't see what that has to do with the subject of flying an American flag from a pickup, which is what the discussion was about, but they do not appear to me to be waving a flag and celebrating America. I think their feet got hot.

I also do think some are doing it more for attention than true patriotism. However, that's their business.

I wish you could have said that to the young lady whose brother is a Marine and the young man whose dad is an AF Recruiter I spoke with last night. My previous post addressed painting people with a broad brush. Some may be as you say. As for me, I'd have to talk to them before I would ever criticize. They get the benefit of my doubt.

Jumping to conclusions helps in ginning up a debate and argument but seldom serves one well. I was only looking for opinions and you chose to try to make an argument based on what you assumed were my "contentions".

I think if you will look at what you posted with the picture, some jumping seems in order since you offered nothing to go on. I was hardly jumping to conclusions about flag shirts. You raised the issue. I questioned the relationship. If you don't want people guessing what you're trying to say, say it. I know. I have the same trouble.

If you just want to argue, I let others come join your game as I'm not interested. If you want to respond and offer your opinions, I read and consider them.

I have no interest in an argument for the sake of argument -especially about the American flag. At the risk of getting another big response, I hardly think people flying the American flag is a game. That is what the discussion is about, not people wading and wearing flag T-shirts.

Trust me when I say that I would far rather not have seen any comments about how people flying the American flag are somehow like OCT'ers with a pathological need for attention. How about we just agree that flying the flag of our great nation, over whom so much blood has been spilled, is a good thing and move on?

[Javier730]

It's all opinion, and as of yet, I really haven't seen any real maliciousness towards anybody, aside from comparing them to OCT, which is truly unfair to judge the whole as such.

In my opinion, the guys flying HUGE flags are doing it for attention. My comment comparing them to OCers was not comparing to all OCers, just the ones who obviously do it for attention, like the ones who are walking around Wal-Mart recording and then posting peoples reactions and them arguing with police on YouTube.

[Right2Carry]

Well in my opinion wading in the WWII Memorial (sorry I didn't look carefully) bears about as much in common with flying an American flag as does skinny dipping on Omaha Beach. Whoever came up with the idea of moral equivalence told a whopper of a lie.

Is it your contention that those people believe they are demonstrating their patriotism?

Can you explain your point a little better for the benefit of us old schoolers?

Flag shirts? No. Are you now maintaining that the flags these people are flying are violating the flag code? What is your point? You either support flying the flag, (and the flag code says nothing about moving vehicles) or you don't. I'm a simple kind of guy - seems pretty straightforward.

I'm simply dumbfounded that the idea by some on here that when it comes to flying the flag everyone has to either fly it exactly like the committee on this forum says, or somehow you're just an OCT type looking for attention.

Forgive me, but I think this is a discussion we shouldn't be having on this forum. Hufpost? Maybe.

[ShootDontTalk]

In my opinion, the guys flying HUGE flags are doing it for attention.

Hmmmm....how do you feel about those football field sized flags at NFL games? And what about the huge flags flying atop the Capitol? Might they be trying to speak to you?

Sorry, I almost forgot, restraint, restraint [restraint on]: what about carrying big pistols? [restraint off]

My comment comparing them to OCers was not comparing to all OCers, just the ones who obviously do it for attention, like the ones who are walking around Wal-Mart recording and then posting peoples reactions and them arguing with police on YouTube.

I'm sorry, I just don't think that 99.99% of the gun owners in the United States, or even Texas, could connect those dots. Most places in this world flying an American flag doesn't get cops and cell phone videos, it brings bullets, mortars and IED's. I guess today, in Texas, doing so earns you a place with C.J. Grisham.

I know somebody isn't going to like this, but I really think some people on this forum need to find something in life other than this obsessive preoccupation with people who open carry.

[The Annoyed Man]

I fly a flag next to my front door, every day. But I agree that flying big flags of any kind in the bed of a pickup is a sad and desperate "hey look at me" statement.........

I'm pretty sure the young people I spoke to yesterday would disagree with you, as they did with me. We should learn what it means to paint everyone with a broad paint brush. That brush might be used on us one day.

I also think it won't be long before these displays hit the major media:

http://thechive.com/2015/05/20/a-boy-to ... xb73r:mjRT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think you're going to find a lot of people on the other side of the "hey, look at me" argument.

You could be right, and I could be wrong. That's just my impression. And I'm not saying that they shouldn't do it, or that it is somehow immoral or wrong.......I just don't think it is being done by people whose primary personal characteristic is modesty.

But if he wants to do it, that's fine....... so long as the flags aren't so big that they begome a traffic hazard. At that point, it's no longer a harmless thing.

One other thing........ and I've seen this myself on a couple of occasions, both on the road, and roadside..... and that is the tendency of some people to let their flags get badly tattered from being in the wind all the time. I've seen this in the back of pickup trucks, and I've seen it alongside highways. There is some guy who has a flag on his front gate along 199 going up toward Poolville, and it is so tattered that it's only about 50% there. To me, that's not right.

[ShootDontTalk]

[Charlies.Contingency]

I decided a while ago that I've said enough on this thread. I think you, TAM, and myself have similar views on this topic, and I'm certAin that we could could nick-pick each other for weeks on this topic.

[jmra]

You'll get a headache doing that.

[mojo84]

First off, you should calm down.

I am calm. I'd probably violate some forum rules if I wasn't.

I wasn't asserting any opinion or making any contentions . I only posted a pic and asked some questions to get some feedback.

That is exactly what you got from me - some feedback.

For the record, I do not have a problem with people or kids flying the flag on their trucks as long as they take proper care of them and retire them properly once they become torn and tattered.

Okay. No problems. I agree 100%. However, this is what you posted with your picture:

Is this acceptable exercise of one's rights? They are visiting the memorial after all.

It's pretty hard to get from this to what you posted later without trying to read your mind. I responded to the people in the pool. I stated they didn't look to me like they were expressing their patriotism by flying a flag. I think my statement is true. I asked you for clarification.

As far as the war memorial pool, I was just asking as this picture has been circulating on Facebook and has drawn the ire of many while some say they are not being disrepectful and they are showing their respects by being there and that's enough.

Fair enough. I still don't see what that has to do with the subject of flying an American flag from a pickup, which is what the discussion was about, but they do not appear to me to be waving a flag and celebrating America. I think their feet got hot.

I also do think some are doing it more for attention than true patriotism. However, that's their business.

I wish you could have said that to the young lady whose brother is a Marine and the young man whose dad is an AF Recruiter I spoke with last night. My previous post addressed painting people with a broad brush. Some may be as you say. As for me, I'd have to talk to them before I would ever criticize. They get the benefit of my doubt.

Jumping to conclusions helps in ginning up a debate and argument but seldom serves one well. I was only looking for opinions and you chose to try to make an argument based on what you assumed were my "contentions".

I think if you will look at what you posted with the picture, some jumping seems in order since you offered nothing to go on. I was hardly jumping to conclusions about flag shirts. You raised the issue. I questioned the relationship. If you don't want people guessing what you're trying to say, say it. I know. I have the same trouble.

If you just want to argue, I let others come join your game as I'm not interested. If you want to respond and offer your opinions, I read and consider them.

I have no interest in an argument for the sake of argument -especially about the American flag. At the risk of getting another big response, I hardly think people flying the American flag is a game. That is what the discussion is about, not people wading and wearing flag T-shirts.

Trust me when I say that I would far rather not have seen any comments about how people flying the American flag are somehow like OCT'ers with a pathological need for attention. How about we just agree that flying the flag of our great nation, over whom so much blood has been spilled, is a good thing and move on?

[Javier730]

In my opinion, the guys flying HUGE flags are doing it for attention.

Hmmmm....how do you feel about those football field sized flags at NFL games? And what about the huge flags flying atop the Capitol? Might they be trying to speak to you?
Sorry, I almost forgot, restraint, restraint [restraint on]: what about carrying big pistols? [restraint off]

When I said guys flying HUGE flags, I meant people flying HUGE flags in their pickup trucks. Not any flags anywhere else. I forgot I have to be very specific for some people. Maybe I should of said (err, uhh typed) vehicles instead of pickups. As for your restraint, it isnt necessary. I got my chl because I knew certain people have problems restraining themselves.

My comment comparing them to OCers was not comparing to all OCers, just the ones who obviously do it for attention, like the ones who are walking around Wal-Mart recording and then posting peoples reactions and them arguing with police on YouTube.

I'm sorry, I just don't think that 99.99% of the gun owners in the United States, or even Texas, could connect those dots.

ShootDontTalk for you and anyone else in the United States or even Texas. MY Opinion=HUGE flags flown from vehicles & OCers with ARs at Wal-Mart are Attention Seekers. There is not much dots to connect. I cant make it any easier for you..sorry.

[mojo84]

Maybe this will help.

[dale blanker]

I wonder why so many folks feel the need to fly a flag whether it's the US flag, Texas flag, Confederate flag, or other. I assume it's a matter of pride in some cases or trying to make a statement in other cases but who cares? I assume the guy next to me on the road or down the street is about as patriotic as I am and don't need to see "proof". It seems like the only country that flies flags more than we do in the US is the Islamic State (ISIS).

The other thing that makes no sense to me is to say of the pledge of allegiance as frequently as some political or social groups seem necessary. It makes some sense at the beginning of a season of an activity but at every meeting or every event? And what are those who say the pledge really promising to do differently? Again does anyone care? I put my hand over my heart to show respect for the flag but skip saying anything. Actually I much prefer singing the National Anthem because it's a lot more fun and really means so much - and sometimes I do get a little choked up.

I obey the law, pay my taxes, served in the military, have volunteered for some worthwhile causes, and try to be a good neighbor. Do I still need to show the flag or say the pledge?

[jmra]

I've never viewed any of those things as a duty but rather as a privilege and an honor. But I guess that's just me.

[Glockster]

I fly my U.S. Flag every day for the same reasons that I served in my military career, and because I can -- which is a reminder that I can fly it because of anyone and everyone that has served in the military. And I have a second mount that I use to fly historical flags from the Revolutionary War period, because I think that they're interesting and it gives me something to talk about with my neighbors who also find them interesting. And when I fly those early flags, from when we were colonies, I'm then reminded why flying my U.S. Flag was and is important. If someone doesn't want to fly the U.S. Flag, that is of course their right. And when someone wants to fly their U.S. Flag -- as large or as small as it might be -- I am reminded of why I also fly mine, and I view that as their way of saying thank you.