Remember during the Gulf War (only 10 years ago!), many people had American flag decals on their car windows, American flag stickers on their car bumpers? Some (gasp) even flew American flags at their homes.

We should do this again. As a nation we need to do much more and I'm confident that we will, and soon. Bombs away. Butt the average citizen may be limited to patriotic gestures.

I was moved yesterday by the members of Congress standing on the capitol steps and singing "God Bless America". Sure, half of the time half these people are phonies. Sure, the partisan back stabbing will begin anew in two weeks. But for now there is a window of relative unity. I like it.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), September 12, 2001

Answers

Not a bad idea but not worth posting twice, dickwad.

-- (Roland@hatemail.com), September 12, 2001.

Lars,

Yes! We have a nice, big American flag in our schoolroom (homeschoolers)... don't know why I didn't think of putting it outside at this time.

Thank You! (a mom who has one of her sons in the armed services, and who is nervously hoping for the best.)

Jewel

-- Jewel (jewel_of_the_wind@yahoo.com), September 12, 2001.

I was just thinking about this subject today, Lars, and we were discussing at work as well.

Perhaps someone can post the specifics of hanging an American Flag. Yknow, the rules.

I heard today that you have to bring It in before the sun sets and that it cannot be rained or snowed on, cannot touch the ground ever, etc. Shameful to say, I had never known this (except for the "touching the ground" thing)

If anyone knows, please can you post it for me, and for my coworkers. Thanks

-- (cin@cin.cin), September 12, 2001.

Not sure how this will format, but here you go Cin:

How to Display the Flag

1. When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

2. The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right [that means the viewer's left -- Webmaster], and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

3. The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.

4. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.

5. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

6. When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.

7. When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

8. When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

9. That the flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

10. The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

11. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

12. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

-- Pammy (pamela_sue57@hotmail.com), September 12, 2001.

Good grief, that sounds unnecessarily complicated. We are not in the military. One thing, I think the flag is supposed to be flown only during day time but it can be flown at night if it is properly illuminated.

For me, decals in windows will suffice.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), September 12, 2001.

Thanks Pammy.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), September 13, 2001.

MY FATHER DIED FOR aMERICA, WW2. IF HE WAS ALIVE TO-DAY HE WOULD SAY ''GOD have mecy on us-we have fallen far from you!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), September 13, 2001.

Something simple we can all hope does not happen

The Reverand Jesse Jackson reappears to explain it all to us. I swear if I see that guy even close to the WTC ruins I am going to break something.

-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), September 13, 2001.

LOL Doc I actually agree with you on that one! I'd probably do the same thing!

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), September 13, 2001.

I heard on the radio that many tomorrow (sp) will be wearing Red White and Blue. Count me in.

-- (I@aint.sayin), September 13, 2001.