robinb
DIS veteran
- Joined
- Aug 29, 1999
I was also raised by a Vietnam war veteran who voluntarily went on two deployments. In fact, I was a Navy brat and lived on military bases all over the US until I was 12. My father died while on active duty and after that 100% of my medical care was administered at Great Lakes Navel Air Base. I grew up in the military. I grew up on military bases. I grew up stopping for Taps and putting my hand over my heart for the National Anthem.I would have a problem with someone wearing the actual flag as clothing, or cutting the flag up and making clothes, or what have you with it.
I don't have an issue with using the American flag image in that way though.
I can't answer for everyone only myself.
I was raised by a Vietnam Veteran who taught me to respect our flag and what it stood for and that meant there were certain things you should never do to the (actual flag). Letting it hit the ground was one of those things, so I do cringe when I see it so carelessly handled and dropped. To some it is more than just a piece of fabric.
If to some that means I'm "fetishizing" it, so be it. I have no problem with that kind of insult, it pales in comparison to what I can say about those who don't respect it.
I have the flag that was on my father's coffin.
I have a flag that flew over the USS Arizona.
Still, the flag is simply a symbol. It is not the country itself. It seems that many in our country have replaced true patriotism with flag worship. THAT is what I mean by "fetishizing the flag".