Confederate Flag / Political Flag
 

So I figured someone else would make the call because it's not my thing to do so but the Confederate Flag being flown over a Political Flag doesn't seem to good to me and upsets me greatly. I looked around the internet and see that the American Flag should be flown at the top. I like that. I don't really care about the Confederate Flag or Political Flag of any of the parties being flown but no American Flag? Not too good to me.

I called Community Watch and they said they have no jurisdiction over this particular issue. My question is who does or if I'm wrong let me know. This has been this way for about 2 weeks that I know of. It may have been there longer but that's when I noticed it. I have been leaving the premises on another route until this gets resolved. It's killing me and I could use a helping hand on who to call. I really don't want to call the Police because they are busy with other things but if I must I will.

What do you think? Just asking for a helping hand. Take it easy. My post is constructive.

Why don't you just drop by or send them a note to point out that according to flag etiquette the US flag should be above the other flags, in case they don't know. But if they choose not to swap their flags around I don't think there is much you can do about it. I must admit that I don't understand why this would bother you so much that you won't drive by the house in question, but we are all entitled to feel however we like about whatever we like.

Good luck getting them to resolve this issue.

kathy

Nucky, I admire your passion but the first amendment of our constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. If the flags in question are on private property, I believe the owner is free to display them as s/he wishes, unless there are local community rules barring them.

It is unfortunate. But just ignore it.

It is proper etiquette to fly the American flag above other flags. Even on private property. The only time the American flag is not flown higher than other flags, is when it is with flags of other countries. Then they should all be the same height. I would stop and politely ask the home owner to reverse them. He might not know that he has them backwards.

"Confederate Flag being flown over a Political Flag"

P. S. That is likely not the Confederate flag anyhow. Most people don't even know that the flag you are referring to is most likely th Virginia battle flag. The Confederate flag is the Stars and Bars. Look it up.

People today are so quick to hide their way of not being able to handle something by saying, " it offends me". Yet, you want people to see things your way. A lot of people are proud of this country and believe the men that fought for the confederacy did so because they were mad at the way the US Government was running the Country. Not about Slavery. They stood and fought behind that flag as the Confederacy and what they believed in. That's kind of where we are today in a lot of peoples minds. It is called Freedom of expression. Fighting for the 1st and 2nd amendments.

Read the post. It said “no American flag”.

Ok I’m confused! Is it the Confederate flag that aggravates or offends you so much? If that’s the situation man up and say so. If the Confederate flag is flying above a political banner why would you care? There is NO flag etiquette for that situation.

if, as the op posted, someone's flying a confederate ( battle flag presumably ) above a political ( undefined ) flag, why mention the u s flag ? irrelevant - the u s flag ( & attendant etiquette ), under which i also served, is not his comment / question

A number of posts were deleted as off topic or directed at others.

The topic is the rules and etiquette for flying flags in The Villages.

Moderator

After all the discussion about what the confederate flag stands for or the guessing the intent...it is not known whether the person is violating flag etiquette in error or making a statement?

Being neighborly curious, one could ask why they chose to fly the flag they way the have.

On a different issue or conflict and if they were my neighbor I would talk about it with them if I saw them outside. Knock on the door?? Not even a remote chance. I do understand your idea and 20 years ago maybe it would have worked for me but as of today that idea is a no go. I could ask you to go for me but I don't want to be disrespectful as you don't deserve that. Disrespect is what made me post in the first place but it wasn't the disrespect of a person it was the disrespect of The AMERICAN FLAG.

I don't want to stop someone from flying the other flags that are there now but the way I understand it THE AMERICAN FLAG is flown in the top position. My main QUESTION was who do I contact to have this corrected if in fact it is wrong. It seems wrong but I'm looking for help from someone who is in the know and confirmation that the AMERICAN FLAG should be present.

One of the replies I got so far the wildest one by far was was move back north. After reading my original post thats your answer? Are you the person with the flags I'm talking about? I did mention I was looking for guidance and was being constructive. I'm not trying to change anybody's feelings or view about the flags that are there now. What they think about those flags is not my business. The Flag that's missing is our business.

If the answer is that the flag configuration I mentioned is fine I guess I have to accept it. If someone know who to call please let me know.

This?

Political and Confederate Flags
 

I walk all over The Villages and find that all these political flags, stickers, signs, etc. do nothing more than divide rather than unite people. What is the point? I can understand taking a different route to avoid these divisive symbols.

My understanding is that if you have a permitted flag pole, you can fly whatever flags you want however you want. Etiquette is ignored around here in most matters so I'm not surprised it maybe ignored when it comes to flags also.

I took your advice and looked it up. You got me I was wrong. It was a Miami Dolphin Classic Flag. Ooops!

I'm going to stay constructive here. I and other Northerners are here to stay. If there is any moving to be done it won't be me or them but thanks for your constructive posts.

I guess the 2 questions are:

1) Whenever ANY flags are flown, does it have to include the American flag?, and

2) Are there deed restrictions that prohibit flying political or historically controversial flags? There are restrictions on signs and 6 inch garden gnomes so as not to offend neighbors, I would think this is even more offensive to some

I don't know if this is even reportable or to whom you can report it. Of course there are certain organizations that take even greater offense to the confederate flag, but I doubt you want to stir up that hornet's nest

Folks are offended way to easily in today's world. Just ignore it if you are offended.

I don't think there is a requirement to fly the American flag.

Bingo! I don't really want to stir up anything on any issue or be controversial. I figured that NOTHING could be done here or someone else would have taken care of it already. We are surrounded by so many Veterans and if this bothers me I can hardly imagine how they feel after risking everything for our Country and our Flag.

I think I'm going to give the Flag Store on 441 a call later today and ask the professionals for some guidance.

"I took your advice and looked it up. You got me I was wrong. It was a Miami Dolphin Classic Flag. Ooops! "

A Miami Dolphin flag set you off and triggered some responses by the habitually offended.
Good job!

Flag FYI:

Did you know that all of the "American Flags" on Main Street in Disney (except the big one in the circle in front of the train station that has the daily ceremony) are missing one star and one stripe so that they are not officially "American Flags" and therefore don't have to be taken down every evening?

I thought that was an interesting flag tidbit.

Big question-----I wonder if that is a "permitted" flag pole? No permit, remove it.

OP says there is no American flag at all.

Imho, the Confederate flag should be banned. When I see someone flying it, I cringe, think they are redneck and avoid them. I consider them low life and uneducated. Now, this may or may not be true of everyone, so dont go jumping down my throat, this is how I
FEEL Maybe a new flag could be made the represents the grievance southern states had but we all know slavery was the main issue, dont go sugar coating it.

LEAVE it alone No one would even know if you had not brought it to nows everyones attention...
whats next statues....

The answer is no - the American flag is not required to be flown on flagpoles. The rule is - IF you include the American flag on your flagpole, THEN it must be flown on top of any other flags on that flagpole.

You can fly a smiley face flag with the words "Have a Nice Day" on it, and not have to top it with the American flag. You can put the Virginia battle flag (the flag in question since - as someone else pointed out - it is NOT "the" confederate flag) on top of a picture of Mitt Romney kissing Miss Piggy, and not top it with the American flag.

But IF you put the American flag on that flagpole with Mitt and the VA battle flag, the American flag has to be closest to the finial on top.

All flags on the flagpole are optional. It's only the order they need to be in, WHEN they are included, that matters.

Really???? That's your approach to issues that may be controversial or offend at least some of the people in our open and free democracy???? Sweep it under the rug????

How would that have worked out for Women's suffrage? Segregation? Civil rights? Watergate?

The OP has every right to be offended, every right to share the origin of his consternation, and we all have the right to debate it. It's dictatorships and totalitarian societies that cover up and ignore such incidents.

Probably what matters even more (in the scheme of things) is:

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30243.pdf

The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions
John R. Luckey Legislative Attorney

Nature of Codification of Customs and Rules
The Flag Code is a codification of customs and rules established for the use of certain civilians and civilian groups. No penalty or punishment is specified in the Flag Code for display of the flag of the United States in a manner other than as suggested. Cases which have construed the former 36 U.S.C. § 17522 have concluded that the Flag Code does not proscribe conduct, but is merely declaratory and advisory.23

Ohiobuckeye
 

I guess I never gave it much thought about any flag flown with the American flag. I guess I always thought people that flew the Confederate flag were just proud of the south. I wouldn't bother TV about it because I can tell you they probably won't do anything because they're not going to start any problems. If I were you & it bothers you just keep what your doing now & just avoid going by this home. To me it's just a symbol to show how much these people love the south!

Pets with fake service vest Kinda the same thing

The confederate flag is a symbol Iftreason
 

The Us govt won the war against treason


In Germany you cannot fly the Nazi glad

The person flying this flag shows the ignorance they have with US history

If they are trying to prove a point,
The point is lost
It turns people off

And if they are trying to promote a candidate for public office,
This treason flag
Turns people off to that candidate

So it is a
Loose/loose for that persons point of view

???? That's your approach to issues that may be controversial or offend at least some of the people in our open and free democracy???? Sweep it under the rug????

How would that have worked out for Women's suffrage? Segregation? Civil rights? Watergate?

The OP has every right to be offended, every right to share the origin of his consternation, and we all have the right to debate it. It's dictatorships and totalitarian societies that cover up and ignore such incidents.[/QUOTE]

I know Nucky and his lovely wife and I think he was being witty. I know his head is on straight and when he says something I pay attention. Very rarely we see things differently but Nucky is a good person with sane views. He has changed my mind on issues. Good folks, the Nuckys.

"Upsets me greatly"....."It's killing me"...Personally I don't let other peoples opinions, flags, etc., bother me. It's simply not worth it. If it's not breaking any laws, just let it go. For me, it's God, family and friends, first. Nothing else is nearly as important. As you say in your last sentence, "Take it easy".

Seems kinda like you did.

My request was originally simple. Does anyone know who would handle this if indeed it is wrong? I did not have the answers to those questions. I still don't. The person who would handle my question at the Flag Store on 441 will be available tomorrow. I will certainly call

How someone could draw a conclusion on my Political Affiliation from my posts makes that person clearly Carnac The Magnificent. I truly don't care what the person flying those two flags thinks. It's not my business and I have no need to teach or school them in anyway or try to change their mind. My comment about the Miami Dolphin Flag being mistaken for a Confederate Flag was to illustrate that possibly I do realize the difference and I couldn't believe that questioning that could be possible. Of course I know or I wouldn't have named it a Confederate Flag in the first place.

Well here's the good news. Don't have any idea if it's a coincidence or because of our give and take here today but both flags have been taken down. Maybe they are out getting bigger ones? I never did and never would reveal the address where these flags were on our Forum and still after all the conversation we've had today we still have no verifiable proof of what the real rule is about the flags YET. This is one of the times documentation and a source would be great.

In any event like the kids say, it's all good. I really got a kick out of move back north if you don't like it. That's the ultimate spin on someone who started a thread looking for information.

Confused by your OP. WAS THERE an American Flag as well as the other 2 (for a total of 3)? If there was you have something to complain about (flag display protocol despite the fact there is no one to complain to who would do anything). If there was no American flag on the pole (for a total of 2 flags) there was nothing to disrespect other than maybe the person's political opinions for which there is the First Amendment and def nothing you can do.

About flags
 

What IS a flag, anyway? It is a piece of material (if on a pole) that can show any number of "feelings" the flyer has. Mostly, flags are used to identify pride in someone (Che Guevara, for example), or in something (Manchester United soccer).
From what I know, there are certain "types" of flags, such as team flags, corporate flags, school flags, culture flags, state/country flags, pirate flags, ideology flags and the like. Flags are symbolic, decorative, advertising, preachy, and so on.

As far as this thread: The flyer of the flag in question "appears" to want others to know where their fealty/heart is. That's, I think, akin to those who put bumper stickers on their cars. Some are funny, others are obnoxious, some don't make sense, some are preachy, some give away size of family. Still, I think telling someone they should move back to where they came from (if, like Nucky, they are POd by some flag) that that person is NOT among like-minded folks, well, the intimation is that there is NO PLACE in TV for "contrary" people. I wouldn't tell someone they are not wanted if they believe x, y, or z about anything 'cause I don't feel it's my place (if it's ANYBODY'S place) to tell another person that. I'm not their parent, their local cop, their judge. (Also, I don't want to get punched in the nose.)

I suggest we leave flag waving alone.

If another flag is on the pole with the American flag the American flag has to be on top. Now if you are in another country that country flag will be on top and the American flag below it. BS flags can be flown however the want as long as the American flag not on the pole. if it is it will be at the top.