Flags on helmets

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I might get crucified for posting this, but ... sometimes I think the flag etiquette thing gets a little out of hand. But I was never one to hold much reverance for symbols though anyway.

If you're in the military and you've spent a good part of your life adhering to strict regulations about the flag that's one thing, but come on -- it's not like Moses brought it down from Mount Sinai or anything. The NFL doesn't have to allow jack sh*t on their helmets if they don't want to.

I agree, non-issue in my book.

[hagams]

Schneed,
Agreed, I'm not to particular about this, but being military I do have respect for the Flag, and it's use. Please see below:

FEDERAL FLAG CODE:
PUBLIC LAW 94 - 344): para J:
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
I have absolutly no problem with anyone showing support by wearing the flag, however if your going to do it, please do so properly. I'm constantly untangling flags that's been wrapped around poles at people's house, or letting them know how to display it properly (including my parents at my last home-coming party).

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by angryssg

As a member of the U.S. military I pay close attention to uniforms on the football field. I think that it is great that all teams wear our flag on their helmets. It upsets me that they all wear it incorrectly with the excecption of the Army team. The reason that I say this is because the Stars of the Flag should always face foreword, because they never retreat. If you dont quite fully understand what I am talking about, then read on. Imagine that a players body is a flagpole and he is facing the enemy heading into battle. When he is viewed from the side the stars should be moving foreward. Since The traditional way that we View the flag is with the stars on the left, then that flag should be worn on the left side of the helmet. But all football teams wear them on the right (Army) excluded. If teams want to wear them on the right side as they do now, then they should get a reverse sided flag where the stars are on the right. You may have noticed that our soldiers wear the reversed sided flag on their right shoulders of their uniforms. I know that some of you will disagree with me and say that the flags are worn on the back of the helmet. No they are not because they are offset to the right rear of the helmet in which case the stars should be on the right when viewed. I am going to ask one of the admisistrators to start a petition to get flags across the country on the left side, the correct side of the helmet or get reverse sided flags for wear on the right.

good point

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Whether the stars are facing front or behind, I think 95% of the population couldn't care less. I don't mean to be flippant with the military's opinions, but honestly it's a non-issue to most people.

It's not just military code that dictates flag etiquette.

Ignorance, laziness or uneducation are no excuses for being disrespectful to the symbol of our nation.

If you're going to do it, educate yourself and do it properly. There ARE ways to display the flag that actually mean disrespect and hatred towards it.

Excellent points, angryssg and thanks for your service.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Buster

It's not just military code that dictates flag ediquette.

Ignorance, laziness or uneducation are no excuses for being disrespectful to the symbol of our nation.

If you're going to do it, educate yourself and do it properly. There ARE ways to display the flag that actually mean disrespect and hatred towards it.

Excellent points, angryssg and thanks for your service.

yeah appreciate it

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Buster

It's not just military code that dictates flag etiquette.

Ignorance, laziness or uneducation are no excuses for being disrespectful to the symbol of our nation.

If you're going to do it, educate yourself and do it properly. There ARE ways to display the flag that actually mean disrespect and hatred towards it.

Excellent points, angryssg and thanks for your service.

Whether or not it's disrespectful is completely a matter of intent vs interpretation. Do you think the NFL honestly means to be disrespectful or degrade our country by putting the flag on the wrong direction??

If this is interpreted as disrespectful, that interpretation has nothing more to do than an anal definition of flag usage. If you'd stop and think about the spirit of what the NFL is trying to do, rather than getting all caught up in what the friggin flag code says, you'd recognize the true intent of the gesture.

Which is to honor and support the United States of America.

[skinsfan_nn]

Red, White, and Blue! Love them hookies to

[Schneed10]

Why does every I need to be dotted and every T need to be crossed for people to understand that the NFL putting the flag on the helmet is a sign of support for the US?

I just don't understand it.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

No disrespect intended, but I care about this issue only enough to say I don't really care about.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

No disrespect intended, but I care about this issue only enough to say I don't really care about.

I'm with you here. But this is mainly an opportunity to show the world I can argue with the insomniac who shut 12 people up last night.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Whether or not it's disrespectful is completely a matter of intent vs interpretation.

Drop the touchy-feeling PC crap. If you accidentally hit someone with your car and hurt them badly, you shouldn't be left off the hook because you didn't INTEND to break their bones. If you accidentally vote for the wrong person, the vote still counts.

It's not a military issue, it's a responsibility and respect issue for the nation that gave you football in the first place.

I guess Urlacher's fine should be dropped because he didn't "intend" for Gatorade and the league to be offended, huh?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Buster

Drop the touchy-feeling PC crap. If you accidentally hit someone with your car and hurt them badly, you shouldn't be left off the hook because you didn't INTEND to break their bones. If you accidentally vote for the wrong person, the vote still counts.

It's not a military issue, it's a responsibility and respect issue for the nation that gave you football in the first place.

I guess Urlacher's fine should be dropped because he didn't "intend" for Gatorade and the league to be offended, huh?

That's pretty dumb. The LAW states that if you are at fault in an accident, you are financially liable and to the extent that you were negligent, criminally liable. The LAW is cut and dry on this.

On Urlacher, the NFL has a RULE that states if you wear a nonsponsored item to an NFL event, you get fined. Again, cut and dry.

This whole flag thing is based on a CODE. Not a law, not a rule. A code. There is a big difference. That code may be taken very seriously within the military, and that's fine. But outside of the military and the Boy Scouts of America, very few people are familiar with the code, let alone care strongly about it. The LAW is generally accepted by all citizens, because if you break it, you get punished. The NFL's RULES are generally accepted by all players because the CBA which they signed said so. This flag code is not generally accepted by the public. The reason that we haven't heard squat on the news regarding the NFL helmet flags is because nobody cares if the flag is facing front or backwards. They just see the flag and think oh cool, they're supporting the United States. Only a select few are anal enough to get their panties in a bunch over this.

The news media LOVES to make a controversy over things when there really isn't one. This is such a non-issue to people that not a single news outlet has run with a story alledging that the NFL is being disrespectful.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I agree with Daseal, this is getting too picky.

The flag is on there as support for our country as a whole, not just the military. The military has a view on how the flag should be displayed, but most people aren't tuned into those views. To most, the flag on the heads of the NFL players is just a nice show of support. Whether the stars are facing front or behind, I think 95% of the population couldn't care less. I don't mean to be flippant with the military's opinions, but honestly it's a non-issue to most people.

I agree 100% this is a total who cares issue. The flag is flying at the stadium and the Natl Anthem is sung what else needs to be done? IMO, nothing. Everyone has shown their respect/love/patriotism for the country and now its time to move on to the game. Its only football, not a rally for the USA. IMO, I dont think the flags even belong on the helmet or anywhere on the uniform as I the unis get dirty, etc. and in a way I see them as being used as a sort of decoration which I think is not the purpose of the flag.

[sandtrapjack]

Originally Posted by CRT3

Excellent point!!! I tried for years to get the American Flag a FEDEX lit up at night as they failed to do so. Finally after 3 years I talked to the Operations guy who promptly lit it for the next home night game. Ask them and they might actually respond.

Good point CRT! That point you brought up is actually a federal law and can be found in the Flag Code of the United States. If a flag is to be flown between the hours of sunset and sunrise, it is to be illuminated on all sides.

As a retired military man of 24 years I agree about the placement of the flags on the helments. That is the way it was on my uniforms in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Kope]

Wartime the stars are forward. Peace time the flag faces the other way. Look at how the flag was worn in the begining of bosnia and the way it is worn now.

Army Regulation 670-1, “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia,” updated most recently September 5, 2003, addresses explicitly the
proper and lawful placement of the U.S. flag patch on the Army uniform.

the date is from after the war started

As for the rest of the issue...I appriciate the NFLs support (I think it is great they send cheerleaders and players over to see us) and I think it is great the league incorperates flyovers and the national anthem etc..., I am not about to tell an american you says "Hey thanks for your service" - thanks but your flag is backwards. I am going to say thanks, and mean it.