How often do you notice people in America displaying the Confederate flag? When confronted, most of these folks claim that they are displaying their Southern Heritage and not a symbol of racism. Regardless of First Amendment rights, people who display the Confederate flag not only promote a questionable image, but often violate proper flag etiquette.
There are also many other violators of flag etiquette who tout flags of other countries here in the States without displaying the flag of the U.S.A. Visit a mosque located in a U.S. city and you will often view a flag that is not of this great country bannered without a separate and more dominant flag of the United States of America.
Forget race! Think about annual parades that take place in large metropolitan areas like NYC, where the flag of Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the U.S., is adorned on vehicles and people's apparel. Indeed, these demonstrations are meant to represent pride in the preservation of Puerto Rican culture here in the U.S. However, pride and heritage sometimes is racism in its most basic form—putting one group's race over another.
In the case of people displaying Confederate flags there is no rhyme or reason because the Confederacy no longer exists, right? So why display this flag. The Confederates lost and were taken down by the Civil War. The North won, so what is there to be proud about? Southern Heritage is a myth!
Moreover, it seems that people who display the Confederate flag either do not know about flag etiquette or they are just ignorant altogether...
Case in Point, according to shared thoughts on the popular and not so popular Web site, Wikipedia, Title 4 of the United States Code outlines the role of Flag of the United States, Great Seal of the United States, Washington, DC, and the States in the United States Code.
When flown with flags of states, communities or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor—to its own right. The other flags may be the same size but none may be larger.
No other flag should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation in time of peace.
At least here on American soil, we are supposed to be living in a time of peace. And, people who display the Confederate flag need to get the message that the "downed banner" that they are so proud of; only represents a period of separation in our county's past.
If you are going to display a flag, at least display the right one...the United States flag, which represents a country meant for ALL people and equality...regardless of race, creed, color or religion!
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The goal of FORGET RACE™ is to inspire you to forget about your ethnicity and unify with people like us, who want this country to be a place of true equality amongst its citizens—born here, naturalized or not!
To promote and teach acceptance of all people, regardless of race, please visit the Web site: Tolerance.org
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