Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1

SEC. 4: That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organizations or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a): The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
(b): The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c): The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d): The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, b...

Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1

SEC. 4: That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organizations or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a): The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
(b): The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c): The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d): The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e): The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

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(f): The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g): The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h): The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.
(i): The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs ...

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(f): The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g): The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h): The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.
(i): The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
(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.
(k): The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way preferably by burning.

Every day, I see violations of the Flag Code, especially on Independence day and the following days. I have a neighbor who waited until midnight to dispose of a worn-out flag so no one else in the neighborhood would report him for burning a flag (which, pursuant to subsection (k) is the proper thing to do..

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On the 4th, at a park near my home, dozens of flags were left on the ground after the crowds were gone. Even more were tossed in trash cans. Yet if I had gathered all these and disposed of them properly in accordance with the law, I might have been arrested.

On 8 November 2001, the head of a non-violence group was questioned by authorities for not buying stamps with a flag design (see the details at http://www.progressive.org/mag_mcstamps). Since stams are disposable, they are in violation of subsection (i).

President Bush has autographed flags in violation of subsection (g). I saw a photograph of him delivering an address at the WTC site on 11 Septem...

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On the 4th, at a park near my home, dozens of flags were left on the ground after the crowds were gone. Even more were tossed in trash cans. Yet if I had gathered all these and disposed of them properly in accordance with the law, I might have been arrested.

On 8 November 2001, the head of a non-violence group was questioned by authorities for not buying stamps with a flag design (see the details at http://www.progressive.org/mag_mcstamps). Since stams are disposable, they are in violation of subsection (i).

President Bush has autographed flags in violation of subsection (g). I saw a photograph of him delivering an address at the WTC site on 11 September 2006 while standing on a flag mat.

There are 8 sections to the Flag Code, specifying everything from the times and dates it should be displayed to how to raise and lower it, how to salute it and how to display it with other flags. It's obvious to me, from what I can see, that the vast majority of Americans don't even know this law exists, let alone are familiar with its provisions.

Congress could easily pass a bill allowing enforcement of USC Title 4 Chapter 1, but then all the uber-patriots would have to quit their whining and posturing about a flag amendment.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be nice if people obeyed a public law, not out of fear of penalties, but simply because it's the right thing to do?

All I did was quote the law as written - it's part of US Code, not an opinion. But yes, those bikini bottoms are against the flag code, and it's out patriotic duty to collect all of them and make sure they're disposed of properly.

The Flag Code does not carry any legal penalties for violations; it's an advisory code only. However, if Congress were to enact a schedule of penalties, the FBI - or some other agency - could, in fact, launch those massive raids.

Addressing BitDrifter's opening post and REAL Napster's reply: you seem to think that protest and dissent are unpatriotic. You forget that the model of modern dissent is the Declaration of Independence, that the greatest act of protes...

All I did was quote the law as written - it's part of US Code, not an opinion. But yes, those bikini bottoms are against the flag code, and it's out patriotic duty to collect all of them and make sure they're disposed of properly.

The Flag Code does not carry any legal penalties for violations; it's an advisory code only. However, if Congress were to enact a schedule of penalties, the FBI - or some other agency - could, in fact, launch those massive raids.

Addressing BitDrifter's opening post and REAL Napster's reply: you seem to think that protest and dissent are unpatriotic. You forget that the model of modern dissent is the Declaration of Independence, that the greatest act of protest in modern history is the American Revolution, and without protesters and dissenters, we would still be part of the British Commonwealth.

“I don't believe in 'My country right or wrong'. My country wrong needs my help.”

— Peter Halsten Thorkelson