What's in a Flag?

David Sedaris has said that when he travels, he likes to ask people questions like "what are your local gun laws?" and "what do you do for Christmas?". I've decided that I'm going to start asking "what do you do with your flag?".

In the United States of America, we have a series of regulations to dictate what is or is not to be done with the American flag. There are rules about how to fold it, carry it, display it, dispose of it, and what you generally may or may not do with it. Some of them are pretty straightforward and make complete sense without leaving much room for debate. For example, if you want to fly an American flag along with that of another country with whom we are not actively at war, you can, but they need to be flown at the same height. Some rules, such as the particular triangular folding pattern to be used when storing a flag, seem to be in place to give a sense of ceremony when handling it. Some might see that as nitpicky, but I can appreciate the occasional slowing down to reflect upon that which the flag represents.

Some other regulations are a bit more controversial. There is one that states that the flag must never lie flat upon the surface below it, such as the ground. For this reason, it was remarked upon with varying degrees of snark when then-President George W. Bush and his wife stood upon a rug that featured the image of the Stars and Stripes. Some people thought it was ironic and remarked upon the obvious symbolism this could reflect. Others said they were offended that the flag would be depicted on a floor mat at all. Still others said things like "it's just a rug. Get over it."

This commentary was still nothing to the response Kid Rock received after appearing at the 2004 Super Bowl (yep - the same one famous for that other wardrobe malfunction), wearing a flag as a poncho. I remember how profoundly offended my friend's father, a Senior Chief in the Navy, was by this. He felt that this was a profound desecration of the flag and a slap in the face to all of the servicemen and women who put their lives on the line for all that it represents. The federal flag regulations are with him on this, stating that the flag shall never be worn as a garment. Still, not that I'm holding Kid Rock up as any kind of moral paragon or even fashion icon, in an interview with the Daily Mail, he said:

I don’t regret it. At the end of they day I’m pretty vocal about America and our soldiers. It was just my way of expressing my patriotism.

These two examples, to me, illustrate an interesting disparity in logic. For the most part, it seemed that the same people who said "it's just a rug, Get over it." are the same ones who were most offended by Kid Rock's flag poncho. Would it have been different if Pres. Bush had been standing on an actual flag, instead of a mat bearing its image, or if Kid Rock had been wearing a t-shirt bearing the image of a flag, instead of a garment made from a real one? It's tough to draw clear lines while still allowing for freedom of expression.

Because of all of these rules, regulations, and controversies that have just been a part of the backdrop of the society in which I was raised, it was surprising to me to see my Scottish friends, along with several thousand strangers, crowding together in a sea of flags and tartan as they marched toward Hampden Park to support the national football (soccer, that is) team. Some wore their flag like a cape, tied together at the short end and left to flow and flutter behind them, letting every fan take on the persona of a patriotic super hero. Others wore them like a shawl, literally wrapping themselves in national pride, while adding the symbolism of the flag protecting their bodies from the cold night air. It's a beautiful thing to behold, and there is absolutely no room for offense to be taken at the sight. These are the same people who, when the Scottish team was down and in need of encouragement, sent 50,000 voices raised in the national anthem. I'm actually getting a little choked up thinking about it, so strong was the outpouring of hope and pride that rode on every note.

Not that it's likely, but if Kid Rock had been the celebrity guest singing Flower of Scotland, and wore a Scottish flag as a poncho, I'm pretty sure the fans would cheer extra loudly and probably copy the look. I think everyone has the right to be offended or not and feel what they feel, as long as they express their opinions about it with some modicum of forethought and rationalism. There is no one who gets on my nerves faster than a fanatic extremist, no matter what they're shouting about, whether it's flags or religion or the Star Wars prequels. I'm happy to invite rational discussion, but don't call somebody Hitler because you disagree with them. I'm only pointing that out because my concluding statement may be one you disagree with, and that's fine. I have never been in the military, though I have many loved ones who are. I've never walked a mile in your shoes to know what it is inside you that makes you disagree if you do. If so, I'm interested in your opinion and the reasons for it.

Fraser loves his flag

Now that that's out of the way, I'm not saying that the Scots are doing it right and America is getting it wrong when it comes to flag etiquette. Not exactly, anyway. Justin, over at Geek Shui Living, asked me recently if being abroad for an extended period has altered my view of American society. I basically told him that it has, but I'm still processing and observing and contemplating how it has. It is in this vein that I contemplate the difference in what we do with our flags and see how this issue illustrates a concept I've had difficulty putting into words.

I fully acknowledge the right of a nation to impose rules, regulations, and to some extent even societal standards for proper conduct regarding its national symbols. However, when I saw that stadium full of flag-wearing Scots, my heart swelled. These were people who were together. They were one, singing the same anthem without being prompted. I just can't help but like this system better, as a matter of personal opinion, than the one that sparks yet more arguments and scandal, with the national anthem only sung when the announcer says it's time. I know that the differences between the two societies run much deeper than that, but I just like how the flag in Scotland is like a favorite teddy bear, instead of a thing made inaccessible on a pedestal of regulations. Fraser said to me, "I love my flag. Every spot of mud on it or snag in the fabric is from a time when I wore it proudly."

I just can't help but wish I could see a crowd of Americans who felt the same, insulated from the cold wind by Stars and Bars, who, at least for a little while, stop bickering about what makes them different because everywhere they look, on their very bodies, is a symbol of what holds them together.