# Bush desecrates flag..
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [July 26, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998 "2003-07-26T00:47:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/21 "2003-07-26T02:38:40Z")
Certainly.
I don’t believe that a flag is something that can be “desecrated”, first off. It’s an object, it’s merely a symbol. Some people put the flag ahead of what it stands for.
Also, he is autographing something-he is adding something personal to these flags for someone. Rather than just handing them a generic flag.
That’s not a desecration, in my mind. I don’t like Bush, but I think it’s a good thing for him to do for people.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/22 "2003-07-26T02:42:48Z")
You cannot desecrate a flag. You can desecrate a church, you can desecrate an altar, you can desecrate a sacrament. But not a flag.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/23 "2003-07-26T02:48:53Z")
All this shows is his ignorance of the rules. I personally find the rules about the flag utter foolishness, and hope this is a step towards the country agreeing with me. I have no idea if he’s ever stated an opinion on flag burning, but if he has then he should know these rules.
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### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/24 "2003-07-26T02:53:32Z")
Hey, did you know that this handbasket has a sandwich in it?
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### Author:  [@Phaenx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaenx)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/25 "2003-07-26T02:53:56Z")
I’m sure he didn’t know what he was doing, he was asked to do this, and probably thought it was a good thing. I like the guys decisions, but I’ll be the first to admit he’s a little absent minded.
This, however I don’t think is an issue. If he had wiped his ass on it and spit in the face of a soldier, sure, call him names and impeach him. All it will amount to is ammo for democrats/liberals to attack him, they know he loves his country and his military, but they’re sore about the “stolen election,” and the war in Iraq.
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### Author:  [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/26 "2003-07-26T03:11:19Z")
Hmm. So the consensus is that this is a non-issue, unless and until he comes out in favor of an anti-flag burning amendment? If he does, and opponents point to this as hypocrisy, do they have a case? Why or why not?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/27 "2003-07-26T03:16:54Z")
Look, this clearly violates the rules for proper flag display and handling. But it’s hardly a big deal. I doubt Bush gave it much thought – some folks in the audience shoved the flags they were given his way and asked for an autograph, so he obliged. I doubt that even if Bush had a Boy Scout’s knowledge of flag ettiquette that those rules would have crossed his mind – signing those flags is the kind of spur of the moment thing that one does without a second thought.
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### Author:  [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/28 "2003-07-26T03:19:07Z")
It’s not disrespectful; hypocritical maybe.
More than anything else it perfectly illustrates a problem of a flag burning amendment. One person’s honoring the flag is another person’s desecration of it
**Kimstu**
> [@](#):
>
> However, I’m not sure I agree with the OP that those little toy flags-on-a-stick really count as “the American flag” when it comes to ceremonial respect. I mean, where would we draw the line? Could we not write on or otherwise deface flag-patterned napkins, wrapping paper, etc. etc.?
Actually they do [count as American flags](http://www.esquilax.com/flag/define.html) at least based on the wording of prior laws.
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### Author:  [@Phaenx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaenx)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/29 "2003-07-26T03:20:27Z")
I would say they do not, but the opponents will insist they do, and the followers of that party will agree, thus is politics =). All Bush has to say was that it was a mistake made out of ignorance for flag etiquette, or something similar after a PR guy spins it. And honestly, the U.S. flag is fairly easy to desecrate (IE: Hanging your flag on a clothesline the wrong way, crossing the flag with another flag with the staff behind the other flags, and on the wrong side, etc.), so I think he’ll be fine.
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### Author:  [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/30 "2003-07-26T03:29:08Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bob Cos \*
> \*\*Where do I sign the petition to get the impeachment rolling? :rolleyes: \*\*
I think [this](http://www.votetoimpeach.org/) might be a good place to look 😉
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### Author:  [@Phaenx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaenx)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/31 "2003-07-26T03:48:14Z")
That’s cute, you guys are still angry about the Clinton thing?
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/32 "2003-07-26T03:53:41Z")
Actually, I more pissed about the war thing. Is that as cute?
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### Author:  [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/33 "2003-07-26T03:56:10Z")
Not everything put up at [www.dailykos.com](http://www.dailykos.com) needs to be posted here Reeder.
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### Author:  [@Phaenx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaenx)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/34 "2003-07-26T03:58:42Z")
It is, but this is in the context of impeachment.
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### Author:  [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/35 "2003-07-26T04:13:18Z")
I agree this is a trivial issue, but George II has come out in favor of a flag-burning amendment and it was one of his dad’s biggest pet issues. So it makes him a hypocrite. Not an impeachable offense, but he’s already committed enough of those to keep us busy.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/36 "2003-07-26T04:15:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Monty \*
> \*\*You know, I kind of wish the flag that was presented to me when I retired from the military had the prez’s signature on it. \*\*
Yeah, I’m sure you would have been just as happy with a Clinton autograph as a Bush doodle, right **Monty**?
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/37 "2003-07-26T08:00:44Z")
As someone who thinks the whole “let’s pass an amendment so people can’t burn the flag” business is so much bullstuff, I don’t have any problems with Bush scribbling on Old Glory.
I will, however, tuck this incident away for safekeeping the next time Yet Another Flag-Burning Thread™ pops up and some overzealous jingoist starts shouting about how the flag is a sacred icon that can never ever ever ever never be defiled. 😉
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/38 "2003-07-26T10:59:05Z")
So signing your name on something means that you are defiling it?
Do you realize how stupid this kind of Bush-bashing idiocy sounds?
Every time I think you can’t get any more petty and mindlessly hateful, you prove me wrong.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/39 "2003-07-26T11:27:59Z")
**Shodan’s** right! With the record of misfeasance, malfeasance, and bass-ackwards feasance, this is like hassling Jeffrey Dahmer about table manners.
We got _lots_ bigger ammo than this.
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### Author:  [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-desecrates-flag/190998/40 "2003-07-26T11:45:37Z")
This is it ? If the liberal left were bankrupt of any substantive arguments against the incumbent, I wouldn’t suggest this as an approach to undermine the president. A liberal talking about desecrating the flag to a conservative audience . . I don’t know wheth3r to laugh of cry . . .
In the present circumstances and with the range of barn doors currently available to shoot at, this is just, I’m sorry, a pathetic judgement by the OP.
My suggestion; get a grip and get back to the substantives
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