Flag Code Issue

[DanBlather]

There is big controversy in the neighborhood where I grew up outside of Boston. This formerly Italian/Irish area is now predominantly Chinese (an improvement in my mind, if just for the food). Some sort of Chinese Society has put up the flags of China (PRC) and the US and there are issues because the US flag is not being flown higher (i.e., they are at the same height).

I looked up the flag code for my mother and it is somewhat ambiguous. Ones section says:

No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America,

implying that it is ok to have them at the same height. Then a section says:

No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States

implying that it is not OK to have them at the same height, and then finally:

When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

.

Please help before crazed Red Sox fans, already annoyed about the Citgo sign, burn down the local Chinese store selling not one, but two different variety of live eels.

[Chronos]

To boil down those three passages: Given a set of flags in the US, the US flag should always be in the unrivalled position of greatest honor. If two flags are at different heights, the higher flag has the greater honor. If two flags are at the same height, then the one further right has the greater honor. If two nations are at peace, it’s rude to fly one flag at a higher height than the other, but you can still give them different degrees of honor by putting one to the right of the other, which is what one should do if one of the flags is the US one, and one’s in the US.

So some acceptable flyings would be:
The US flag on top of a pole, and a state flag lower on the same pole (the state’s not a different nation, and the US flag gets the highest honor)
The US and Canadian flag flying next to each other on two poles of the same height (since we’re at peace with Canada), but the US flag on the right
The US flag flying on top of a flagpole at a recently-captured fort, with the fort’s original flag (of the enemy nation we captured the fort from) flying under it (it’s an insult, but then the bullets flying around are an insult, too)

Also note, of course, that the flag code, as it currently stands, has no provisions for enforcement. It may be regarded as rude not to follow it, and government agencies probably have internal rules for following it, but if a private citizen wants to fly the American flag upside-down and backwards, with a big mudstain on it, under the flag of Sealand during a thunderstorm at night, there’s nothing the law can do about it.

[madmonk28]

My mother was a vexologist for the US government and according to her, national flags should all be flown at the same height, state flags should be flown lower and don’t get her started on corporate flags with the McDonald’s logo or whatever on them.

[tomndebb]

When did vexologist begin replacing vexillologist as the term for a student or scholar of flags?

[Exapno_Mapcase]

Also important to remember that while the flag code is in the U.S. Code, it is not law in the ordinary sense of the term. There are no penalties and no means of prosecution for offenders. In practice, for private use by the public, it is a strictly voluntary set of etiquette and suggestions.

In short, even if the Chinese flags were violating every provision there would be nothing you could do about it except ask nicely. Or maybe raise a media fuss. You can’t report them, if that’s what you’re asking. Nobody has jurisdiction.

[DanBlather]

@Exapno Mapcase

Also important to remember that while the flag code is in the U.S. Code, it is not law in the ordinary sense of the term. There are no penalties and no means of prosecution for offenders. In practice, for private use by the public, it is a strictly voluntary set of etiquette and suggestions.

In short, even if the Chinese flags were violating every provision there would be nothing you could do about it except ask nicely. Or maybe raise a media fuss. You can’t report them, if that’s what you’re asking. Nobody has jurisdiction.

Actually I want to make peace by either informing the protesters that what the Chinese group is doing is OK or politely tell the Chinese group to just put the American flag to the right so as not to offend. This is a classic case of one ethnic group moving into the “turf” of another. It happned when the Irish moved into the WASP neighborhoods, then the Italians, and the jews, and now Chinese. It’s really funny to see Barry’s Deli of my youth become Woo King BBQ Duck House and the A&P become Lucky 88 Market. Unfortunately it happened about 30 years too late for me to enjoy it.

[Gala_Matrix_Fire]

@madmonk28

My mother was a vexologist for the US government and according to her, national flags should all be flown at the same height, state flags should be flown lower and don’t get her started on corporate flags with the McDonald’s logo or whatever on them.

Ooh! Could you ask her about the Protestant Christian flag’s being flown on a separate pole, same height, as the American flag, as some churches I’ve seen do it?

[Chronos]

Ooh! Could you ask her about the Protestant Christian flag’s being flown on a separate pole, same height, as the American flag, as some churches I’ve seen do it?

From the OP’s link:

(k) When used on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

[waterj2]

@Chronos

To boil down those three passages: Given a set of flags in the US, the US flag should always be in the unrivalled position of greatest honor. If two flags are at different heights, the higher flag has the greater honor. If two flags are at the same height, then the one further right has the greater honor.

As I understand it, there is an exception to this general rule in the case of a gaff rigged sailing vessel. The main mast is the position of honor regardless of whether or not the gaff is actually higher than the main mast.

[Excalibre]

@tomndebb

When did vexologist begin replacing vexillologist as the term for a student or scholar of flags?

Apparently people have begun to view the issue as rather vexing. What vexes me is that our state capitol, visible out the window from my workplace, flies the U.S. flag year-round, no matter what the weather is like, and doesn’t take it down at night. Dudes! Seriously! Can we have a little decorum about this?

[Exapno_Mapcase]

@Excalibre

Apparently people have begun to view the issue as rather vexing. What vexes me is that our state capitol, visible out the window from my workplace, flies the U.S. flag year-round, no matter what the weather is like, and doesn’t take it down at night. Dudes! Seriously! Can we have a little decorum about this?

If they have a spotlight on the flag, the code says they can fly it all night long.

[Excalibre]

@Exapno Mapcase

If they have a spotlight on the flag, the code says they can fly it all night long.

I’ll have to check next late night. Still, what about the rain dealie?

[Chronos]

I’ll have to check next late night. Still, what about the rain dealie?

A flag can be made to be especially weather-resistant, in which case it’s OK to leave it up continually.

[waterj2]

Yeah, I think in general, the rain prohibition dates back to when flags were much more prone to bleeding than today’s flags. Very few flags are taken down in foul weather these days, AFAIK.