# I didn't know that was actually illegal.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 12, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574 "2009-10-12T20:05:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574/21 "2009-10-14T03:08:04Z")

</div>

> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Is that really so offensive?

I’d settle for incredibly retarded, if that would make you happy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574/22 "2009-10-14T03:32:53Z")

</div>

> [@Zebra](#):
>
> Never served in the military but I think it’s a big deal.

Same here. I have quite a few veterans in my family (both of my grandfathers served in WWII, and all of my paternal great uncles were in either WWII or Korea). It pisses me off that someone would try and impersonate someone who actually DID go through all of that.  
I also have TWO cousins who are Iraqi veterans – one who was there about two years ago, and his younger brother, who’s coming home in Jan.

“Flag burning” is expressing oneself. This guy isn’t doing that – he’s trying to gain something he didn’t earn. Why should he get the spotlight? Those who actually did the work are being ignored. And he’s wearing awards that don’t belong to him.

Fuck him.

(Question, though. What if I’m the daughter of a veteran, and he leaves me his Purple Heart. Would I be allowed to wear it in honor of my father? What about heirlooms?)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574/23 "2009-10-14T04:39:30Z")

</div>

> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> “Prestige and fame” are intangibles and it would take a team of lawyers to decide whether that in itself constitutes “gain”.

Looks like common sense to me. Financial gain is not required, and I suspect most people who lie about being veterans are doing it for popularity or sex, not money.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-was-actually-illegal/513574.md?page=1)