Why are we Disrespecting our Flag?

I have been struggling recently trying to understand why people insist on using or changing the American flag to meet their political agenda. American flags are being flown upside down. Others have decided to embed other country's symbols and military insignias on it. This is disrespectful to our country and our flag. The colors are also being changed by some for the thin blue line, firefighters, gay pride, and various other reasons. In my opinion, the flag needs to be left alone, unmolested and flown at the top of a flagpole waving freely as designed. 

Flying the American flag upside down is legal to my dismay. It falls into the same free speech category as burning the flag. The Flag Code clearly states that the American flag is not to be flown upside down "except as a signal of dire distress in an instance of extreme danger to life or property." I do not believe we are there yet, and it bothers me why people think it is OK to disrespect our country in this manner. I have seen the flag being flown upside down a lot recently to make political statements, this is upsetting for me to see this happening.

One of the biggest things that I see now is people think it is OK to embed different symbols into the American flag. There can be an argument made that changing the flag does not make it the American flag anymore, and I understand that. To me changing the flag is disrespectful. The flag should stand alone without modifications, it should not be used as a political prop or a reason to get your point across. The American flag is about the strength of our country. To me putting other symbols in the flag does nothing but divide us, the purpose of the flag is to unite not divide. I am not happy seeing it used as something to divide us. It does not matter your stance on any matter if you want a flag to represent your political stance or agenda create one that does not include modifying the American flag. The symbol of freedom should not be modified and used as a conduit to divide us as a country. 

My guess is some of those who are against burning the flag are OK with flying the flag upside down. Where both flying the flag upside down, burning, and stomping on the flag is protected by the constitution according to The US Supreme Court, that does not make it OK. To me, it has to do with disrespect to the country and those who have fought under the American flag. It appears our society has fallen to its lowest point since the civil war. People have started using the American flag to divide us and that needs to stop. Why are we doing this to our country? The flag is a symbol of our freedoms that we have fought so hard for. Why have we decided it's OK to desecrate the flag? Flying the flag upside down is a sign of distress. To some flying the flag upside down may be warranted, but to folks like me, it is difficult to see. It makes me angry that Americans are so disrespectful to the symbol of freedom throughout the world.

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