Fair warning – Don’t click through if you don’t want to read something political in nature.
I’m sensitive to those that don’t want to read that sort of thing, hence the fair warning. Nothing bad here, just a curiosity and I’m wondering if other people in the USA are doing the same thing, so testing it on WUWT’s wide readership will likely help answer it.
I have seen upside down US flags twice now in my town. The first time I just thought it was self commentary, now seeing it a second time in a different part of town, I stopped along E. 5th Avenue to get this shot. I wonder, how many people across the United States are doing the same thing after November 6th? In case you don’t know, flying the flag upside down is a sign of distress or emergency. Flying at half staff is respect for the fallen in service of our country. Combined it makes quite a commentary on the Benghazi incident, the fallen soldiers and ambassador, and the election. Checking the Internet I find there are others doing the same thing now, such as this fellow in South Bend, Indiana. Then there’s the story about an upside down half-staff flag at McDonald’s which has angered a lot of veterans even though it was claimed to be a mistake.
The U.S. Flag code says in section 8:
The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
Some people consider it flag desecration such as is on par with burning it as political commentary.
I wonder though, if this sort of visual political commentary I’ve seen in my town is being quietly repeated elsewhere since many people now see the USA as being in distress?
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Isn’t in the maritime code that any flag or flags flown upside down mean distress, not just national ones?
It’s partly that and partly hardheadedness, as expressed by this quote:
Glad I live in Canada. Speaking as an outside observer somebody down in US better come to terms with your massive debt problem sometime. Presently 40% pay no taxes what so ever, perfect Obama supporters. Plus, Obama can thank super-storm Sandy for pulling this out, and everyone here knows full well the liberals blame on climate change. Believe me that is just the beginning of more and more draconian climate laws coming down the pipe. Yeah, there is distress in the US. I don’t blame them in the slightest. And anyone here who claims elections have no consequences doesn’t have a clue. Climate change is just beginning in the US and this time around Obama doesn’t have to go back to the people.
Several districts in Phillidelphia saw 99.9% of registered voters vote. This is down from 2008 when many of those same districts saw a turn out of over 100%.
fxk says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:19 am
“Election is over. Get over it. Move on. Learn to make lemonade.”
Don’t forget to apply for the necessary permits.
I think it is an expression of mourning. I know people who think that this is the worst election outcome in American history, and who feel more sorrow or anguish than at any other election outcome in their lifetimes. I know some people in the medical profession who feel like it is a conviction for a crime and the beginning of a life sentence to hard labor, and others who are committed now to retirement as early as they can afford it.
Why they might feel this way you have all read in the arguments in favor of voting against Obama; the intensity of the feeling might be something new in my lifetime. I think that some Democrats may have felt this bad when G. W. Bush was re-elected — they were not flag-wavers, so they did not think to express themselves this way, perhaps.
I was not going to happy regardless of who won, but at least that casino mogul lost millions of dollars trying to buy the election.
I now believe in global warming— this country is going to hell!
@Kaboom 08:46
I’m a little confused as to how you could tell when the French flag was upside-down?
My neighbor, a Viet Nam Vet, has had his flag at half-mast and inverted as a sign of the demise of this country since Nov 2008. I’ll keep an eye out for more recent displays.
fxk says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:19 am
Election is over. Get over it. Move on. Learn to make lemonade.
===================================================
The election is indeed over and in many ways moving on is appropriate. But moving on must not include forgetting Ambassador Stevens and three other brave Americans who were apparently betrayed by their President and the media who were supposed to keep him honest. Any American, regardless of affiliation, who is willing to forget this for the sake of political expediency is a traitor. Let the truth come out!
It may have something to do with the story coming out of California that people have been finding it difficult to get around since the election because they are not supposed to let go of their ankles.
ujagoff bases his climate beliefs on science but might change his mind if he does not agree with the politics of fellow deniers? What planet is he on?
John says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:50 am
The way to attract more voters is well known and proven to perfection on Tuesday. The party that promises more free stuff will always win.
John F. Hultquist says:
November 9, 2012 at 9:20 am
Jody Wilson says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:42 am
Flag?
The rattlesnake symbolism of the Gadsden flag . . .
Prior to the election there were already plenty of those flying in Texas. There’s on in my front yard…right next to the Rebel one!
Mark Whitney says:
November 9, 2012 at 9:04 am
The day after the election, Obama announced a new carbon tax. Wonder why, if the plan is so wonderful, he felt the need to hide these plans until the election was over.
No doubt if he can’t find a way to get the Republicans to support this new tax, he’ll just have the EPA implement it.
Doug says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:45 am
“It is very common here among those who hate democracy, particularly when it does not give them the answer THEY wanted.”
Democracy is one of the worse and most evil forms of government known to man… people who hate it are people are have some ability to think rationally.
In my opinion, the national flag does not represent the federal government. Instead it stands for the people, our fellow citizens, especially those who rallied behind it to fight for our freedom.
The government, especially this Administration, would like to usurp the flag, and further the false notion that our rights come from government.
Do not insult your fellow citizens, especially our veterans, in an attempt to protest the regime by flying our flag upside down. Instead fly a revolutionary flag with our Stars and Stripes.
Dung says:
November 9, 2012 at 9:38 am
He did admit to being a liberal.
Some comment here in the UK Daily mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2230215/Death-white-America-How-US-adapt-millions-black-Hispanic-voters-Obama-power.html
It’s better than rioting in the streets which the other side was threatening if Obama lost.
Jim
I don’t know about upside-down flags, but the USA sure has its political colours the wrong way round. It’s red for leftie socialist liberal scum, and blue for right-wing balmist teabagger scum. Why do you have them the wrong way round?
As to flying the French flag upside down, which flag are we talking about – the Tricolor or the large white one they use in times of war?
John says (November 9, 2012 at 8:50 am): “In the meantime, as a result of the elections, some things will happen in the US that probably aren’t for the long term good of the country.”
You mean the future is “not optimal’?
“But if we want to get a different result, the Rs have to appeal to a broader swath of people. That is the issue. What the Rs tried didn’t work — so how do they change it?”
Well, they could try offering voters more “free” goodies than their opponents, but since the other side has more practice that probably wouldn’t work.
John says:
November 9, 2012 at 8:50 am
###
The reason the GOP has problems is because Marxist have infiltrated every single institution in the US. Our elementery schools are designed to create democrats, our high-schools, socialists and our universities, Marxists. Our News media, distorts and lies to paint the image that they want, completely embedded within the Marxist world-view. Its been this way since the 50’s.
Its so bad, that most Republicans themselves are entrapped within a Marxist world-view and don’t even know it.
@Dung – I base the scientific opinion based on examples of poorly designed studies that start with the desired endpoint and move backwards, cherry-picked data, bullying of opposing views, and grand catastrophic conclusions based on results that really say no such thing. What I am questioning is if the counterpoint here is as guilty as they are with regards to some of the same things. The vitriolic responses seem to speak more to an “ends justify the means” approach to the studies that I had previously attached solely to The Team and associates as opposed to a measured, dispassionate, unbiased scientific approach.
How can I see these words and still honestly believe the side I’ve believed is the one without predetermined bias is actually so?
That seems like a different planet to you? Well then…