If you're like me, it sickens you to see all this fake patriotism: all those flags-wrapped jingoistic war mongers. To the point where the American flag stands for militarism.

Time to "TAKE BACK THE FLAG".

(JUSTIFICATION): If you're in the streets protesting, then you probably do love this countries ideals, and that's exactly why you're protesting. If you didn't believe in "all men being created equal", if you didn't believe in democracy, then you probably would be at home flipping channels and not PROTESTING!

MEDIA SMART: It would be a very media smart thing to do: Having pictures of lots of American Flags mixed in with the other flags, signs, peace pins, etc. would create the visual image of PROTEST BEING PATRIOTIC.

It would gut the pro-war depiction of protesters being anti-patriotic.

If you bring one, don't disrespect it; (don't hang it up-side down, etc): one burned flag, and THAT picture will be the one published around the country.

Hey why don't you also point out to people the differences betwenn the American flags we fly and the gold fringed ones flown by our executive branch. An American flag with a gold fringe is not Old Glory, that is the Military Flag, showing military/admiralty jurisdiction. If you see a gold fringe on a flag know that none of your rights are to be respected under that gold edged banner of militarism. It has even come out of the supreme court that US Citizens will no longer have any constitutional rights, unfortunatly this is a legally correct position as US Citizens are really 2nd class citizens whos citizen ship is not derived from thier birth in one of the several united states but from the 14th amendment. A 14th amendment citizen is a pale version of citizenship when compared to being a citizen of your state. For this reason I suggest you fly the State flag as much as possible. Your state Constitution provides for nearly all the rights in the US Constitution plus the California Constitution also have many useful protections for an individuals privacy which is under increasing encroachment from law enforcement. But be wary, just as there are two versions of the US flag (4 if you count the Civil flag and the Gold fringed Civil Flag of the united states of America which has a white field with blue stars and thirteen red and white vertical stripes, the Civil flag of the united states can still be seen flown outside of US Coast guard facilities.

I brought a 3x5' flag to the protest at Wilshire & Veteran on Wednesday night and was hounded by several photojournalists. I was also able to iniate dialogue with a few pro-war pedestrians who probably wouldn't have spoken to me otherwise.

This is the first time I've ever owned or carried a flag in my life. It takes guts. Be prepared to catch some glaring from other protesters.

The best part: bringing the flag to the protest wasn't just a ploy. I felt proud to be demonstrating my allegiance to *what democracy should look like* while marching the crosswalk and then blocking the intersection.

Because civil disobedience is patriotic.

see >> Boston Tea Party

This is not a test.

This is real.

I love watching you yellow-bellied sap-suckers worry about the ramifications of showing affection for your own country. It's very illustrative.

These people, who have an impossible quandry and have to "stomach" bringing a flag to a demonstration, at the same time have NO problem being used by A.N.S.W.E.R. the pro-Stalin Communist throwback organization that supports totalitarian efforts worldwide (in Cuba, China, Iraq, etc...).

Once again, the irony is laughable. The Left is dead.

The yellow speaks for itself.

You people for "peace" for the Iraqi people are morons. Here's is your proof. And it will ONLY GET BIGGER. Are you starting to feel stupid yet?

"No Saddam Hussein!" one young man in headscarf told Gurfein. "Bush!"



U.S. Marines Rip Down Saddam Portraits

1 hour, 5 minutes ago

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, Associated Press Writer

Milling crowds of men and boys watched as the Marines attached ropes on the front of their Jeeps to one portrait and then backed up, peeling the Iraqi leader's black-and-white metal image off a frame. Some locals briefly joined Maj. David "Bull" Gurfein in a new cheer.



"Iraqis! Iraqis! Iraqis!" Gurfein yelled, pumping his fist in the air.



"We wanted to send a message that Saddam is done," said Gurfein, a New York native in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. "People are scared to show a lot of emotion. That's why we wanted to show them this time we're here, and Saddam is done."



The Marines arrived in Safwan, just across the Kuwait border, after Cobra attack helicopters, attack jets, tanks, 155 mm howitzers and sharpshooters cleared the way along Route 80, the main road into Iraq (news - web sites).



Safwan, 375 miles south of Baghdad, is a poor, dirty, wrecked town pocked by shrapnel from the last Gulf war (news - web sites). Iraqi forces in the area sporadically fired mortars and guns for hours Thursday and Friday. Most townspeople hid, although residents brought forth a wounded little girl, her palm bleeding after the new fighting. Another man said his wife was shot in the leg by the Americans.



A few men and boys ventured out, putting makeshift white flags on their pickup trucks or waving white T-shirts out truck windows.



"Americans very good," Ali Khemy said. "Iraq wants to be free."



Some chanted, "Ameriki! Ameriki!"



Many others in the starving town just patted their stomachs and raised their hands, begging for food.



A man identifying himself only as Abdullah welcomed the arrival of the U.S. troops: "Saddam Hussein is no good. Saddam Hussein a butcher."



An old woman shrouded in black — one of the very few women outside — knelt toward the feet of Americans, embracing an American woman. A younger man with her pulled her away, giving her a warning sign by sliding his finger across his throat.



In 1991, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died after prematurely celebrating what they believed was their liberation from Saddam after the Gulf War. Some even pulled down a few pictures of Saddam then — only to be killed by Iraqi forces.



Gurfein playfully traded pats with a disabled man and turned down a dinner invitation from townspeople.



"Friend, friend," he told them in Arabic learned in the first Gulf War.



"We stopped in Kuwait that time," he said. "We were all ready to come up there then, and we never did."



The townspeople seemed grateful this time.



"No Saddam Hussein!" one young man in headscarf told Gurfein. "Bush!"

Bullshit, that is not OUR flag--it is the rich man's flag and is covered with the blood of the world's people.

It is ONLY good for either burning or wiping your ass on.

Oh, I forgot, if you walk your dog, it may also be used to politely pick up the crap.

That flag has replaced the swastika as the symbol of tyranny and death.

TO HELL WITH THEIR FLAG, THEIR GOVERNMENT, THEIR WAR, THEIR SYSTEM!

U.S. OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AMERICA, AND OFF THE PLANET!

http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=490159

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:

God Bless America.

Land that I love

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies ,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America

My home sweet home.

God Bless America,

Land that I love

Stand beside her,

And guide her,

Through the night

With the light from above,

From the mountains,

To the prairies,

To the ocean,

White with foam,

God bless America,

My home sweet home.

God bless America,

My home sweet home.

I hope you are walking your dog in some other country.

I think it's righteous that you believe in freedom.

But I have to ask: is that REALLY what that flag represents? Wasn't the U.S. literally founded on genocide and slavery? Aren't they on an unprescedented, sick global grab for oil, power, and empire?

Haven't 5,000 Iraqi children died EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS because of the U.S. war and sanctions? [in the last gulf war they systematically bombed out water treatment facilities and other infrastructure, the sanctions have kept out vital medications. Most of the deaths are from sicknesses that are extremely PREVENTABLE, like diharrea.]

Could you imagine germans during WW2 trying to resist the nazis by waving around swastikas? That may sound "extreme," but really - what does that flag stand for?

I recommend Howard Zinn's book "A Peoples' History of the United States." Also please visit www.stolenlives.org - documenting over 2,000 - yes OVER TWO THOUSAND - human beings who have been killed by American law enforcement from 1990 - 2000. And I believe they've killed over 43 in the Chicago area since September 11, 2001.

I'll respect your views when we're out in the streets together, but please understand where others are coming from, too.

See you in the streets!!!

When we protest the war in Iraq it is because we love this country. We are standing up for both the troops as well as for those who do disagree with us. They are ignorant, so let them go. Bringing a flag just emphasises the fact that those who love our country more than their party are the ones protesting the war.

...why the protests are become larger and more frequent.

that photo is more likely to repel us from the work force indefinitely.... not sure if that was your intention.