Tarr bill calls for students to recite Flag Code

Sometime between five and eight years ago -- the two men differ in their recollections -- Wilmington American Legion Commander Joe Steen approached his state senator, Bruce Tarr.

[clothing]

"...do not display the flag on clothing"

Police wear it in their arms, politicians wear lapel pins, firemen wear it, football players wear it on their uniforms, boy scouts wear it on their shirts. There are tee-shirts of the American flag.
Say what? No legislation needed. America is a free country- want to fine or imprison people for this . The guy is a whack job.

[Irony]

So, to properly respect this symbol of freedom, we must give up some freedoms?

Those who consider a piece of cloth more important than the ideas it represents are literally un-American.

[ILOVETHEFLAG]

Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

[Amused]

So how, exactly, is this bill any different from the bill to make the fluffernutter the state sandwich. Seriously, Sen. Tarr, the state is facing a $600 million dollar budget gap, losing population, losing jobs and generally going to hell in a handbasket, and you want to spend time re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with fluff like this? If this is the best you can come up with to solve the state's problems, please resign and let someone with relevant ideas take your seat.