KX5062I don't think political symbols are allowed here
To the group, I apologize in advance. I didn't bring it up. I didn't seek this out. But here it is, and conscience dictates a response.
The American flag is not a political symbol. Neither is the thin blue line symbol. The thin blue line symbol is not a symbol of support for LE, as has been alleged in this thread. It is a symbol that was used until very recently for LEOs to subtly identify themselves to each other. It draws from the "thin blue line" allegory among LEOs...professional symbolism. The meaning was a pledge of mutual support between LEOs. Nothing about that is political. The allegory is that there is a thin blue (police) line between order and chaos in any civilization and that the line cannot be broken if it is to remain successful. What is success? Protecting society from the anti-social elements within every society. That's not politics. It is social science. It is universal. I can actively oppose unnecessary use of force by LEOs, seek justice in its wake, and demand punishment of the perpetrators when it was determined to be flagrant instead of unintentional without that being "political." In fact, it's just good social responsibility as a citizen (and former cop, btw). But one cannot use such regrettable incidents to promote one's own candidacy for office, one's political party, or one's sociopathic narcissism without being political. Now to the American flag...
That flag symbolizes a federal republic in which various states and elements of society with different politics, philosophies, and sub-cultures all came together to form the UNITED States of America. The American flag can only legitimately be viewed as political by those who seek the destruction of the Constitutional government of the United States of America. In defense of that Constitution under the flag that represents it, men and women of every race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, etc. have died in battle. In fact, slaves and former slaves died in battle under this flag fighting to protect and perfect what it symbolizes. It transcends politics.
Some people are, in fact, offended by the display of either or both of these symbols. But people like that are...by reason...seditionists, insurgents, revolutionaries, or sociopaths, whether they have enough courage of conviction or self-awareness to admit it or not. That isn't a moral judgment, either. The people who gave us this flag were also seditionists and revolutionaries against their own government (Britain) when they created the United States of America, and clearly explained that fact in the Declaration of Independence. Two of the great and guiding principles symbolized by the flag and enshrined in the Constitution are the freedom to associate/align one's self as one pleases and the freedom to express one's ideas, beliefs, and affiliations without fear of government oppression or interference. For most of us, these rights have become an ethical guidepost applying to all humanity (a basic human right). So one has to wonder what sort of person operating under what nefarious motive could seek to censure or suppress someone displaying an American flag with a thin blue line inscribed upon it.
