My Flag Displayed Upside Down

I got the idea from a poster (and I apologize that I don't recall your name for proper attribution - I read so many diaries last night), so yesterday, July 4th, I displayed my flag upside down to emphasize the distress I feel over the state of affairs in the US.

This particular flag had definitely seen better days.  It was a little stained and it was starting to get torn in a couple of locations.  I inherited it from an aunt who had passed on after leading a very active, exemplary life as a citizen activist, a state legislator and a very progressive politician.  A lifelong Democrat who was ever on the lookout for efforts to thwart fairness and honesty, she would very quickly rally her town to right these wrongs.  I decided displaying her flag today would be a nice way to honor her memory, and it would be the last action that particular flag would make before being retired and destroyed in the proper manner.

For several hours, I never received any response.  For the neighbors' reaction, please come across the fold.

My girlfriend thought it was hung upside down as a protest against the US, but I explained to her about the use of an upside down flag as a means of showing distress.  The Wiki article is here.  

I have definitely been feeling stressed more than usual since the President has shown with Scooter Libby that he will do anything and everything within his power to thwart the rule of law in this country - at least where it concerns limits on his administration.  

I was kind of wondering what the reaction would be from my neighbors.  I live in a strong Republican area, and I've had some long and loud disagreements with them over Bush's policies - especially after the MCA was passed.  I cleaned out the garage so my girlfriend could fit her car inside, just to help make sure it wouldn't be an "accidental" target during the fireworks later that night.

I heard my dog howling as I came in from having dinner on the back patio several hours later, letting me know something was going on out front.  I figured it would be a dog-walker or something, but it actually was a delegation at my door.  They began by saying "we know we've had some differences in politics with you, but we were wondering about the flag".  I explained to them the message I was trying to send, about being distressed over what has been happening in this country, how recent events spurred me to do this when I had not been displaying the flag on other occasions like previous July 4ths and Flag Days in June.  Fortunately, one of them had heard about how flying the flag in that position is used to show distress and his concurrence helped to pursuade the other two that I wasn't making any slant against the US, the troops or anything other than a protest against the state of the US government.  

They did agree that there are some things they aren't happy about either with how the country is going; I'm thinking, though, that we might disagree on many of the points about what is right and what is wrong with America.  I started to elaborate, but they weren't ready for an in-depth discussion.  One of them who works at the local elementary school seemed impressed a little by my knowledge of history, from what I did get explained.  They noted that I was wearing a shirt with lots of US flags on it and the signatures all over it were from the Declaration of Independence, so I wasn't being anti-American.  

They expressed concern several times that someone driving down the street like a vet might take offense at the way the flag was displayed and I told them that I would be happy to explain my reasons to anyone.  I assured them that this was a one-time event (I really hope I don't feel a need to keep doing it again and again) and I think they left a little satisfied that their neighbor wasn't quite the subversive that they probably think most days of the year.  

I also think they felt brave to have come and confronted me on this, and I think they probably were - I mean I don't try and be mean or scary, but I think about how often I just walk the other way when I see one of the other side rather than confront them.  I'm still kicking myself that I didn't approach the county Republican chapter in 2004 when they were selling T-shirts saying 9 out of 10 Terrorists were for Kerry when we all know it's the other candidate that has been the best thing to ever happen to terrorists.