So, something interesting was pointed out to me today by a stalker reader about the picture on the front page of The Collegian of the Chinese Friendship Association's (CFA) rally at Old Main yesterday to show their support for China and the Beijing Olympics. Two American flags are touching the ground, which is kind of a no-no. But the flags were probably made in a sweatshop in China somewhere, so hopefully someone from the United Students Against Sweatshops was there to protest that.

I'm not going to pretend to know a lot about flag etiquette here, but I guess it is thought of as kind of disrespectful to let the flag touch the ground. And, in fact, there is a U.S. Code which documents how the flag should be displayed. Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, paragraph b of that code states: "The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise." So, I guess that means they are kind of breaking the code.

But interestingly enough paragraph d of that code states: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery ...." and paragraph i states: "The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown."

So let's give the CFA the benefit of the doubt here. Let's just say they mistakenly allowed the flags to touch the ground, is it any worse or unpatriotic than wiping the mustard from your mouth with an American flag napkin during your 4th of July picnic? Probably not.

Maybe we should just stop being offended over every little thing that happens. Or not, what do I know?