May I ask you a question? Were you around during the Vietnam War?

Uhh, come on buddy, you haven't even read it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Kerry fan, but the fact that you are literrally reading a book by its cover doesn't not make me doubt him more. Such a person that would make such a uniformed criticism does not deserve to wine about it.

One of my buddies is a marine, and it's to my understading that when a soldier displays an upside-down flag, he's making a statement about the fatalities of battle, both ally and foe. There's nothing anti-patriotic about it, just like there's nothing unholy about an upside down cross, which is the way St. Peter was crucified...

I ask you, is this the kind of stuff that we want to associate our president with? What kind of loyal American would have a book published with the United States flag upside down on it's cover?

An upside down flag is, legally speaking, an indication of distress. There's nothing unamerican about it. It's being used as a figurative demonstration of the distress that Kerry, and millions of other americans, felt about being involved in the Vietnam war. Kerry, actually being a veteran, knew those horrors far better than those who accuse him now of being "unamerican"

Cheers

Vs.

Kerry made a mockery of our flag and the heros who raised it over Iwo Jima

Do I really have to make the same comments I've made about these pictures before?

Cheers

Yes wisefawn, I was in high school during the Viet Nam war. I was also against the war but that is no reason to disrespect our flag that many others have shed their blood and died for.
Call it what you may. I see it as plain ole disrespect.
You are doing nothing more than the AFL-CIO who is supporting John Kerry after voting for NAFTA. You are supporting someone who is against everything that you stand for.
If Kerry is so anti-war then why did he vote to send troops to Iraq? Only later to vote down support funds for the ones he sent there. GCJ

As I've said before, there is nothing illegal, immoral, or unamerican about holding a flag upside down. The law states that an american flag held or flown upside down indicate distress. As I've said, this is a symbol of the distress that Kerry and other veterans felt about the Vietnam War.

Cheers

I'm sure you are right jeblackstar because when I look at the upside down American flag, I become very distressed.
Soldiers in Iraq say they are happy to be there. They're not writting anti war books. GCJ

I'm sure you are right jeblackstar because when I look at the upside down American flag, I become very distressed. Soldiers in Iraq say they are happy to be there.

Alas, some people miss the point, it is to indicate that the person flying the flag upside down is distressed. I would be very surprised if every soldier in Iraq was happy to be there, but even if they were, you have to admit there are a good number of differences between Vietnam and Iraq.

Cheers

GemCityJoe - The reason I asked you that is because I would guess from the title and the fact that it was written with Vietnam Vets, is that it is making a statement. It was a much different time then, as you know. I have formed no opinion about Kerry yet, and I have not read the book, so I will not judge the book. And if the point is that the upside down flag is a symbol of distress, that makes even more sense. I fly the Seal of the Cherokee Nation and it doesn't mean I am anti America.

I'm kinda like the Aussie flag myself. Now do you fly your Cherokee Nation seal upside down or right side up? GCJ

The Law of the United States of America permits the flag to be flown upside down. How much more do you need GCJ?

Just because it is a law does not mean that I have to smile and go on my merry way. To me it is offensive and disrespectful. Its also not against the law to burn the flag in protest but I don't approve of that either. The point is, if John Kerry wanted to make an anti-war statement, there are other ways he could have done so. The book itself makes his sentiments known. His dealings with Jane Fonda do the same.
Face it, if John Kerry knew back then the position he would find himself in today, he would have done things alot differently. We'll just have to wait and see just how much of his past will come back to haunt him.