And, now they also take the "liberty" to deface Old Glory in ways flag-waving conservatives of the past would have been appalled at... flying it upside down, displaying flags with different colored stripes or reversible images, wearing stars and stripes apparel, napkins, paper plates, cups, none of which those who revered the flag would have tolerated in my younger days. In 1970, I was denied entrance to a Las Vegas casino because I had a beaded American flag image sown as a patch onto the knee of my bellbottoms. Now, anything goes... but, one thing is always presumed: exhibit the stars and stripes and you are automatically assumed to be a right wing "patriot." As my brother Theo says, "They've stolen our flag!"