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Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:

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Should our site be using the flag and it's symbols in our advertising?
There is a "Code of ethics" for the use of this symbol and it clearly states:

(i) 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.

Taken From:

http://cfr.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/usc_sec_04_00000008----000-.html

This is not a personal conviction, nor is it necessarily my personal opinion, it's just a thought to consider! Maybe we could advertise our site, without symbols that hold a reverential meaning to many other Americans?
Surely, there are plenty of logos that do not need the flag or other political or religious symbols to attract customer interest?
Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning

-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 08:46:16 PM

-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 08:47:24 PM

 

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This post I am reposting is from a Forum Dedicated to the Americal Flag

Peter Ansoff USA Flag Site Admin   Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Annandale, Virginia, USA Posts: 511

Re: Flags used as advertising Hi, DDT! It's true that the flag code says "The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever." Historically, the use of the flag in this way was the original reason that flag desecration became an issue in the late 19th century. At that time, flags were used in advertisements for all kinds of products including beer and toilet paper. However, the flag code is not a law, and it frequently does not match modern usage. Nowdays, there seems to be overwhelming agreement that it's OK to use the flag in certain advertising contexts, provided that it is done in an appropriate and respectful way. The adverts at the top of our forum pages certainly meet that criterion: They are for businesses that sell flags and related items, and they depict the flag appropriately and attractively. The purpose of the flag code is not to force people to follow an aribitrary set of rules; it's to encourage them to treat the flag with respect as a symbol of our nation. I think that the advertising here in the forum does that. Best, Peter Ansoff

First off, let me say I KNOW nobody here ever considered dishonoring the flag, either in an emblem or avatar they already have, nor in any of the professional looking emblems offered for use as our RCIA emblem. It is so common to see the flag used in this country to make a buck, that nobody gives it a thought anymore. I didn't either, at first, in fact I voted for number 5
But then I noted how many of them had a cut up or distorted look to them, so I bothered to do some research.
After that, I don't think anyone, including us, should be using the flag to advertise or sell anything. That's not the purpose of the flag.
Whatever you all decide, I will accept without complaint [ I'm not complaining now, just pointing out what may be important to some Americans still today???

The below site { http://www.suvcw.org/flag.htm } is more than just a code of ethics. It's a law with fines, within the District of Columbia.
It includes using any part of a flag, even distorted, bent or cut up portions of flags, such as all of the proposed emblems here use. I agree with what was said "I say, Let our flag STAND, on its own and AVOID unnecessary controversy by steering clear of this issue altogether."

However, right after that, the suggested emblem was just the same thing??? A cut up flag?
Yes, modern business will do anything to make a buck, so sure, they bend and twist and cut the flag up to sell their banking, cars and who knows what.
I suggest making an emblem that represents ROOF CLEANING and lets Roof Cleaning stand on it's own and does not join the rest of this "Do anything to make a buck" business world, by using what is already being used to death- Flags and stars and stripes and red white and blue. Let's be a little more original than that?

http://www.suvcw.org/flag.htm

 

Sec. 3. - Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag

Any person who, within the District of Columbia, in any manner, for exhibition or display, shall place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or any advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America; or shall expose or cause to be exposed to public view any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign upon which shall have been printed, painted, or otherwise placed, or to which shall be attached, appended, affixed, or annexed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, or drawing, or any advertisement of any nature; or who, within the District of Columbia, shall manufacture, sell, expose for sale, or to public view, or give away or have in possession for sale, or to be given away or for use for any purpose, any article or substance being an article of merchandise, or a receptacle for merchandise or article or thing for carrying or transporting merchandise, upon which shall have been printed, painted, attached, or otherwise placed a representation of any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign, to advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark, or distinguish the article or substance on which so placed shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. The words ''flag, standard, colors, or ensign'', as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.

Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 wrote:

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All RCIA members,

Due to the NEW controversy over the use of the American flag in our LOGO, I have had discussions with those outside of our organization as well as within
and everyone I have called or recently asked about this subject agrees across the board so far that we should not use the FLAG in our LOGO as it would be
like someone stealing MALLARD name or DUCK trade name and service mark from AC Lockyear of TERRA Clean, and just like the door hangers issue of someone encroachig on his BRAND, this may be just plain WRONG to do as well.

How would ANY OF US like it if someone ripped off our LOGO and used it. That is kind of what we are doing, not blatantly, but in a way?

Using the American Flag for our own use WITHOUT permission of the powers that be might open a can of worms for us all and may be seen as a slap in the face to some veterans or worse.

It could even be looked down upon by many and we may or may not ever know for sure, maybe until it is too late.

IMHO, lets NOT start off our membership by giving ourselves a black eye out of the gate.

To some, using the AMERICAN FLAG is like ripping off our nation and cheapening it.

I say, Let our flag STAND, on its own and AVOID unnecessary controversy by steering clear of this issue altogether.

Lets, go back to the drawing board and look at our other choices.

It is NOT that horrible to just choose another design?

For Me, I like this logo (AS SHOWN BELOW) as well.

I think it looks like a class act, shows integrity and stands above the others.

The colors are there, it is truly unique and the design is powerful and stands out
yet, it is NOT a flag.

It is a BADGE of HONOR, in my opinion.

My wife likes this RCIA Badge and says, tell the graphics dept. to make the straight line, showing the "Institute Of America" look like a rooftop and extend
the star background down a little to bleed into the stripes and it would really be THE ONE.


What do you ALL think?




-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 on Saturday 4th of April 2009 08:45:12 PM

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Good point! And having everything including the flag made in China is not worth consideration either, right?
Perhaps you are right and we should just join the millions of other banners using the flag to represent our roof cleaning businesses???  It certainly won't stand out as anything special, flags and distorted stars and stripes are a run of the mill advertising logo for everything under the sun already!
And as you implied, if we bother to consider this topic, "We are never going to have a logo at this rate."
Speed is more important than logic!
Better to make a quick decision and get it over with!

Sorry for taking our logo so seriously.
Lets just cut up a flag and stick a cross in the middle for good measure!

Sorry if I offend you back.

Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning





Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

 

 

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LOL Almost every flag I have ever seen was made in China.......

Anyway, way to make a big issue out of nothing, this is not a business logo or advertisement it is a certification stamp. Have you ever seen a made in the USA certification stamp? We are never going to have a logo at this rate.

PS go vote.... ohh yeah right never mind maybe next month we can try again
**sigh**

I said show your respect by voting not destroy all their hard work with one fell post

Ok maybe you think i am being mean or rude but really come on man. Chris even posted that a rep from this commitee says it's all good so you go and pull some law??  I can't even make sense of that.  Now I have to send it to my lawyer to have it translated into english for me as well as see how it has been used in court cases which means alot more than what the actuall law says.

Anyway i'm done ranting.. sorry if I offended you I guess it is due dilagence.  Back to the drawing board.

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I meant all I had to say as strictly business myself, but clearly friction built on both of our parts.
I know very little about politics, I only know what feels right and wrong to me.
I plan to link to RCIA in all my websites and blogs and personally would prefer our logo not be a "flag using" logo, but one that shows something to do with Roof Cleaning.
As I said, if a decision is made to go with a flag logo, I will not speak another word. I will also not link to it, because I have come to feel it is wrong to use a flag this way.
I appreciate your kind reply here and would really LOVE to see some new ones to vote for!!!

Thankyou!
Your brother in roof cleaning

Chuck Bergman Roof Cleaning


Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

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I am not trying to batter you for speaking your mind. Business not personal my brother. You are right to have concerns and it is going to slow us more than a day or 2 as they will now probably start all over again. I just wish you would have finished your research before you posted it.
I live near DC and have worked with local political campaigns as well as a member of my inc town board and have learned (the hard way unfortunettly) that laws are usually not interpertable without some help.
So it's all good brother I should have just been a liitle less rude in my reply. Let's figure it out and make up some new ones if we have to.

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