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PacSun’s upside down American Flag T-shirt considered offensive (POLL TO FREEP)
KDVR Fox 31 Denver ^ | 5/26/2015 | Carly Moore and Chris Jose

Posted on 05/26/2015 7:33:43 AM PDT by NorCoGOP

DENVER — A t-shirt for sale online from the popular store PacSun, was making the rounds on social media but not for a good reason.

It is a black t-shirt with the American Flag printed on it, but what’s causing uproar is that the flag is upside down.

Some say it is offensive for portraying the flag like this, others disagree.

The shirt was on sale on Monday at Denver’s Park Meadows mall location. Employees there told FOX31 Denver that they had not received any word from corporate to pull it off the selves as of Monday afternoon. That changed by Monday evening.

PacSun has lots of American flag apparel for sale that they are promoting on this Memorial Day, but only this T-shirt was getting backlash.

“We’re going to disgrace the American flag by flying it upside down? I codemn them,” said Ron Davies, a Vietnam War veteran. “I don’t see anyone in distress with that shirt. As far as I’m concerned, anybody that disgraces the American flag is an enemy of mine.”

The T-shirt is part of the store’s A$AP Worldwide collection, according to their website.

Tell us your opinion on our Facebook page.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: colorado; denver; pacsun
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I watched this story develop via social media yesterday - glad they finally did the right thing, but they really are behind the times with the power and immediacy of social media.

Under Armour did something similar a few weeks ago with the misguided basketball shirt mirroring the Iwo Jima flag raising...they managed to address the issue as it developed, even sending me a personal message via FB messenger apologizing for the incident. And, that was on a Sunday.

PacSun took much longer to react, and the uproar was therefore much bigger and louder.

I predict they are not in business for much longer if they can't respond to social media pressure.

Please FREEP the poll embedded in the article.

1 posted on 05/26/2015 7:33:43 AM PDT by NorCoGOP
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To: NorCoGOP
Maybe I'm missing something. I consider the country to be in distress. I consider the country to be in decline. I welcome anyone who wants to help reverse that -- and the first step in reversing it would be to simply acknowledge that there is a problem that needs reversing.

The shirt does not bother me. I am not offended.

2 posted on 05/26/2015 7:36:22 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Claire Wolfe should check her watch. It's time.)
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To: NorCoGOP

We ARE in distress as what the upside down flag symbolizes.


3 posted on 05/26/2015 7:37:22 AM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company last election, and I laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: ClearCase_guy

The Anarchy symbol on the sleeve bothers me more


4 posted on 05/26/2015 7:37:40 AM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: NorCoGOP

I would wear the T-shirt if PacSun added “Obama’s Fundamental Transformation of America”


5 posted on 05/26/2015 7:37:45 AM PDT by twister881
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To: ClearCase_guy
What I particularly found offensive was the sleeve - the Anarchy symbol.

Plus the shirt is produced by a rap artist who clearly has anti-American sentiment in their visuals.

6 posted on 05/26/2015 7:37:46 AM PDT by NorCoGOP (Ashamed of my party....)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Agreed


7 posted on 05/26/2015 7:37:51 AM PDT by StoneWall Brigade
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To: NorCoGOP

International sign of DISTRESS!

It’s a statement..................


8 posted on 05/26/2015 7:40:41 AM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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To: ClearCase_guy

I agree and said so yesterday on FB. I said maybe after Obama is out of office they can turn the flag right-side-up.


9 posted on 05/26/2015 7:41:11 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: ClearCase_guy

Your failure to be offended by this retailing of an item which is in extremely poor taste is more of an example of lowered standards in the nation than you likely are ever going to be able to truly appreciate.


10 posted on 05/26/2015 7:42:04 AM PDT by Radix ("..Democrats are holding a meeting today to decide whether to overturn the results of the election.")
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To: ClearCase_guy

Seems to me it’s a good idea! The Republic is definitely in peril!


11 posted on 05/26/2015 7:42:54 AM PDT by Savage Beast ("Inside every 'Liberal' is a totalitarian screaming to get out!")
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To: ClearCase_guy

Anti-Obama shirt?


12 posted on 05/26/2015 7:43:45 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: ClearCase_guy

I have received snail mails with the US flag stamp upside down.

Considering the sender, I interpret it as a distress signal for the country.


13 posted on 05/26/2015 7:44:01 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (an icon of resistance within the oppressed patriots, who represent resilience in the face of SSV)
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To: NorCoGOP

Bad taste is not against the law as far as I know.


14 posted on 05/26/2015 7:45:43 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: Radix

And so the flame wars begin...

Why not direct your fire at PacSun if the shirt offends you so deeply instead of at FReepers who have a different opinion than yours?

And FTR, I’m a bit conflicted about the shirt only because of the anarchy symbol on the sleeve...not clear on the real intent or message being attempted here.


15 posted on 05/26/2015 7:46:04 AM PDT by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
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To: Radix
Your failure to be offended by this retailing of an item which is in extremely poor taste is more of an example of lowered standards in the nation than you likely are ever going to be able to truly appreciate.

I disagree. While it may be in poor taste, associating an image with a message as an individual has a long and storied history in the US. The inclusion of an anarchist symbol bothers me more than the upside down flag.

Once, any clothing with an image of the flag was considered verboten. Now, images of the flag are fair game. I'm not sure I agree that the acceptance of such images on clothing is a lowering of standards, although it is definitely an evolution of them.

16 posted on 05/26/2015 7:48:45 AM PDT by MortMan (All those in favor of gun control raise both hands!)
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To: Radix
Your failure to be offended

Perhaps I should become one of those guys who is constantly offended by everything. On the whole, I consider a failure to be offended to be a good thing.

17 posted on 05/26/2015 7:48:49 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Claire Wolfe should check her watch. It's time.)
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To: NorCoGOP

Maybe PacSun could make a shirt with the prophet Muhammad upside down.

They could see what the “edgy” reaction would be.


18 posted on 05/26/2015 7:49:45 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: NorCoGOP

I think the “raising the basketball backboard” is very clever and actually respectful, certainly more respectful than some starlet wearing an American flag on her ass.


19 posted on 05/26/2015 7:49:52 AM PDT by bravo whiskey (we shouldn't fear the government. the government should fear us.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

My thoughts exactly.


20 posted on 05/26/2015 7:54:49 AM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
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