The Omnibus

Disrespect shown by disrepair?

Flags outside Taylor and Sells buildings need replacing

Chris Stroud

Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Forum

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Media Credit: Jessica Oliver

The Christian flag waves in the breeze outside Taylor National Free Enterprise Center. Tattered edges are rife in all three flags flying. If the flags get replaced, Stroud contends that a SBU flag should be flown.

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It is nice to know that the bricks to repair the fountain are now at the Physical Plant. This will improve the view of the Forum.
While I applaud that the eyesore is under repair, another eyesore that is far more disrespectful to the students and the University still exists.
What is worse is that this embarrassment can be rectified for less than $200 and can be done in about five minutes. Replace the faded, frayed, and worn flags in the circle.
According to section 8k of the Flag Code (United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 - The Flag), "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." I think "no longer a fitting emblem for display" sums up the current flags' condition.
When the flags are replaced, why not fly a flag with SBU's seal instead of the ecumenical Christian flag?
Charles Overton came up with the concept of a Christian Flag while giving an improvised speech on September 26, 1897 to the Sunday school class in Brighton Chapel on Coney Island.
Ten years later Overton and Ralph Diffendorfer, secretary of the Methodist's Young People's Missionary Movement, created and promoted the new flag to other Methodist and Protestant churches.
Protestant missionaries began carrying the Christian Flag throughout Latin America and Africa. It has not spread as widely in Europe because Catholicism and the Orthodox religions use their own flags. Even in the U.S., where it is most common, its use is not widespread. Episcopal Churches generally fly the Episcopalian flag. SBU should fly its own colors.
As an ecumenical symbol, the Christian flag is not tied to any denomination or institution exclusively. It is open to use and interpretation by one and all. Defined narrowly, ecumenism means unity among all denominations of Christianity despite differing dogmas, trappings and histories. Defined broadly, ecumenism could mean worldwide religious unity under a single Christian Church.

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