First Class Flag
You can purchase stamps at the post office with all varieties of designs or messages—special ones for holidays, weddings, even commemorating “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek. But most folks, especially when getting a roll of stamps, get a stamp bearing the likeness of the American flag…sometimes alone, sometimes with words such as “Freedom” alongside.
I noticed something in looking over the cards and letters we’ve gotten at KXEL recently…how the stamp is put on the envelope. One of you sent me a card with a “Freedom” flag stamp, and I noticed it was upside down. Being left-handed, with stamp rolls designed for right-handed people, I did not think much of it.
But then came another, and another…pretty soon, we had more correspondence with upside down flags than not.
OK, now I see what you’re doing.
Near as the interwebs can tell me, this silent protest started back in 2004, from folks who were against the war going on at the time. Flying the actual flag upside down is recognized as a symbol of distress. So the anti-war folks started pasting the postage stamps upside down to suggest the country was on the wrong track.
I’m not aware of any formal or organized movement to do this these days, but that makes it even better…apparently many of you think the country is going in the wrong direction and you’re sending out a signal of distress, all on your own.
It’s never my role to suggest what anyone should do…just to let you know that many KXEL listeners have taken to using their first-class postage to send a message. You take it from here.
