EDITORIAL:

We at the Daily Pilot certainly don’t like to see the American flag flying upside down.

In front of our building in Costa Mesa, if flies upright, fluttering gloriously in the breeze.

However, it’s important to note that the flag, materially speaking, is not worth much.

Instead, its worth comes from what it symbolizes, which is our freedom and way of life in America. In fact, it is the most revered secular symbol in our society (the cross is the most revered religious symbol).

Because of this, we support the right of the Piecemakers — a religious sect that operates a business in Costa Mesa — to fly the flag upside down, despite the fact that it incenses many, including one veteran who took down the flag several times, only to see it replaced by another.

Marie Kolasinski, the 87-year-old founder of the Piecemakers, stands by her decision.

“We’re a nation in distress,” she said, citing the loss of American values. “We’ve lost those, and I’ll be damned if I fly it now.”

Kolasinski, whose rustic store sells arts and crafts, has a history of controversy, and is no shrinking violet when it comes to voicing her opinion.

Let’s be clear: We do not like seeing the flag flown upside down.

But we support this woman’s right to do so. And lest we forget: The flag represents the rugged, individual freedoms upon which this country was founded. And those freedoms may be disagreeable or even offensive, yet they are still protected, for the most part, by our founding documents, particularly the 1st Amendment to the Bill of Rights, which imbues all individuals with the right to express themselves.

When we look at the flag we would all do well to remember what it stands for, and why it is such a revered symbol.

And we should be careful about impinging on others’ freedoms to display it as they choose, according to their sensibilities, which may be different from our own.