The following is online feedback to Tim Kearns’ April 21 column “When does decoration become desecration?”

You make an excellent observation, Tim: Most of those who mistreat the flag are self-proclaimed patriots who pretend to hold the flag in high esteem and probably favor a Constitutional amendment banning flag desecration. To many of them it is a crime against humanity to burn a flag, but it is perfectly fine to fashion one into a thong and let it ride up someone’s butt.

However, I think we simply put too much effort and energy into a symbol. A flag is, after all, a piece of cloth. I think what the flag stands for is more important than the fabric itself. A real patriot is someone who values his/her country and its citizens, not merely someone with a flag lapel pin.

When a symbol is more important than its referent, both are worthless.

Robin Stone