Sign of distress?

RATHDRUM - It's a divide between the literal and the figurative.

And the blurry line offends some, while others say it's perfectly OK, regardless of its literal plea.

It's an upside down Unites States flag, which is how Kootenai County resident Kerry Domenichelli is hanging his national colors at his property on North Idaho Road to voice his dissatisfaction with the direction he says the country is heading.

He just thinks the federal government is taking too much power from the states, so he flipped his flag in January.

"We're fine," Domenichelli explained. "I don't know about nationally, but personally we're OK."

But others say the signal is far too serious for simply making a statement.

When the blue Union field with its 50 white stars sits closer to the ground than the sky, it's code for distress - serious life or death danger like a sinking vessel or a building under attack.

Domenichelli's home isn't under fire. Nor is it sinking.

He just doesn't like current politics.

"Freedoms are disappearing, jobs are gone, our economy is going into the tank and the government seems to be taking over everything," he said. "This is nothing like the country I grew up in as a child."

That, he said, "sounds like distress to me."

Not quite, others said.

A government building, or Army base, being overrun by armed assailants is when the flag should fly upside down, as an emergency cry to the outside world. Anything less is a slap in the face to anyone who has been a part of such a scene, they said.

"I am offended," said Peter Tacconelli, Domenichelli's neighbor.

Tacconelli's family has a military history, and his friends and family have noticed the flag when they visit.

"There are government issues going on but what really offends me is he's sleeping peaceful every night," Tacconelli said of his protesting neighbor. "He's not alone (in his political feelings) but I don't see how that's sending out the right message."

Health care reform, financial reform, or any Washington reform doesn't justify such an action, he said, even though Americans have the right to do it.

Dusty Rhoads, 26-year United States Air Force and Vietnam veteran, said flying the upside down signal arbitrarily could be especially upsetting for veterans.

"I'd probably go knock on someone's door," Rhoads said, should he to come across a house flying the colors so. "I can't speak for others, but I would imagine most veterans would agree with that. That flag needs to be treated with respect."

Instead, Rhoads said, the signal should only be "when you're seized or under gun point."

Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code says it's only for "instances of extreme danger to life or property."

Yet, others said the time for flying upside down could be now.

"That's why I would do it, because of fricking (President Barack) Obama and all the communists," said Bryce Clarambeau, who lived next to Domenichelli for four years, and doesn't appreciate current Washington politics. "If that's why (Domenichelli is doing it), he's right."

Meanwhile, Domenichelli, who was in the Army, said he's surprised at the attention he has received since he turned the flag over on his property just outside Rathdrum. He said one woman drove up to him and asked if everything was all right, before driving off with a surprised look on her face when she learned why the flag was so.

"We're not under attack," Domenichelli said. "Don't send the minute men."

"She probably thought I was another lunatic," he said.