I just finished reading this thread and thought I would add a few thoughts. Without seeing the T-Shirt I can't actually say but from your discription I do get a creepy feeling about it. I have seen a lot of artwork where people, perhaps well meaning, have overstepped the bounds, at least in my opinion, of good taste. I have seen graphic designs that use the WTC in them and they do rub me the wrong way. Maybe it is because they are too emotional of a composition. I don't know. You were right in expressing your dislike and dissagreement over the design. Especially, you were correct to change your mind and not purchase the flags.

As for the suggestions about people profiting on the sale of patriotic items I have this thought. I do not have any problem with someone who has a good design photo or product making a profit off of them. Many of these people are business people and that is how they feed their families and pay their mortgages etc. They may have made personal donations to charities or donated blood etc. We do not know if these people are selfish opportunists or not. I do not think it is necessary to expect or reqire that everything patriotic or related to the attacks have a donation to a charity attached. While that is nice and I would hope people do that I do not think less of someone who is not offering such contributions. The real issue, as I see it, is in what the persons motivations are and how reasonable they are. As a photographer, myself, $15 for an 8x10(?) (wasn't specified what size) is not unreasonable for a framable print. I think I said regarding auctions in another thread that while maybe too soon to be selling items (the day after the attack) I thought the nature of the items and pricing was more important than whether someone was selling them. Tasteful momentos have a place in helping people to cope, remember and memorialize. I used to walk past the Sears Tower every day and have been to the top several times. I am always in awe of the marvel of that accomplishment. I wish I could have seen the NY skyline with the twin towers. It must have been equally or even more spectacular. That is a marvel of American Accomplishment that is now gone forever. I feel there is a place for tastefull momementos of the WTC. Now if people go out and overprice and take advantage of the situation I would agree there is a serious problem with that.

Many of the T-Shirt designers, who produce tasteful designs are providing a service and product to citizens who feel they need some device to express their patriotism and support. I believe there is a value in that service and therefore it is fair for a designer to make a fair return on their efforts. If they, as I have mentioned, artificially inflate the prices to take advantage of peoples emotions and patriotism without making any attempt to pass some of that on to a worthy cause than I believe it is wrong and should not be patronized. Also, those who would use these types of items to collect money on the pretence that they are giving part of proceeds to charity than they don't, those people should, as one person mentioned in another post, be sent out to NYC with a sign on their backs saying I cheated charities out of citizens donations. I think it is one thing to feed and satisfy the countries appetite and need for patriotism and rememberance and be rewarded for it. It is totally different to gourge yourself on it.