Desecration of Flag

[loonlovers]

In of all places, Liberty Park, a Village resident on Trellis Lane has chosen to lower his flag pole and fly the American Flag upside down and dragging on the ground in protest of the election. Many neighborhood residents are extremely upset and have spoken with the individual involved and even called Community Watch and the Sheriffs Office. I know this individual has been granted certain rights by The Constitution but his blatant disrespect of our American Flag is a travesty. Shame on him.

[goodgrief]

In of all places, Liberty Park, a Village resident on Trellis Lane has chosen to lower his flag pole and fly the American Flag upside down and dragging on the ground in protest of the election. Many neighborhood residents are extremely upset and have spoken with the individual involved and even called Community Watch and the Sheriffs Office. I know this individual has been granted certain rights by The Constitution but his blatant disrespect of our American Flag is a travesty. Shame on him.

Being the daughter of a serviceman I completely understand the upset over disrespect of the flag. Upside down (sign of distress) but as an american he /she should never let the flag touch the ground...never...that is complete disrespect, just as though they were burning it. Hopefully it will be rectified. A lot of upset individuals today.

[BobnBev]

In the service, he would have found himself the winner of a blanket
party. You Vets know what I'm sayin----:clap2::22yikes:

[gerryann]

Very disturbing situation. Maybe the fella doesn't have all his faculties, and isn't aware of how wrong and disrespectful this is. Sad.

[Ron52]

If you are not proud of your flag and your country, then get out. We do not want you.

[goodgrief]

In the service, he would have found himself the winner of a blanket
party. You Vets know what I'm sayin----:clap2::22yikes:


:clap2::clap2::1rotfl::

[JoeC1947]

And to think that my only son is fighting a war in Afghanistan for him/her. How disgraceful. It makes me sick.

[jblum315]

In of all places, Liberty Park, a Village resident on Trellis Lane has chosen to lower his flag pole and fly the American Flag upside down and dragging on the ground in protest of the election. Many neighborhood residents are extremely upset and have spoken with the individual involved and even called Community Watch and the Sheriffs Office. I know this individual has been granted certain rights by The Constitution but his blatant disrespect of our American Flag is a travesty. Shame on him.

:blahblahblah::blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

[JoeC1947]

:blahblahblah::blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

Can you please explain your feelings in real words so we know how you really feel?

[blueash]

He is non-violently expressing his opinion. That you object means he has found an effective method of "speaking" The flag hopefully symbolizes the better nature of our country and as such is a useful object for symbolic speech. I prefer his choice to fly a flag upside down to other methods of venting his anger that could threaten the safety of others. Freedom of expression also means defending speech that you find abhorent. That is America's genius.

[raynitsche]

It's a sign of distress which I would assume is over the results of the election. I'm sure he'll remove shortly.

[JeffAVEWS]

It's actually very cleaver, makes his point and does not run afoul of the "No Signs" restriction. I was going to do the same thing had the events gone the other way. I'm ok with it up side down but not dragging on the ground

[redwitch]

There's absolutely no excuse for having the flag touch the ground. I truly hate the idea that anyone served in the military for someone to think they have the right to be so disrespectful of our nation and our flag, regardless of how they feel about an election. There are other ways to show an opinion (upsidedown is yucky, but not totally disrespectful).

[BarryRX]

As a Vietnam veteran, I always thought that one of the things I was fighting for was for that guy to have the right to behave like a total jerk. I don't like what he's doing and I am offended by it, but I fully support his right to be an idiot.

[B & G]

Saw the flag yesterday. It was not dragging on the ground.

[BobnBev]

Can you please explain your feelings in real words so we know how you really feel?

I can't figure it out, either.:agree:

[BobnBev]

And to think that my only son is fighting a war in Afghanistan for him/her. How disgraceful. It makes me sick.

I would say you are a good parent and raised a good son. You should be very proud. Please tell him we thank him for his service, and for protecting us. He will be in my prayers, as will all our brave servicemen and women, and we hope for their safe return shortly. Thank you for your post.:mademyday:

[Figmo Bohica]

As a Vietnam veteran, I always thought that one of the things I was fighting for was for that guy to have the right to behave like a total jerk. I don't like what he's doing and I am offended by it, but I fully support his right to be an idiot.

Welcome home brother. I guess we fought for the same things. Dontcha just love the total jerks.

[JoeC1947]

I would say you are a good parent and raised a good son. You should be very proud. Please tell him we thank him for his service, and for protecting us. He will be in my prayers, as will all our brave servicemen and women, and we hope for their safe return shortly. Thank you for your post.:mademyday:

Thank You! Yes, we are very proud of him. We just talked to him on the phone this week and he's doing great. He was very excited because he got to fly in a Black Hawk. We're looking forward to his return in March.

[Penguin]

If you are not proud of your flag and your country, then get out. We do not want you.

:bigbow:

[mickey100]

As a Vietnam veteran, I always thought that one of the things I was fighting for was for that guy to have the right to behave like a total jerk. I don't like what he's doing and I am offended by it, but I fully support his right to be an idiot.

I agree with you Barry. I've seen people picketing and protesting things I don't agree with, but they have have that right, and I respect that even if I might be offended by their views. Some people took their loss in the election very seriously. I hope they can move on and accept what the majority of Americans voted for.:angel:

[Taltarzac725]

We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than waving one's own, no better way to counter a flag burner's message than by saluting the flag that burns, no surer means of preserving the dignity even of the flag that burned than by - as one witness here did - according its remains a respectful burial. We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents.

-- Justice William J. Brennan, from his majority opinion in Texas v. Johnson (1989)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Johnson

[BobKat1]

Maybe this individual is protesting the fact that the state's election totals still aren't finalized.

[blueash]

"We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than waving one's own, no better way to counter a flag burner's message than by saluting the flag that burns, no surer means of preserving the dignity even of the flag that burned than by - as one witness here did - according its remains a respectful burial. We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents. "

-- Justice William J. Brennan, from his majority opinion in Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Brennan has concisely articulated the reasoned response to flag burning and other uses of the flag to express an opinion. Thanks for finding that quote and posting it. And it of course not only is Brennan's opinion but the law of the land.

[eweissenbach]

The subject of this thread kind of reminds me of one of my favorite sayings -- "Often it is better to keep one's mouth shut (or in this case, one's flag flying correctly) and appear uninformed, than to open it and remove all doubt". I would say that that sort of behavior only tends to confirm his/her political adversaries' suspicions about his/her sanity. In other words, it gives comfort to the (his/her) enemy.