[wmcgowan]

Originally Posted by TimeForChange

I have an American flag with a Trump flag under it in the center of my flower garden. This morning some idiot pulled the flag pole over, broke the golden ball on top and damaged my pole that I just repaired. I guess I can see getting mad and pulling some home owners pole over but they also just disrespected a US flag on Memorial day weekend. Some are really sick. As a disabled veteran I am ashamed and hurt that we have come to this point.

some people are compelled by their feelings to let emotions guide actions. next time you witness this nefarious activity - make sure you have video proof that clearly shows the perpetrators damaging your property. then - take them to criminal and civil court

[rphil11ort]

For this being the happiest place on earth there are some people who just do not belong

[johnny35640]

I too thank you for your service. I only served in the Tennessee Air Ntional Guard. I agree, the person who disrespectived the Flag os the scum of the earth

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

You were responding to OBB, I believe. Sadly, I can understand and imagine people thinking all types of things. That is why there are so many different points of view and so many ideologies. There will be lots of different posts on this thread and I expect opinions to run from one extreme to the other.
From one veteran to another, a most sincere THANK YOU for your service. Take heart knowing that there are many of us who are outraged at this terrible act of vandalism. To those who would hijack this thread to turn it into a discussion or debate on what they think is appropriate to fly with the American Flag, might I suggest starting another to address that subject. This is about a neighbor and veteran who has suffered trespass and vandalism and, regardless of whether I or anyone thinks of his political preference, deserves a little compassion on this day set aside to remember those who served and, especially, those who paid the ultimate price for our Freedom.

It was an act of vandalism. It was not a hate crime, it was not a this or that or the other thing. The fact that the owner is a veteran means nothing in regards to the topic: an act of trespassing and vandalism to personal property.

You are all turning it INTO a rant and tirade against disrespect for veterans...

when it was nothing more or less than an act of trespassing and vandalism on private property. Willful destruction, if such a thing is a law down here.

The only way it would be a matter of disrespect for veterans is if whoever did it knew that this person was a veteran, and was doing this intentionally BECAUSE they knew this person was a veteran. Somehow - I doubt that's what's happening.

Vandalism is wrong. When it happens you should call the police.

If you come to a forum posting about it, you have to expect people will nitpick the post.

If someone came to your front door and painted a smiley face on it...

would you include the fact that the door had a brass handle? Would you include the fact that your door was painted white, before the vandalism occured? Would you include the fact that the doorframe was cheap metal? Would you include the fact that the step leading to the door was made of brick? No? Why not? Because it doesn't matter. What matters is that someone painted a smiley face on your door.

Why then include the exact specific flag, when your intention is to inform people that someone broke the flagpole and trashed the flags? Here's why: because you are INVITING criticism. You're daring people to come out and say "stop putting those particular flags on your flagpole."

Again - if you don't want people to have a problem with your opinion, don't advertise it in a way that people can't just avoid it if they don't want to hear it.

I wear a shirt with a political message on it. You're only stuck seeing it on me for a day. And then it's gone for at least the next week. I have a bumper sticker on the inside of my golf cart. You're only stuck seeing it if you happen to be looking into my golf cart - and then I ask you - why are you looking into MY golf cart?

I don't fly MY candidate's flag on a flagpole - no one in my neighborhood does. We have more respect for each others' opinions than that. None of us want to force our neighbors to see someone we don't want to see, flying proudly under the flag of our country. No matter which candidate it is. The flagpole is not for advertising. If you want to advertise, put the ad on a different flagpole. It doesn't belong under the USA flag.

Sorry about the vandalism. Whoever did it was meshuggenah and should be tarred feathered and dragged around the town fair by a horse without a plug or bag hanging from its backside.

Also - don't create political threads if you don't want people to get political about it.

[Holpat39]

For all the posts entered here, remember the old saying, "live and let live". What a person flies on their flagpole in their own yard and is allowed by law should be able to do so with out vandalism or intimidation.

[Lottoguy]

I'm still surprised nobody has done the same to those who choose to fly the Confederate flag on their pole. Still wondering how this is allowed in The Villages. A Trump flag is one thing but the old "stars and bars" flying in this day and age is just not right.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Holpat39

For all the posts entered here, remember the old saying, "live and let live". What a person flies on their flagpole in their own yard and is allowed by law should be able to do so with out vandalism or intimidation.

Even if it is NOT allowed by law it should not result in vandalism.

Advertising is not allowed to be waved on the same flagpole as the American Flag.

This is an election year. Unless this person has had this flag waving since 2015 (the last election season) then he is advertising his chosen candidate, which is against the flag code.

He doesn't deserve to have his property vandalized, but he also shouldn't have that flag on the same pole as the American flag.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

I'm still surprised nobody has done the same to those who choose to fly the Confederate flag on their pole. Still wondering how this is allowed in The Villages. A Trump flag is one thing but the old "stars and bars" flying in this day and age is just not right.

I haven't ever seen the Battle Flag of the Army of North Virginia on anyone's flag pole, though I hear they are waving somewhere in the Villages. But when I do see one, I just chalk it up to stupid people being stupid, because they don't even realize the flag they're waving is NOT "the Confederate flag" as they think it is.

It's just reinforcement and confirmation that stupid is what stupid does, and a red flag (pun intended) for thinking sentient beings to find a different neighborhood to move into.

[17362]

Yes, I totally agree. One person has the right to put their opinion in their property. It’s not anyone else’s Right to do harm to their property including the mailbox that you pay for. Plain and simple and yes disrespectful of another persons rights. I looked the other way and didn’t become disrespectful in any form including, name calling, With that previous president for example and I would expect the same.
And that is exactly what’s wrong with 50% people today, no respect for others. Honestly I think it’s mental issues.

Originally Posted by Northwoods

So... No bumper stickers. No signs or stickers on cars or golf carts. OrangeBlossomBaby - Please go and talk to those people who park their anti-Trump carts with signs on the corner of 466A and Morse and tell them to stop shoving their opinion down everyone's throats. (Post when you're going to do this. I'd like to watch).

People have a right to their opinion. I might not agree with it. But I respect that they have a right to voice their opinion. I sort of think that's what this country was founded on.

[Jacob85]

I can certainly understand the anger that person had but you are right that it wasn’t right about doing that to the American flag. I don’t thing it’s really appropriate to have a flag for any president up there with the American flag but then I don’t recall any other president having their own flag but I could be wrong.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

I'm still surprised nobody has done the same to those who choose to fly the Confederate flag on their pole. Still wondering how this is allowed in The Villages. A Trump flag is one thing but the old "stars and bars" flying in this day and age is just not right.

Flying that traitorous flag, is no different than flying a Nazi flag (of which they share a lot of things)...but the 1st A still prevails and allows both.

Regardless of how racist/ignorant someone may be however, there is still never a reason to trespass...or especially to vandalize their property.

And yes, that goes for the golfer's who think nothing of entering someone's yard...to retrieve their $.15 golf ball.

[Lottoguy]

BTW only the American flag should fly on a pole. Nothing else is supposed to fly on that pole. A separate pole is needed to fly another flag, like a state or corporate flag. And then that pole MUST be shorter then the pole which is flying the American flag. So in a nutshell anyone who is flying a TRUMP flag below the American flag is going against the rules.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

BTW only the American flag should fly on a pole. Nothing else is supposed to fly on that pole. A separate pole is needed to fly another flag, like a state or corporate flag. And then that pole MUST be shorter then the pole which is flying the American flag. So in a nutshell anyone who is flying a TRUMP flag below the American flag is going against the rules.

Not exactly. You can fly a state flag, or a Veterans flag, under the American flag on the same flagpole. Or a POW flag, for instance.

But a sports team, presidential candidate, political or advertising message - those belong on different poles.

And they have to be flown lower than the American Flag, no matter which pole that American flag is flying from. So the poles can be the same height - but the other flags have to be lowered.

[Marylynn]

Their hate drains the love out of the world.

[bonnieww60]

Sorry this happened to you. Shame on the person that did this. No respect for people or their property.