American Glob

This is getting a bit tiresome.

Maybe the teacher would have been OK with this flag…

I wrote about this outrageous story back on December 3rd. It was unbelievable to me that a 90 year old veteran of two wars would be harassed by a neighborhood association for the flagpole in his front yard.

Well the battle is over and he won.

“RICHMOND, Va. —  A 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner’s association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.”

“The Sussex Square homeowners’ association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.”

“The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood’s aesthetic guidelines.”

It’s great news that this honored veteran won but it still seems like a battle he never should have been forced to fight.

Stories like this are maddening. I’m amazed that this sort of thing can even happen.

“90 year-old Colonel Van Barfoot has until Friday to remove the flagpole from his yard.”

“Since this saga began, it’s been played out on the radio from Washington D.C. to Boston, but many believe what is happening to this true American hero is tarnishing the image of Richmond.”

“Barfoot lives in the Sussex Square community in western Henrico County. He moved there in July, and was ordered to remove the flagpole from his front lawn when he flew the flag on Labor Day, and again on Veterans Day.”

“The homeowner’s association doesn’t explicitly forbid flagpoles but they must be “aesthetically appropriate”. Short flags are allowed on porches, but Barfoot says that’s not the way he was raised to respect the flag.”

“First of all, it’s not dignified, and it shows you got it in the half mast position… you can walk around here and I’ll bet you the American flag is hanging out in the rain, nobody ever checks it”, says Barfoot.”

“Family members say he’s the most decorated American combat veteran alive. Barfoot has been awared more than 20 medals, including the Medal of Honor, The Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.”

“Wounded in combat three times, Barfoot fought in World War II and in Vietnam.”

You would think someone at the neighborhood association would remind everyone that the guy served America in two wars. Let the man fly the flag he spent his life defending in any way he sees fit.

Obama’s army of leftist twits, known as “Organizing for America” decided to sponsor a video contest in which entrants would produce videos to help support the passage of ObamaCare. What qualifies as a “finalist” video you ask? Why, defacing the American Flag, of course!

Politico has a full report on this which you can read here. If you really want to know how this helps Obama and the Democrats, just read the comments at the bottom of the page.

A handful of local town meeting officials in the western Massachusetts town of Amherst are actively campaigning to host a couple of GITMO detainees there. Funny thing is, at least one of them is also responsible for making sure that American flags don’t fly in downtown Amherst on the anniversary of 9/11.

Michael Graham reports in today’s Boston Herald:

“Selectman Diana Stein was uncertain about supporting the article, the Springfield Republican reported, until she realized her fear of the detainees had been “propagandized” into her. The other “yes” vote, Gerald Weiss, had no such qualms, saying the detainees were “suffering because of the U.S. government.”

“Music to the ears of Ruth F. Hooke, who wrote the article and says the detainees “sound like fine guys. They’d fit right in Amherst.”

“She should know. As a member of Town Meeting, Hooke supported resolutions calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and granting the right to vote to non-citizens.”

“What does Hooke oppose? Military action against Iran and the flying of American flags in downtown Amherst – on 9/11.”

“Read that again: Ruth Hooke wants released Guantanamo detainees roaming downtown Amherst next Sept. 11, but she opposes flying American flags to commemorate that horrific day.”

Hey middle America, meet Amherst, Massachusetts where the American flag is (to some) a “symbol of terrorism.”

The volume on this video isn’t great but stay with it. Then walk around for a few minutes counting to ten so you don’t pick up your chair and start smashing things.

Michael Graham is a radio host at Boston talk station 96.9 WTKK. He has more details on this story at his website.

Last time I checked, Oregon was part of the United States which leads one to the obvious question… Who among us is offended by the American flag???

“ALBANY, Ore. – At the Oaks Apartments in Albany, the management can fly their own flag advertising one and two bedroom apartments – but residents have been told they can’t fly any flags at all.”

“Jim Clausen flies the American flag from the back of his motorcycle. He has a son in the military heading back to Iraq, and the flag – he said – is his way of showing support.”

“This flag stands for all those people,” said Clausen, an Oaks Apartment resident. “It stands for the people that can no longer stand – who died in wars. That’s why I fly this flag.”

“But to Oaks Apartment management, Clausen said, the American flag symbolizes problems.”

“He was told to remove the red, white and blue from both of his rides, or face eviction.”

“It floored me,” he said. “I can’t believe she was saying what she was saying.”

“Even long-time residents like Sharron White, who has flown a flag on her car for eight years, has been told to take it down.”

“White said management told her that “someone might get offended.”

“I just said to her ‘They’ll just have to get over it,’” White said.”

“Resident we talked to who had been approached to take down their flags all told us the same thing: that management told them the flags could be offensive because they live in a diverse community.”

FULL STORY

This really beats all.

Our elected representatives are repeatedly pushing legislation against the will of the majority.

Children are singing songs about Obama in public schools where Christmas carols have been outlawed.

And now Americans can’t fly the United States flag in our own country for fear of offending people?

Really? Really???

I am offended. Deeply offended.

I am getting more offended by the day.

You’re in luck! Some guy is selling them on eBay!

The seller must not be familiar with the official code for the United States flag…

§176. Respect for flag:

“The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”