American Flag Rant

[ingmansinc]

I've been going to talk about this issue for sometime now, and today is the day. Just NE of downtown Orlando, Fl. is an area commonly referred to as Chinatown. It has a large business population made of of primarily Chinese and Vietnamese shops and restaurants. In the center of this business district the flag of South Viet Nam is display at the top of a single pole with no American flag anywhere. I have seen it there for two years and am going to finally make an issue of this myself. I can't believe nobody else has ever done anything about it.

Furthermore about ten years ago an American flag was displayed in front of a strip mall that housed the Navy recruiting office and it was so tattered that I stopped and ask the recruiter who was out front smoking why they didn't replace it with a new one. He said it wasn't his job. I got out of my truck and took it off the pole myself and drove off.

What I don't understand is why local officials, Vets organizations, LEO, etc. don't notice and get something done about this kind of situation. I almost feel like a stand alone whiner in the middle of a sea of apathy.

 

[ingmansinc]

I've been going to talk about this issue for sometime now, and today is the day. Just NE of downtown Orlando, Fl. is an area commonly referred to as Chinatown. It has a large business population made of of primarily Chinese and Vietnamese shops and restaurants. In the center of this business district the flag of South Viet Nam is display at the top of a single pole with no American flag anywhere. I have seen it there for two years and am going to finally make an issue of this myself. I can't believe nobody else has ever done anything about it.

Furthermore about ten years ago an American flag was displayed in front of a strip mall that housed the Navy recruiting office and it was so tattered that I stopped and ask the recruiter who was out front smoking why they didn't replace it with a new one. He said it wasn't his job. I got out of my truck and took it off the pole myself and drove off.

What I don't understand is why local officials, Vets organizations, LEO, etc. don't notice and get something done about this kind of situation. I almost feel like a stand alone whiner in the middle of a sea of apathy.

 

[pps]

I feel the same way. When my flag gets tattered our local vfw hall will properly dispose of it. As far as displaying other countries flags and not the US, about all you can do is don't patronize them.

I almost got fired about ten years ago from a home health job because I refused to go into a home where the mexican flag was flown in the absence of an American flag over it. If they want the "free" medicaid they can at least do the courtesy of showing a little respect to our country.

 

[oldfella]

This is what we apparently have become, a bunch of sheep. You, sir, must do what needs to be done - contact TV and radio stations, make as much noise as needed and get the job done yourself- you'll feel better about yourself and others will follow your example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoeqlTDPyTY

Pete

 

[gruntsrus]

Well, I don't mean to disappoint you but here's my story of what I interpret to be Communism in America: January 2007, in the Janesville, Wisconsin General Motors facility, the Plant Manager Gary Malkus said the U.S. flags had to be removed from inside the factory. The reason? He said..." It [U.S. Flag] does not have G.M. content, therefore it is non-conforming."!!? Gary Malkus is now the Plant Manager in Lake Orion, Michigan operations, and the Janesville facility is now closed. There's no coincidence there, but I believed it was a portention of things to come, back in 2007; Corporate America wants nothing to do with the U.S. except feeding from the trough filled by... "We the People".

 

[Mustang51]

I'm not sure if it's largely apathy, or ignorance. Last year, my wife stopped her car when she noticed an American flag stuffed in our neighbor's trash can. She brought it home, my son and I folded it, and subsequently took it to the VFW for proper disposal. These neighbors are also the ones who festoon their house with college football flags, and decorate their yard with signs for every politician whom I despise. I thought about writing them a note, but then thought better of it...what's the point?

 

[BE Mike]

I posted another related topic regarding a vet in Reno, Nevada. I agree that this is a prime opportunity for organizations like the American Legion and VFW to take the lead and educate businesses who display American Flags improperly and those who display foreign flags, especially when they display them above our own. This could defuse confrontational situations. With the right people taking the lead, it would be a great service to the community. Maybe members of these organizations should let their leadership know how they feel about this.

 

[redlevel]

That's outrageous.

What is also outrageous to me is to see all the patriotic Americans on the 4th of July dripping BarBQ sauce on the American Flag on the front of their T-shirts, or the beach towels, director's chairs, table cloths, ad nauseam, with grass stains, dirt, food, and people's butts defiling the Flag.

 

[cudamank]

By letting people use "Free Speech" to cover the desecration of the flag, and the undermining of Nationalism has brought us here.

 

[FrankD45]

Unfortunately this has become pretty common. Some of you may recall, last year when I closed on my new home, I was standing in the street with my realtor (a disabled Marine vet) when we noticed that the flag on their pole was torn and twisted. We took it upon ourselves to take down the flag, and properly folded it. We then proceeded to "instruct" the realtor on the proper care and display of the flag. I felt pretty good that day.

Frank

 

[Guest]

the flag of South Viet Nam

Since this particular "Country" no longer exists the flag is nothing more than a rag stuck on a pole and I see nothing to be concerned about. Now, if it were an NVA flag I'd likely have more to say on the subject!

As for what you did at the strip mall, well, you could be charged with "Theft" because what you did was you stole private property. You should have talked to whoever owned the Mall. As for the Recruiter, well he was right - legally - but then he too should have made contact with the Mall owner. But, then many of our so called "Professional Military" is just a bunch of guys/gals wearing the same kind of clothes and drawing a pay check for doing their time. From what I've seen locally they are simply trading one set of "Gangwear" for another.

 

[mtb1bkr]

Originally posted by KKG:
But, then many of our so called "Professional Military" is just a bunch of guys/gals wearing the same kind of clothes and drawing a pay check for doing their time. From what I've seen locally they are simply trading one set of "Gangwear" for another.

KKG, I wish I could say you are full of $hit but I can't. We are seeing a fare share of young men come into the Corps off the streets and not leave their "affiliations" behind. Fortunatley, a lot of them are caught and put behind bars and then given the boot shen their time is served. I've seen quite a few go down for "possible gang related activity." It usually comes with a drug bust.

Bill

 

[paladin42]

When the flag at our local park became tattered I bought a new one and asked the park ranger if I could take down the old flag and put up the new one. He said that I could. However, I've never again seen a tattered flag flying over the park headquarters.

 

[7shooter]

There is a Vietnam War Memorial that is just off the main street in St. Cloud, MN. The memorial includes a beautiful granite monument and a list of the local men who died in the war. It flies both the American and South Viet Nam flags. The dedication of the memorial was attended by American and ARVN veterans of the Viet Nam War. It feels like a sacred place. The local Viet Nam vets organization designed the monument to show respect to everyone who fought for freedom in that war. I donated money for the monument and see nothing wrong with flying both flags.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by 7shooter: There is a Vietnam War Memorial that is just off the main street in St. Cloud, MN. The memorial includes a beautiful granite monument and a list of the local men who died in the war. It flies both the American and South Viet Nam flags...

Now that is a place where "it" isn't just a "rag on a pole" and never will be but just stuck in front of a store is not the same at all.

 

[7shooter]

KKG
I agree .

 

[CelticSire]

Originally posted by ingmansinc:
What I don't understand is why local officials, Vets organizations, LEO, etc. don't notice and get something done about this kind of situation.

Because most of them either don't care or afraid of offending someone. I've never had an issue with either, so I tend to speak up, sometimes quite loudly, when I see the American flad being disrespected. Yes, I'm that a**hole at ball games that will tell you to take off your hat and show respect during the National Anthem. I'm also the a**hole who took a K-Mart manager to task (off to the side, and very amicably) for his store using the flag as a tablecoloth for a 4th of July sales display a few years ago. I've fought for that flag, bled for it, and lost some very dear friends for it. I'll be dam*ed if I stand idly by and let someone disrespect it.

 

[Kitgun]

Why worry about the flag? The Country it represented no longer exists.

 

[ingmansinc]

Originally posted by KKG:

the flag of South Viet Nam

Since this particular "Country" no longer exists the flag is nothing more than a rag stuck on a pole and I see nothing to be concerned about. Now, if it were an NVA flag I'd likely have more to say on the subject!

As for what you did at the strip mall, well, you could be charged with "Theft" because what you did was you stole private property. You should have talked to whoever owned the Mall. As for the Recruiter, well he was right - legally - but then he too should have made contact with the Mall owner. But, then many of our so called "Professional Military" is just a bunch of guys/gals wearing the same kind of clothes and drawing a pay check for doing their time. From what I've seen locally they are simply trading one set of "Gangwear" for another.

When local LEO do not enforce the laws of our country I will take it upon myself to do so when it is a matter as simple as removing a flag that is in violation of U.S. Code. If this were to get me arrested then so be it. I know in my heart I am right.

United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag
§8. Respect for flag
k. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

As far as the South Vietnamese flag I agree with what you say, but it just seems pretty low that those people in that part of the city wouldn't want to show some respect for the country that paid such a high price fighting for them.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by ingmansinc: ...When local LEO do not enforce the laws of our country I will take it upon myself to do so...

Well, it seems that I missed the part where you called 911 OR where you contacted the Mall owner; before, you took it upon yourself to <STRIKE>remove</STRIKE> Steal the Flag in question.

Oh, and I don't know of any law that requires any individual to fly the US Flag at time or for any reason. So, for my money those people weren't doing anything wrong by not flying the US Flag.