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Anti-American sentiment on Hwy. 36 E

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Opinion
Thursday, May 31. 2012
Comments (16)
Responding to complaints from readers, The Herald-Gazette checked out a display of anti-American sentiment at a home located at 1119 Hwy 36 East here.

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#1 Randy Vining on 05/31/12 at 10:57 AM
He has a right to his opinion. Maybe his point is he feels like this has become more of a Hispanic country than America. Or maybe he really does not like America, at which point I am not sure why he is here?

Also just because Mr. Boyt owns the property, that does not mean it is his doings.
#2 No Thanks on 05/31/12 at 11:51 AM
No one said anything about his or her rights to an opinion. It is clearly a display of anti-American sentiment just as Walter says. This person is expressing his/her opinion in public which opens him/her up for ridicule from the public. Wish they all would be so arrogant.... it would make them a lot easier to spot. And if he/she don't like it here, wouldn't the logical choice be to leave? I do not think that area of Lamar County has become more of a Hispanic area.....yet. If I owned the property, this certainly would not be going on. Yet by having that "oh well" attitude we allow things such as these to fester and eventually grow out of control.
#3 No Thanks on 05/31/12 at 02:44 PM
And to show such disrespect for the flag of the United States of America in the days immediately post the one day each year set aside to memorialize those who served and died protecting our freedoms and the freedoms of these ungrateful maggots..... Go ahead and justify it in your head any way you want, but it makes me sick! This is the trickle-down Anti-American sentiment set forth by your anti-patriotic president which empowers these people.
#4 Yeu Kno Hu on 05/31/12 at 03:39 PM
Unless we actually talk to the person that put those flags that way, we really have no idea what their intention was. It is possible they put the flag up and did not realize it is wrong side up. Or, they might be making a statement about the state of distress our nation is in (the American flag being flown upside down is a indication of distress). Heck, they might have put it up correctly and someone else came along and changed it (some people are pretty lazy).

So, if everyone is so concerned, why don't they just ask them? Then you'll know for sure. Otherwise, this is just gossiping and not news.

Oh, whether we agree with it or like it, in this country we do have the freedom of speech and expression. As long as they are here legally and are abiding by the law, I have to be tolerant of their expressions as much as I want them to be of mine. However, it doesn't mean I can't express myself in a way that undermines or makes fun of their expression. Once again, that is part of the freedoms we are blessed with in the United States.
#5 Yeu Kno Hu on 05/31/12 at 03:41 PM
Funny how you are so upset at one person's freedom of speech and then turn around and exercise your freedom of speech to insult and indict the President of the United States.
#6 No Thanks on 05/31/12 at 04:55 PM
I don't think that I insulted or indicted your president at all. That is merely my perception and my opinion of him. He insults most Americans on a daily basis. It appears that you are the one who was insulted! Perhaps a die-hard supporter? And true, if this person is indeed a citizen of the United States, then he does have the right to freedom of speech.. if he/she is not then he does not own that right here! And your speech about tolerance is evident in the fact that the flag remained flying in this fashion without someone taking corrective action directed at the offending person. This was not posted in the "news" section, it was posted in the "opinion" section. Oh about flying the flag to indicate distress.....that was used in maritime operations a hundred years ago. I don't see any distress in the picture.

Yes our country is in distress.... because we tolerate everything under the sun and extend our freedoms (and our tax money) to anyone who can sneak across our borders. And based on the comments posted here thusfar, I would say that we are in worse shape than I thought.

And I, as a natural born citizen of this County, can be tolerant, but I can also express my own opinion about those who chose to make such public displays which obviously are committed to inflame the conscious of the patriotic citizens of this country.

The United States Flag Code stipulates that as the symbol of a living country, the flag is considered in itself a living thing and should be properly displayed and cared for. The code outlines the proper ways to display the American flag.

Raise the flag briskly. Lower it ceremoniously.
Never allow the flag to touch the ground or floor.
Do not fly the flag in bad weather, unless it is an all-weather flag.
The flag can only be flown at night if properly illuminated. Otherwise, it should only be flown from sunrise to sunset.
The flag should always be allowed to fall free.
The flag should never be used to carry, store, or deliver anything.
Never fly the flag upside down except to signal an emergency.


Read more: When and How to Display the U.S. Flag http://www.infoplease.com/spot/flagetiquette1.html#ixzz1wUCOhtJB
#7 No Thanks on 05/31/12 at 05:12 PM
And how do you know that they weren't contacted by a concerned neighbor and given the benefit of the doubt and they told the person to go to hell and they hung it that way on purpose? Does that change your thinking? Probably not.
#8 Yeu Kno Hu on 05/31/12 at 08:20 PM
Dude...don't be so stupid.

First of all, like him or not, he is the President of the United States. That means that if you call yourself a citizen of the United States that he is your president as well. Unless, of course, you are now denouncing your citizenship in which case anything you have to say is pointless.

Second, he is not the person I voted for or wanted to be the president. You assume a lot just because I put you on the spot about your hypocritical position. You know nothing about me so stop making yourself look like a fool by making such ignorant statements.

Interesting that you are so enraged at the apparent lack of respect this person has for the country, but you put all your effort here instead of addressing the culprit. Seems you are lacking in a little intestinal fortitude. Are you really worked up about it or do you just want to complain? If you are really worked up, lead the charge, dude. Go confront them and explain how disrespectful it is for them to do that. Or, for that matter, creatively point out their disrespect to draw unwanted attention to them. Otherwise, your ranting here just makes you seem like a whiner.

You are completely free to express your opinion. I was calling you out in writing because your wording made it clear that you believe the person who hung that flag upside-down should have their freedom of expression curtailed, but yours should be unhindered. Don't you see the hypocrisy there?

Finally, as part of the code, that is a guideline for the handling of the flag and is not a law in the same sense as actual laws. Burning, wearing, slicing up, flying, using as wall paper and any other use of the flag is permissible except when officially displayed (such as on a military base). As a former member of the 82nd Airborne, I am very familiar with the proper etiquette and treatment of the flag. There is a difference between how government employees can handle it and private Joe citizen can handle it.

Per my above paragraph: as a former paratrooper and member of the United States Army, I put my but on the line for this nation. I believe in it so much, I answered the call. Did you? I did my part so you could look like a jack ass and speak your mind just like I did for that guy on HWY 36 East so he can look like an idiot. And I would do it again. Like I said before, you don't know me so stop being such a jerk about it.
#9 Charlie Muise on 05/31/12 at 08:26 PM
No thanks, in what way does OUR president "insult most Americans on a daily basis"? How is he "anti-American"? I've never seen any example of either. If you dislike his policies, say so. That is your right. But to use outlandish statements like that does not contribute to any sort of intelligent debate.

Oh, and it's completely irrelevant to this conversation.

Charlie Muise
#10 Yeu Kno Hu on 05/31/12 at 08:27 PM
Lots of ifs there, buddy. And, no, it doesn't change my thinking at all. If they did it maliciously and with intent, the it really upsets me. But for me, when something bothers me enough, I do something about it, not just cry and complain on a local newspaper blog.

Freedom of speech has nothing to do with that speech being popular or pleasant. The KKK gets to march and spew hate just like the New Black Panthers. For me to be able to say and express myself the way I want I have to, within reasonable bounds (can't yell fire in crowded theater), be willing to allow the next guy to express themselves the way they want. That guy flying that flag upside down has the same right to be a jerk just like you do. If someone did confront him, good for them! I salute that person. However, at the end of the day the guys gets to be a jack ass just like you.

What is sad to me is the fact that you don't seem to get the concept of freedom of speech this country gives us any more than that guy flying the flag upside down. You seem at least moderately intelligent, what about this can't you get?
#11 No Thanks on 05/31/12 at 09:44 PM
Wow did I step on some precious liberal toes or what? And did you really refer to me as "dude" and "buddy"? I assume absolutely nothing about you beyond what you present in your comments. Seems the only crying is being done by you and now one other. I have accomplished what I set out to do which is to express my opinion and engage the obviously braindead amongst us. As for your purported life experience....well you can be anything you wanna be on the world wide web can't you? Yet still I wonder what makes you qualified to pronounce anyone "moderately intelligent"?

And to #4....nevermind. If you haven't picked up on it by now there is no hope for you.

Really, I would love to continue this battle of wits with you all, but I must get up and go to work in the morning so I can fund someone's welfare. My hypocrisy only goes so far! I am through now!
#12 Yeu Kno Hu on 05/31/12 at 10:24 PM
Wow...you are the very definition of stuck on stupid. Come one, admit it. You don't want to continue the battle of wits because you are completely unarmed.

Have a nice life, dude.
#13 Julia Heidbrink on 06/01/12 at 06:15 AM
Walter, I am not sure what to think. Section 8a of the United States Flag Code states, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

Here is a good link on Flag etiquette: http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

If the flag is displayed upside down we need to know what the distress is. If the flag is flown upside down as a sign of protest, then those protesters need to go back to their own country. We don't need that stuff here.

Julia
#14 No Thanks on 06/01/12 at 06:51 AM
As of this morning there is a nice new flag displayed properly..... apparently the distress has passed.

5.1 you can go collect your check (its the 1st of the month) and find some other liberal cause to comment on.
#15 Yeu Kno Hu on 06/01/12 at 08:09 AM
Wow...just when I was thinking you couldn't possibly be as stupid as I thought you were last night, you proved me wrong.

Dude: find a new line. You are so wrong about me it is sad.
#16 Julia Heidbrink on 06/01/12 at 08:17 AM
Sometimes, when the people speak, things change. That is good to know!

Thanks for posting the update!

Julia
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