Angered at a Memorial Day parade

[Momz]

My wife and I just returned from going to see the Dearborn MI annual Memorial Day parade.

It is the typical hometown parade with Disabled Vets, ROTC, DAR, AMVETS, K of C chapters, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, politians, High School Marching bands, etc.

But the group that got my goat was the Lebanese American Youth Group. They all carried very large Labanese flags up high on poles and small American flags below them. Now I don't claim to know everything about patriotic decorum, but I thought that was an insult to America and especially to what this holiday stands for.

Both of my parents came to this country after WWII and be came citizens ASAP. They stressed that although my brother and I are children of immigrants; we are American by birth. Being American means that you have rights and privledges. These privledges do not include flying another countries flag above our own.

Am I wrong?

[Dogg]

not wrong. it is disrespectful...

[hubcapsc]

No one's more of a kook for a flag other than Old Glory than I am, but I'd never fly it
in a position of superiority to Old Glory, and besides, it's the rule, no matter what your
opinion is...



-Mike

[fiddle mike]

You might  contact  the organizers and ask them what idiot allowed a non-American group to march in a parade honoring America's  to begin with.  I take it they weren't boo'd or attacked, though so it must be acceptable where you live.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

You might  contact  the organizers and ask them what idiot allowed a non-American group to march in a parade honoring America's  to begin with.  I take it they weren't boo'd or attacked, though so it must be acceptable where you live.

Thats the direction my thoughts was also Mike. If that happened here I think a ass whoopin' would have went down and we'd be on CNN and Fox right now. 

[Momz]

More than half of Dearborn residents are Arab Americans.

[Momz]

Hell,.....after 9/11 a lot of people were flying the American Flags in front of their homes. But our local police came knocking on our doors asking to take them down as the Arabs were feeling threatend by our show of patriotism.

As an American citizen I feel that I have a right to question our government,.....that I have a right to protest,....that I have a right to speak me peace,....however I do not have the right to intimidate others that disagree with my opinions,....unless of course they try to take away my rights.

But wrong is wrong,....stupidity is no excuse.

[sugarbee]

it's just wrong and until we start making noise about it, it will continue and get worse..jmo

[Jabba]

Yep.  If they did it the other way... I am OK with that, but they way they did it was unacceptable IMO.

Jabba

[Chrisj CMA]

Hell,.....after 9/11 a lot of people were flying the American Flags in front of their homes. But our local police came knocking on our doors asking to take them down as the Arabs were feeling threatend by our show of patriotism.

My flag is up right now, and after 911 it was up 24/7 for months......I do believe if a cop knocked on my door and wanted it down I would have put 6 more up.  Thats just wrong! 

[Evil One]

This has become "acceptable" because most people who live in this country are not "americans".
They prefer to identify with smaller groups. Mexican american, african american, italian american, polish american... instead of just American.
Most people dont want to cause a stink, because they may get looked upon as racist.
Being patriotic and standing up for your country is looked down upon by many.
I dont care if the area is 90% arab... this is an american holiday to honor those who serve and served their country, not to fly the flags of other countries.
I HOPE someone would have said something to someone... That was WAY inappropriate.
It is past time to stop coddling people, step up and become a part of our great melting pot... if you want to live in America, then become an American.
If you are not willing... there are plenty of ways to leave.
Use one.


Jim

[ricoman]

totally unacceptacle
our town's little parade today was missing marching bands (only 1) and not enough spectators but was well recieved and lots of appaluse and thank you's to the vets. Well worth attending.

Try a well written letter to the ed of your local paper explaining your thoughts and add a comment that makes a point about why and how the behavior exhibited is offensive and disrespectful. Plus it furthers mistrust and ill-feelings towards Arab immigrants.  You may also share the tought that it was the vets we remember who fought for the rights of the people of this country to be free and to provide for a place these immigrants can come to and live in safety not afforded them in their homeland(s).

[MAD6Gun]

 I agree with you 100% Momz. That is disrespectful to this great country and to the Vet that fought and Died for our freedom.   

 I found this link to Flag Etiquette. http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

4. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States (the viewer's left). When the flag is half-masted, both flags are half-masted, with the US flag at the mid-point and the other flag below.

[Duey]

http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#171

[MP]

I have been waiting for Strong Eagle to tell us how bigoted we are, and how we should accept the American flag being dishonored on Memorial day.
MP

[Bagger John - #3785]

I have been waiting for Strong Eagle to tell us how bigoted we are, and how we should accept the American flag being dishonored on Memorial day.
MP

We should in fact burn the flag ourselves as a "gesture" to those who are "intimidated" by it ... 

[R J]

More than half of Dearborn residents are Arab Americans.

So what does that have to do with it?

My home town is 100% German, but they don't fly the German Flag above the US Flag. 

Cut a couple of them down and maybe we might see the respect for our flag that it has earned...........

If the Arabs don't like it, there are 4 directions out of the US and there will not be any gates to stop them........

[solo1]

A sad commentary.  Kick ass would be appropriate no matter what nationality.

I also find it sad that on our street, only two American Flags are being flown right now, mine and my neighbor's.  Both are flown on flagpoles  24/7 and both are lit at night.  Do you remember how many flags were flown shortly after 9/11?  No more, what short memories Americans have.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I also find it sad that on our street, only two American Flags are being flown right now, mine and my neighbor's.  Both are flown on flagpoles  24/7 and both are lit at night.  Do you remember how many flags were flown shortly after 9/11?  No more, what short memories Americans have.

What was sadder still about that affair was the number of snakes...errr, enterpreneurs who were hawking flag-slathered geegaws, coins and whatnot on TV and in the media, hoping to capitalize on the tragedy by preying on people's raw emotions. Since the 9/11 "sensationalism" has come and gone - and with it, the profit margins - the snakes have moved onto other things. Like OCC-endorsed boxer shorts and Britney Beer.  

[Ghillie]

What I find most sad is that our own government has determined that dishonoring our flag is acceptable free speech. We have free speeched and political correctized ourselves nearly out of existence. The flag code posted above is a code not a law. That is a shame. It should be against the law to dishonor our flag. Flags should only be burned in honor when they are too worn to be flown, never as a method of protest in our own streets. Try flying a U.S. flag in another country above their national flag and see what happens, hell try flying the U.S. flag in another country anywhere other than an embassy and see what happens.