Re: Nice Planet © 2009
Re: Nice Planet © 2009
Yeah, I saw this one and was angered too. You look at Col. Barfoot's record, the Medal of Honor and service in three wars and you're humbled. Notice, too, he was a mustang, started out enlisted. And all he wants to do is display the American flag.
Remember the other residents of that community (some of whom have undoubedtly served) have rights too. And some of these communities and their "rules" bring out the worst in people. But some of the residents probably bought into the community in some measure because of those rules. The Colonel wants to display the flag on a 21 foot pole and the community's rules say he can't. Surely there can be some sort of compromise here. It's a PR disaster that they're threatening a 90-year old hero with "legal action." Who thought that would be a good idea? On the other hand, the Colonel is being stubborn, didn't he know or check into the rules before he put up his pole? Evidently he didn't care one way or another.
It's not directly analogous, but remember earlier this year the Marine dad who said he would continue to display his flag until his son came home from Iraq because he'd made the boy a promise? The reason why this became a story is that the flag was in shreds, not tatters, shreds and flag etiquette prohibits displaying a flag in that condition. And flag etiquette doesn't allow for personal exemptions for "good" reasons. Ultimately dad took it down because the boy came home. But he should have taken it down long before that. If he wanted to put up a tattered "yellow ribbon" or some other commemoration of his promise, fine. But he shouldn't have treated the flag that way, and Colonel Barfoot would doubtless agree.
My solution? Move the old man's flag pole to the center of the property, designate it as the "official" flag pole, put a plaque on it honoring the Colonel's service and let the Colonel raise and lower the flag every day.
Re: Nice Planet © 2009
Yeah, I saw this one and was angered too. You look at Col. Barfoot's record, the Medal of Honor and service in three wars and you're humbled. Notice, too, he was a mustang, started out enlisted. And all he wants to do is display the American flag.
Remember the other residents of that community (some of whom have undoubedtly served) have rights too. And some of these communities and their "rules" bring out the worst in people. But some of the residents probably bought into the community in some measure because of those rules. The Colonel wants to display the flag on a 21 foot pole and the community's rules say he can't. Surely there can be some sort of compromise here. It's a PR disaster that they're threatening a 90-year old hero with "legal action." Who thought that would be a good idea? On the other hand, the Colonel is being stubborn, didn't he know or check into the rules before he put up his pole? Evidently he didn't care one way or another.
It's not directly analogous, but remember earlier this year the Marine dad who said he would continue to display his flag until his son came home from Iraq because he'd made the boy a promise? The reason why this became a story is that the flag was in shreds, not tatters, shreds and flag etiquette prohibits displaying a flag in that condition. And flag etiquette doesn't allow for personal exemptions for "good" reasons. Ultimately dad took it down because the boy came home. But he should have taken it down long before that. If he wanted to put up a tattered "yellow ribbon" or some other commemoration of his promise, fine. But he shouldn't have treated the flag that way, and Colonel Barfoot would doubtless agree.
My solution? Move the old man's flag pole to the center of the property, designate it as the "official" flag pole, put a plaque on it honoring the Colonel's service and let the Colonel raise and lower the flag every day.
Last edited:
have nothing against a US flag being flown properly. There has to be some other reason that the homeowners' association won't make an exception for the Colonel, whether it's their shortsighted insistence on the rules, Col. Barfoot's treatment of the community, or something else.
Now, think about the folks on his block, essentially trapped in their homes several hours a night, night after night, until after the first of the year. Factor in noise, litter (beer bottles, condoms, etc) and air pollution, and this guy's neighbors must really look forward to Christmas. BUT HE HAD A RIGHT!