Update on DISGRACE - Walking on the American Flag is Art
Bill Smith, Editor, Update on Story - Below is the video of the disgraceful flag desecration project. Watch a heroic veteran take a stand. As a veteran - I was moved to tears. I located and interviewed the veteran. He is Charlie Bennett, Dist 4 Commander, Maine American Legion. He served in Vietnam from 1967-1979. For 11 1/2 months, he was on the Cambodian border with the 4th Infantry Division, U.S. Army. Bennett is a proud supporter of protecting the American Flag. He shared that he did not mind the criticism by campus officials and was proud to take a stand, but that he almost cried when the police indicated they were going to arrest him. He had always faithfully served his country and was hurt to think he would be arrested for protecting the American Flag. Commander Bennett has received numerous phone calls by people encouraging him to continue and has been called by the local news. He welcomes interviews and can be reached at 207-778-2340. As of this post, Charlie Bennett is returning to the front lines (the university) today but this time with his own "parade flag" and a sign that says " You won't walk on this flag!" We hope that many students and other veterans will stand with him. Charlie our prayers are with you!
Please share the video and info with others. Contact the Univ. of Maine Farmington and express your outrage! Two people in the video supporting the flag desecration project are Univ. President, Theodora Kalikow (the old "witch" who's telling Bennett that the project of walking on the flag is defending free speech) and Univ. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Allen Berger (the liberal educator who's seen telling Bennett that he didn't fight for a piece of cloth). Don't expect agreement, but take time to express your Free Speech to Theodora Kalikow (kalikow@maine.edu or 207-778-7256) and Allen Berger (aberger@maine.edu or 207-778-7276.
Tags: Charlie Bennett, College Republicans, Flag, flag desecration, free speech, Maine, University of Maine Farmington, Vietnam Veteran To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Please share the video and info with others. Contact the Univ. of Maine Farmington and express your outrage! Two people in the video supporting the flag desecration project are Univ. President, Theodora Kalikow (the old "witch" who's telling Bennett that the project of walking on the flag is defending free speech) and Univ. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Allen Berger (the liberal educator who's seen telling Bennett that he didn't fight for a piece of cloth). Don't expect agreement, but take time to express your Free Speech to Theodora Kalikow (kalikow@maine.edu or 207-778-7256) and Allen Berger (aberger@maine.edu or 207-778-7276.
| The following just in from conservative friend by Jenn Sierra at FHK: Lance Dutson of the Maine Web Report has identified that the Maine College Republicans are reporting an incident at the University of Maine Farmington, a public liberal arts college. This was apparently a school-sponsored event. Lance relates the story this way: |  |
These art students did a project where they laid American flags on the floor of the student center for people to walk on. They brought the cops in to protect it, when some College GOP kids and vets came to try to pick them up off the ground. In the video, the university provost actually says ‘It’s just a piece of cloth,’ to the VFW [and District Commander, American Legion] guy, and one of the faculty tells the VFW [and District Commander American Legion] chief that they are ‘actually protecting’ his freedom of speech by doing this.
 | This is a disgrace. “Freedom of Speech,” does not include public universities sponsoring the desecration of the American flag and calling it “art”. We understand the Maine College Republicans plan to edit and post some footage of the event for the public to view. Also see: Thurber’s Thoughts - A ‘right’ to desecrate the flag? |
Tags: Charlie Bennett, College Republicans, Flag, flag desecration, free speech, Maine, University of Maine Farmington, Vietnam Veteran To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 11:30 AM - Post Link
17 Comments:
I am a student at UMF and I am the communications director for the UMF College Republicans. We have been reaching out to every news agency we can, if you would like to pass this story on that would be wonderful. If you have any questions feel free to contact me, my email address is tyler.leclair@maine.edu
Bill
this is wrong. what is the country coming to in regards to art.
Check this out http://arbananarepublic.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-sick.html
I have a big part of this article re-posted on my blog, with proper credit of course, and I have a GREAT logo I made, take a look and swipe a copy if you like it...
The Extreme Left supports free speech but only for themselves. Interesting that their response to this brave man's peaceable disagreement was to call in their jackbooted thug.
"Only a symbol" for which its profound meaning includes the fact that many people have died for their right to spew hatred for America inside their cocoon of imagined self-importance. Is this student's exhibition not also "symbolic"? Oh that's right, those sticky definitions don't apply to the left.
I no longer encourage anyone to attend these liberal universities. They are engaged in brainwashing, not education. It takes years to undo the damage. God help me that in my own college days, I confess I was one of them for a time. Thankfully, I woke up after escaping from their dark hole of bitterness, arrogance and intolerance.
I challenge each academic who reads this to examine yourself as thoroughly as you have the nation which has provided you with a cushy lifestyle in a relatively easy job. It appears to the rest of us that your world vision is archaic and worthless at best, dangerous at worst.
Students, most academics get paid a lot of money for an embarrassingly lazy job with wide latitude (and lifetime job security) for much incompetence. Listen, learn what you can, and stand up to these bullies for your beliefs. Many students walked around the flags, so you are not as alone as you might think. Insist on the right to hear alternative views.
Most of all, "God, forgive them for they know not what they do..." Or do they?
Why do so many people post as Anonymous?? These are good comments folks, and a great thread is working here, have the fortitude to put your name and a URL or email to it... Be PROUD of what you have to say, don't be like the cowards of the left that hide behing their keyboard Anonymity...
Posted on this yesterday, and linked to Stop the ACLU, where I found the story. I hope that little……student….. I’m a lady, so I can’t really say what I’m thinking, or feeling! Some people don’t deserve the freedoms of those who fought and died for that “symbol”! I would encourage any alumni from Yale to protest in the most viable way. NO DONATIONS!
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
Swiped and trackbacked and thank you.
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
A fellow Blogger wrote the president of the school about this disgraceful display and here’s his reply.
“From: Theo Kalikow To: Subject: Re: Please End the UMF American Flag Desecration Display Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:57:20 -0400 The display was taken down last night. It had permission to be installed for 24 hours only, and was taken down at the artist’s initiative considerably before that time. That being said, our American First Amendment protections include the right to free speech and artistic expression, even speech that is repugnant and unpleasant and offensive. UMF, as a teaching and learning institution, has an obligation to foster debate and disagreement about difficult subjects — this is an essential part of our democracy. Thanks for your expression of your point of view. Sincerely, Theodora J. Kalikow, President. “
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
Thanks for sharing this with our blogs - have it and the graphic up on ATAW. This burns my…………. I can’t even type straight…..
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
It is actions like this from people who are teaching our children that create a society where life has no value. It is a wonder that there are not more School takeovers and killings when respect and dignity are not being taught and in some places, practiced. The Freedom of Speech our Founding Fathers’ gave their lives for was never intended to insult for the sake of insulting. Patrick Henry must be spinning in his grave.
If they hate this country so much that they could disgrace it in this manner, I think they should give up their citizenship and get the Hell out of My Country. My Country is PROUD, JUST, and UNDER GOD. Not under whatever deity the Liberals have created for themselves this month.
David
Make-A-Statement.org
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
from: TexasFred
to: kalikow@maine.edu
date Apr 17, 2008 6:37 PM
subject Walking on the American Flag is NOT Art!
mailed-by texasfred.com
Saying “Our American First Amendment protections include the right to free speech and artistic expression, even speech that is repugnant and unpleasant and offensive” may give some asshat a ‘right’ to express himself like a fool but that doesn’t make it less offensive or socially correct…
Many have fought and died so this cretin could show his total disrespect for the flag of our nation, you would think that some would exhibit the tact, decorum and RESPECT to not use this mockery in a pitiful attempt that was specifically designed with the express intent to offend and shock the American public…
And then to have the BALLS to call it ART as a form of justification as they hide behind a thin veil of constitutional freedom??
Shameful, totally shameful!
–
http://TexasFred.net
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
Apparently 911 had no meaning to these people or if it did it was short lived. Does something bigger than that have to happen to this country before these idiots will have respect? It disgusts me.
What happened to good old fashioned Patriotism?????
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
Apparently 911 had no meaning to these people or if it did it was short lived. Does something bigger than that have to happen to this country before these idiots will have respect? It disgusts me.
What happened to good old fashioned Patriotism?????
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
I saw this on another blog today, and got so pissed off, I had to leave work and go walk. People like these do not even deserve any comment. If they were in Texas the hospital is where there new home would be. I am a retired Vet and have lost friends fighting for our flag, and it is not just a piece of cloth, it is what america is all about. Problem is to many alledged Americans taday are forgetting this. Better start remembering or we may be flying another flag over the White House someday. I am still to pissed off to say anymore, because I will say to much.
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
When a military member swears an Oath of Enlistment there is always an American Flag present; a requirement. When military members hear the National Anthem being played, they will always stand at attention and face the American Flag if it’s present; if outdoors they will salute. When the American Flag passes in review, military personnel will always stand and salute the Flag. When a military member dies in service to his country, an American Flag will cover their casket. At the funeral of a deceased member, that flag will be presented to his/her next of kin. The flag will be folded with the utmost precision and cradled like a new born child until presentation is made. When a hero or great American dies, it’s the flag that’s flown at half staff to signify a nation in mourning.
Throughout history, men have literally sacrificed their lives to keep the American Flag raised during battles. The Flag Bearer was a position of honor and entrusted only to the best and bravest of soldiers.
Medal of Honor recipient, Private Joseph E. Brandle:
During the Civil War, the job of color bearer was one of the most hazardous as well as important duties in the Army. Soldiers looked to the flag for direction and inspiration in battle and the bearer was usually out in front, drawing heavy enemy fire while holding the flag high. On Nov. 16, 1863, regimental color bearer Pvt. Joseph E. Brandle, from the 17th Michigan Infantry, participated in a battle near Lenoire, Tenn. “…Having been twice wounded and the sight of one eye destroyed, he still held to the colors until ordered to the rear by his regimental commander.”
http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/smith/medal/index.html
What these people fail to realize is that the American Flag is the symbol of our nation. That flag represents all that our men and women fight for. It’s the visible representative of the Constitution of the United States and therefore leads our troops into battle, brings them home when they have fallen in battle, and is present when we lay them to rest.
To some people the American Flag is nothing but a brightly colored dish rag. To others it represents all their nation stands for and those who fought and died defending the Constitution while looking to the Flag.
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Comment is cross posted from subject post on TexasFred's.
This article brought tears to my eyes. People such as these are the reason other countries look down on us. After all we have fought for to preserve our country. All the hardships myself and my fellow Soldiers have endured to hold our nation high, to hold our flag high, our pride....and we are out there fighting for IDIOTIC senseless and disgraceful people such as these?! IS this what I am fighting to preserve??? People who have no pride, no idea why we are here, the very symbol of who we are? These are the people who I may have to leave my 6 month old daughter to go to Iraq for???????
Excuse my language, but I highly doubt ANY of those Motherfucking so-called "scholars" would stand a day living in another country, in IRAQ where they HAVE NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH or somewhere where we fight to ensure that our country HAS THESE RIGHTS.
and to mock a veteran? I'd LOVE to see any one of the assholes in that video stand a day in the combat boots of one. They couldnt make it through training.
God bless that Veteran. I wish I was there because I would have put my uniform on and stood right beside you. Cops there or not, we've fought too long and too hard to be disrespected. Step on a flag in MY presence, and you'll get knocked the fuck out.
Im not in favor of walking on the american flag but is that vet only mad because its a American flag or because people are disgracing a country. I do believe if it was an Afghanastan, Iraq or any other flag he would not be there, or as worked up as he is. That flag does not represent freedom, because freedom isnt physical, it is something every citizen of the world posses. And for who ever put 9/11 should have woke up our patriotism i have to disagree. Going out and buying american flags, and hanging them outside your house doesnt make you a patriot. A true patriot loves his country unconditionaly, not just when a tragic event occurs.
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