“Flying of this flag is a poke in the eye of a way of life”
A Korean War veteran is outraged that a gay flag was flown in his local Lafayette, Louisiana park on a government flag pole, and has enlisted a local lawmaker to draft a bill prohibiting it in the future. The flag seems to have been flown on one day to celebrate gay pride month just two days after the Supreme Court’s historic ruling on DOMA and Prop 8.
Ray Green on Friday said he “did not go overseas and fight for our country so that we could come back and be subject to something like that,” the Daily Advertiser reports:
“Several of us (veterans) feel that the flying of this flag is a poke in the eye of a way of life.â€
Green said it is their right to fly the flag, but not on government property. He asked what would happen if someone wanted to fly a Ku Klux Klan flag at Girard Park.
“That has offended many, many, many veterans. It offended me,†he said.
Green said he’s not “against the gays†but is against “the act itself.â€
“And I’m against the possibility of them getting together for another demonstration and taking down the American flag,†he said.
A local lawmaker, City-Parish Councilman Andy Naquin “is drafting a proposal that would limit the types of flags that could be flown on government property after receiving complaints from veterans about the hoisting of a rainbow-colored gay pride flag recently in Girard Park,” the Daily Advertiser adds:
“Government flag poles really should be meant to fly only government flags.â€
Naquin said he is working with City-Parish Attorney Mike Hebert on drafting an ordinance, but has not yet discussed the matter with other councilmen. He expects the ordinance would allow only the flying of American, Louisiana and Acadian/LCG flags, and possibly Mardi Gras flags, on LCG property.
Fortunately, the local readers in Lafayette are much better informed than Mr. Green. Of the 19 comments currently posted to the article, almost all disagree with Green.
A sampling:
“How is it a poke in the eye? If the soldiers were fighting for freedom, then why is this being questioned as such? Aren’t they entitled to freedom of expression thanks to these soldiers’ bravery?”
“How is it a poke in the eye? If the soldiers were fighting for freedom, then why is this being questioned as such? Aren’t they entitled to freedom of expression thanks to these soldiers’ bravery?”
“…our government officials have bigger things to deal with then deciding who should have the privilege to fly their flag on the government owned flag pole. If they start getting into that business I am sure that a federal judge will become part of the equation in a suit challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance.
In any event, the articles provide 2 important lessons. First, bigotry and hate is apparently alive and well. Just a reminder that gay men fought right along side Mr. Green in WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and share the same pride in the freedoms in the country that he does. However, they probably do believe in freedom of expression for all and not just a select few. The second lesson: there will always be a politician willing to exploit the bigotry and hate of others for a few minutes in the spot light. That is the reason this country is in the shape it is in.”
“anyone who says he is NOT against gays, just the act, is the same as one who isn’t against blacks, just the skin.”
“How does someone compare a gay pride flag with a KKK flag??”
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