New law raises red flag ??

Newsday ^ | 10/29/2004 | MITCHELL FREEDMAN

[Sparky760]

Businesses complain about town code that regulates size and number of American flags

David Oudshoorn, who flies about a half-dozen American flags in front of the Shell station in Hampton Bays, may soon run into problems with the law.

It could come in the form a new Southampton town code that limits businesses to displaying no more than two American flags, none larger than 60 square feet.

[Sparky760]

I don't really understand the motivation behind this law. Unless perhaps these flags are offensive to someone?

[sgtbono2002]

Ban God , Ban the Flag, Ban Guns , its all a part of the liberal plot to destroy America.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

I can understand what is happening here because I once lived in a community that had very strict sign ordinances. The restrictions kept the community from being cluttered and ugly looking. The MacD's, for instane, could not have a giant yellow arch and was restricted to a modest sign low to the ground like all other businesses. There could be no advertising on street benches, etc. Even the architectural look was restricted to be in keeping with the historical look of the community. The MacD's could not be red and yellow plastic, but had to be a brick "period" structure. The community was very beautiful, property values stayed high and business flourished.

Some businesses, mostly gas stations and such, that were used to traditionally having large tall signs to attract attention to their business decided that if they used American flags, huge ones on tall poles, they would serve the purpose of attracting attention and not violate the sign ordinance. It caught on and suddenly more and more businesses were competing to see who could have the most and the biggest flags. Pretty soon the spirit of the ordinance was over run because flags were litterally covering the landscape to the point of doing exactly what the big signs would have done.

Now before you call me unpatriotic, stop and think! I love this country. We are one of the ONLY homes in our Atlanta subdivision that has flown an American flag on the front of our home everyday since 9-11 in support of the war on Terror. But if I linned my yard with 25foot high flag poles which flew giant flags it would certainly go far beyond the original spirit of showing patriotic support and become somewhat of an eye sore to the neighborhood, would it not? And can you imagine a street where each home lined their yards or a street where all business lined their property with tall huge flag poles? No one would see anything but flags!

At first glance that might sound patriotic and fine.... but in reality it is a bit rediculous. If a home or business wants to show support, two flags will do that quite well. Those who want the overkill of more and more flags are only doing so for other purposes..... like attracting attention. Am I making any sense here?

[MineralMan]

Our glorious flag should not be used to advertise gas stations, car lots, or anything else. It's patriotic to fly the American Flag in front of your business, but when you fly several, you're just using it for advertising purposes, and that's a misuse of our flag.