I hope he has thanked a vet for assuring his freedom to express lame opinions.
Posted on 11/06/2004 12:26:58 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (AP) - A downtown property owner protesting President Bush's re-election raised a furor in this small Northern California town when he placed an upside down American flag on his two-story building.
Ford Greene has stirred anger previously with controversial signs, including one before Tuesday's election that read "Take the thug out," an apparent reference to defeating Bush.
After the election, he replaced it with an upside down American flag, prompting more than a dozen angry telephone calls to San Anselmo Town Hall and the police department.
"It's a First Amendment right, but he feels the U.S. is in distress because of the results of the election," said Barbara Czelusta, who lives nearby. "I feel offended because the country is supposed to unite now."
Greene said he knew the flag would cause a stir.
"Anytime a strong and honest statement of any sort is made, undoubtedly there is someone who is going to be offended," he said.
He removed the flag by week's end, replacing it with a sign that read: "Well I didn't burn it. Besides flag upside down is international signal of distress."
Hadden Roth, attorney for the Marin County enclave about 15 miles north of San Francisco, said he does not believe Greene did anything illegal, particularly because the U.S. Supreme Court considers symbolic expression to be protected under the First Amendment.
Greene has generated controversy with previous messages and has sued the town over an ordinance that regulates the size of signs.
Fairfax Councilman Mike Ghiringhelli, who has had his own run-ins with Greene over his signs, was amused when asked about the flag.
"I think that Ford Greene is entitled to his freedom of speech, and his true colors are now showing," he said. "...He's a sore loser."
considering that this happened in Marin county I'm surprised that anyone was offended.
All things like this do is create more Republican voters. Keep it up libs, keep it up.
This man is entitled to do and say what he wants about this country on his own land. However, he leaves himself open to ridicule and the disrepect of all who hear or see it. He really needs to sign onto the cruise that will take him to a foreign country that agrees with him. No one is making him stay.
hm
This is really pitiful. Why do I see this fellow as an aging hippie?
Thanks!
To be fair, I feel his pain. We flew our flag upside down during the Impeachment hearings.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's an attention seeking jerk.
I'm thrilled he's so distressed.
Hope he stays that way for 4 more years!
FALSE use of the U.S. Distress Signal should be the same as a false 911 call!
You're going to see more and more protests like this upside down flag. I've been lurking on DU and some of the protest suggestions include:
1. Disrupt the Jan 20th inauguration.
2. Boycott Wal-Mart.
3. Disconnect your cable TV.
4. Boycott Red Lobster.
5. Cut off all ties to Republican relatives, such as not letting grandparents see their grandchildren.
6. Gay people should visit churches, feign interest in Christ over an extended period, and then announce "Surprise! I'm gay." It is unknown what this would accomplish.
7. Punch someone, anyone, in the face.
Those are the ones that come to mind off the top of my head....
Somebody could put up a sign, directly accross from his building, that says, "Ford Green sucks."
"A downtown property owner protesting President Bush's re-election raised a furor in this small Northern California town when he placed an upside down American flag on his two-story building."
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and this Kerry supporter takes that truism to a new low.
Guess he must have admired Kerry's book featuring an upside-down flag on the cover!
LOL Boycott Red Lobster? Am I missing something? Now they think a COLOR is evil?
I hope he has thanked a vet for assuring his freedom to express lame opinions.
Carolyn
He can and did say what he wanted. Now, he can deal with the consequences---censure by his neighbors.
He's no more than a loser. I don't mind if he did this. I only know that I was a winner on Tuesday & I'll guarantee you that I would NEVER call a self admitted war criminal my president.
That's different --- then the country really was in distress.
Carolyn
This reminds me of my dad. Back when the federal storm troopers swarmed and took Elian Gonzales... I remember my dad Hanging the American Flag upside down in the front yard for a day. I remember he was soooo pissed. It's a good way to vent silently.
His building is on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, which is also Highway 101, business route. It is the main boulevard in the area.
Good then I won't have to spend 45 minutes waiting for that buzzer thing to go off!
I believe that if you reread my words you will find that I merely expressed the hope that Mr. Greene had thanked an armed services vet for protecting his privilege of free expression. I think it's great that American leftists are so willing to expose their poorly considered thoughts to public scrutiny.
I'd buy one of these if I saw it for sale.
25% of Marin County is Republican. If one of those Republicans had expressed his displeasure in this way, his building would have been vandalized and he would have had to hire a body guard. I know that county real well. Most of its Republicans keep a very low profile.
Two different counties, right next door to each other. San Anselmo is a vino/pot culture. But in its hayday... was commune central alongside Fairfax.
lol! Average Marinite is so dumbed down in re patriotism and procedures in re the flag, most, I'll wager simply think whoever hung that flag upside down is an idiot.
He didn't thank me. I vote we deport him.
San Anselmo is for "wanna be's". Even some of the old timers, the ole Marinites are tired of what San Anselmo has become; but they don't want to move given what their properties are now worth.
While visiting SA this past winter, visited some ole pals.. lol. They opined to me their own wish a Walmart would open nearby.. LOL!
ROFLOLOLOL!!!
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It's the people like him who make this country more divided than it should be. And he is the one complaining that this country is not united enough? Sheesh those people really make me sick.
All those liberals are bitter sore losers.
"I've been lurking on DU and some of the protest suggestions include:..."
I wish their list would include protesting by moving out of this country :)
It does, but I think it's all talk!
Is there any way we can turn their talk into action? :)
I suggest he start walking west until he reaches China.
Indeed! :)
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