Showing of Danish flag roils town

Boston Globe ^ | February 9, 2006 | Peter Schworm

[Semper Paratus]

As militant Muslims from Indonesia to the West Bank torched and trampled the Danish flag this past week to protest political cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, Stoughton's Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz grew increasingly upset.

So in a small act of solidarity with Denmark and of support for free speech, Stankiewicz bought two Danish flags on Monday and raised one of the red-and-white banners outside the Town Hall that morning, flying it on the pole beneath the US flag.

The symbolic gesture was short-lived, as Stankiewicz lowered the flag the next afternoon after a local veteran complained that it was improper to fly the flags of two countries on one pole.

But many people in town saw the foreign flag display as insensitive and inflammatory. Several town employees told Stankiewicz they did not agree with his decision and worried the flag could provoke violence against Town Hall in light of the attacks against Danish and other European embassies throughout the Middle East. Stankiewicz described their concerns as an ''overreaction."

The Stoughton No Place for Hate Committee, a local antidiscrimination group, plans to discuss the episode at its meeting tonight because of fears that residents might be hurt or insulted.

''There's always that chance that there will be people who are offended, and we want to guard against that," said Karon Skinner-Catrone, chairperson of the 10-person group, some of whom are town officials.

''I thought people might be upset, but they need to understand what's at stake," he said. ''People are willing to sacrifice civil liberties to feel safe, and that's a slippery slope."

Joe Palmer, a member of the Stoughton VFW post, said he sympathized with Stankiewicz's political statement but said the American flag should fly alone.

"To me, flying them together isn't right,".

[Semper Paratus]

His heart is in the right place, but was against flag protocol.

Wonder how many other towns don't have problems with the rainbow or peace flag displayed under the US flag.

[SedVictaCatoni]

The violation of flag protocol isn't that you cannot fly two flags on one pole, but that you cannot fly the flag of one sovereign nation beneath another. It is okay to fly a state flag under a U.S. flag on the same pole, but flying Old Glory over the Dannebrog indicates that the U.S. has subjugated Denmark or considers it subject to U.S. authority in some way.

[Eurotwit]

bookmark

[American Quilter]

Who says Muslims are destructive? Look at how they're stimulating the construction and flag-making trades.

[Mr. Mojo]

many people in town saw the foreign flag display as insensitive and inflammatory. The Stoughton No Place for Hate Committee ...plans to discuss the episode

Stoughton's near Boston, isn't it? Wouldn't surprise me if many in town also see the flying of Old Glory as "infammatory."

[WestVirginiaRebel]

This brings up a question: Liberals say the Islamist threat is exagerrated-so why won't they let the guy fly his flags?

Welcome to Massachusettstan.

[gate2wire]

''There's always that chance that there will be people who are offended, and we want to guard against that,"

People who think like this are a problem, IMO.

Not worried about what right or wrong, just about offending someone.
Flag protocol aside, this was a great gesture.

"I am offended by people who are constantly offended."
(I don't know who to give credit to for this gem of a quote.)

[Gefreiter]

Amherst, MA has a blue United Nations flag fluttering proudly in front of its town hall.

Same town where the woman complained on Sep 10, 2001, about how the American flag is a symbol of oppression and racism.

[dennisw]

BTTT

[dennisw]

Two poles for the two flags should solve the problem. With the Danish flag flying slightly lower that ours

[Wolverine]

ping

[blueminnesota]

What a crotchety old man to complain about that. That's great he's a veteran but it doesn't mean he owns the rights to the flag. No one was insulting the American flag.

[TheCrusader]

"''There's always that chance that there will be people who are offended, and we want to guard against that," said Karon Skinner-Catrone, chairperson of the 10-person group"

Karon Skinner-Catrone, take your silly little feminist sensibilities and go back home and do something useful for your family. Denmark is an ally, radical islam is our enemy, get a clue.

GOD BLESS THE MAYOR OF STOUGHTON, MA

[Fiji Hill]

[Semper Paratus]

A few years ago a hardcore porn store, taking advantage of liberal zoning ordinance, opened up right on Main St. in downtown Stoughton.

After a few months of daily picketing, and more than a few broken windows, they closed up.

Incidently if you like good thin crust Italian pizza try Town Spa 1/2 mile due south of downtown Stoughton.

[GAB-1955]

"Two poles for the two flags should solve the problem. With the Danish flag flying slightly lower that ours."

No, equal height. The two nations are sovereign and allied.

[VOA]

Several town employees told Stankiewicz they did not agree with his
decision and worried the flag could provoke violence against Town Hall
in light of the attacks against Danish and other European embassies
throughout the Middle East.

I love the weasely appeasement statements like these from the town
employees (and newspaper editors here in the USA).

They must not understand that even Joe Sixpack listens to this and
realizes..."HEY, the Islamics are friggin' dangerous! And we need
to wiretap some more phones!!!".

These town employees don't realize it, but they've actually boldly
stated that Multiculturalism really is just a suicide pact when
dealing with immigratants dedicated to their violent religion.

[numberonepal]

...and worried the flag could provoke violence against Town Hall...

And see how easily they cut to the quick of their cowardice.

[dennisw]

Thanks much!

[RaceBannon]

What a switch, Amherst flies the UN flag while Stoughton flies the Danish flag...

Amherst is prettier, but Stoughton is more manly! :)

[RaceBannon]

I was there and have that woman on MP3 file saying that

[Conservomax]

Near Boston != Boston

[Conservomax]

In Stoughton (as in most of the US) you need to worry more about the PC nazis than you do the Islamo-A-holes.

Not sure if it is agood thing or not.

[Conservomax]

MMMM. Town Spa - I went to college with the owner's son. Boy, was he wealthy.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"worried the flag could provoke violence against Town Hall in light of the attacks against Danish and other European embassies throughout the Middle East. "

Who says terror isn't effective.

Getting us to cower is victory for them.

[Semper Paratus]

MMMM. Town Spa - I went to college with the owner's son. Boy, was he wealthy.

I know the family too. No AFDC cases there!

[George - the Other]

"Several town employees told Stankiewicz they did not agree with his decision and worried the flag could provoke violence."

That's exactly what the Muslims want, us to be afraid.

[exdem2000]

I always believed that United States Flag should always Fly higher than any other.

[Vaquero]

[GAB-1955]

"I always believed that United States Flag should always Fly higher than any other."

For etiquette reasons, the flags of sovereign friendly nations fly at the same height. Also, members of the Armed Forces should salute the colors of friendly nations in the same way they salute Old Glory. When I visited the HNMS Van Speyk, for example, Dutch sailors saw I was a U.S. Army lieutenant and saluted me; I, in turn, saluted the Dutch flag at the stern. It's manners.

The only flag that flies higher than a national flag is the Church Pennant during services.

[Pravious]

If I hate the Stoughton No Place For Hate Committee, will they start a No Place For Hating The No Place For Hate Committee Committee?

I'd call them boneheads, but they've probably outlawed the use of the word "Bonehead" because it offends them.

[razorback-bert]

''There's always that chance that there will be people who are offended, and we want to guard against that,"

I am offended by them, so what are they going to do about it?

[ElectricStrawberry]

Stoughton's a great American town...but it's too close to Boston. That's where my armory was for my couple years in the Guard.

Stoughton Town Spa...best damned sausage-garlic pizza in the area.

[VanDeKoik]

Yikes! I been flying the Dannebrog for the past couple of weeks to show my support. So far no one has become bent out of shape about it.

Oh yeah, I fly my flags properly! ;^)

[js1138]

I'm cooking some baby back ribs this weekend in honor of Denmark.

[Little Bill]

If this keeps up I might have to buy another flag pole.

[exdem2000]

Thanks for the information. Also thanks for your Service, are you still in the Military?

[GAB-1955]

"Thanks for the information. Also thanks for your Service, are you still in the Military?"

I served as a National Guard rifleman and officer until 1986, when I developed a hiatal hernia. I am proud today to be a Coast Guard Auxiliarist, where I can still help contribute to the defense of human lives and my nation.

One other point to fly the Dannebrog--the Danes, in the middle of the German occupation in 1943, held a Fourth of July celebration and flew the Stars and Stripes. At seventh and last, we are all Danes these days.