Posted on 07/11/2007 9:33:22 AM PDT by Millee
A Wheat Ridge woman has upset some of her neighbors and sparked quite a controversy by choosing her to hang a U.S. flag upside down outside her home.
Beth Hammer said she is flying her flag "union down" to protest the country's role in the war in Iraq, and her homeowners association is not happy about it.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday night.
Hammer, 64, is one of an increasing number of people who are very angry about the war. But it's the way she has expressed that anger that has rubbed some the wrong way.
Hammer turned her flag upside down on March 19 -- the fourth anniversary of the start of the War on Terror.
"Hanging the flag with the union down is a sign of distress, and it's my contention that the country is in a very distressful situation," Hammer said.
The board of her homeowner's association is very distressed with her, saying the way the flag is being flown violates Cambridge Park's patriotic and political expression policy.
"To me, the flag is a symbol of our country but it's also a symbol of the constitution and especially of the Bill of Rights, and the first one is freedom of speech," Hammer said.
Hammer is resisting the board's demand that she fly the flag properly or not at all, and she has since retained an attorney.
"The United States Supreme Court has been clear since as early as the 1930s that the flag can be flown in various ways as a demonstration of political viewpoints," said Hammer's attorney, Mari Newman.
One of Hammer's neighbors said those who manipulate the flag this way dishonor U.S. troops overseas.
"I don't think they belong in this country. If they don't like the way we do things, they ought to move," said Daniel Fantoni, a World War II veteran.
"Their problem is I'm not thinking like they are, and I think that's why I've been singled out," Hammer said.
Hammer has been cited by the HOA.
Silly hippy.
She may be misguided but the First Amendment trumps any dictates of a HoA.
While I’m sympathetic to the neighbors’ views, I can’t stand petty tyrants who try to dictate what others can do on their own property. Quite frankly I think you’d have to be a fool to subject yourselves to the busybodies who run HOA’s.
It is her right to fly the flag however she wants to fly it. This is political speech and while I disagree with her message - I will defend her right to send out that message.
No, the problem is that you are being singled out because you choose to be a misinformed traitorous liberal who believes she can mask her traitorous beliefs with references to the US constitution.
Shoot her for political protest? For showing her disapproval of our war in Iraq?
That’s not what freedom is all about. And no, it isn’t treason, so don’t even go there.
I flew my flag the same way during the Clinton years. And I still have that flag, all tattered and torn.
I’m sure someone wanted to shoot me then.
Depends on the flag ordinances in her city. In mine you can get fined for flying the flag at night without a light on it.
Flying the flag upside down is a sign of distress... obviously this womans house has been invaded and she’s in need of help.
Immediately send in the Marines by helicopter, drop onto the home and property, secure the border then invade the home. Vanquish the foreign troops and raise the flag high and properly, and then load up and move out.
Another successful operation by the US Marines.
Paging Bobby Dooley
Since flying the flag upside down is the international symbol for distress, would a person be wrong calling 911 to let the authorities know that someone at that house needs help? That’s the message they’re sending no matter how cute they want to be.
The pinko’s neighbors should immediately set up “support the troops” type signs on their property to combat this nitwit, if they are so inclined.
HOAs are more evil than many doofus war protesters.
The HOA would probably have a problem with that, too.
Proper flag etiquette requires that the US flag not be flown at night without being illuminated.
You also should not fly a flag in rain unless is specifically designed for all weather use.
Zoning laws may vary, but proper flag etiquette does not.
http://www.greenlightwrite.com/flagetiquette.htm
Flying the flag upside down is a sign of distress, I say we send in the marines to secure her property from the foreign invaders, then raise the flag properly after another successful mission.
She bought a house in a covenant controlled subdivision, thereby agreeing to the covenants. If the covenants prohibit this, she waived her First Amendment right to do it.
After all, displaying the US flag upside down is a distress call indicating immediate assistance is needed.
I know it's getting to be ancient history, but March 19th is the anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The WOT began much earlier in Afghanistan..
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