By the way, the effect is maximized when I wear this costume:
Posted on 05/27/2008 11:33:21 AM PDT by KatyLoraleyVidales
My parents recently purchased a home in Northwest San Antonio. My dad, a Vietnam Veteran, used his VA Home Loan to purchase the house they always wanted and rightfully deserved.
After settling in my dad put up his flag pole---the same one we’ve had in every house I’ve ever lived in. We fly the American flag on a regular basis and a POW-MIA flag during appropriate holidays. My dad was approached by a member of the mandatory Home Owners Association (HOA) and said that some concerns were raised at the last HOA meeting with regards to “that damn Mexican’s” flag pole.
My dad was surprised considering this has never been an issue in any other residential area we’ve lived in. Apparently some members thought it “brought down the value” of the property and surrounding properties. My dad then proceeded to thank our neighbor for the heads-up and told him that he was more than willing to tell the person with the complaint where they could shove the flag pole. Good ol’ dad. Later on that week, before the members of the HOA my dad stated that he went at the age of 18 to fight for our country to protect our individual freedoms and rights and he would continue to honor our country and our servicemen and women by flying that flag whenever he saw fit, regardless of the HOA standards or any complaints. He then dared the person with the complaints to tell one of our other neighbors to remove both her American flag and her Marine Corps flag which she flies daily after he son died in Iraq last month. The room fell silent...
(Excerpt) Read more at rightupfront.org ...
I read your post as I can lean back and see my American Flag flying from my porch post - as it does for a few days before and a few days after Federal Holidays.
BUT - I don’t live in a subdivision with a HOA. HOA can tilt either way on issues. You love ‘um when the guy across the street starts to paint his house purple or orange.
Shows what happens when a person stands up for their rights and doesn’t back down to kiss @$$. Bravo Mr. Loraley
I DON’T EVER “love them” because I believe in individual liberty and individual property rights.
The “guy across the street” can paint his house whatever color “floats his boat”, as long as he doesn’t try to tell me what color to paint mine.
HOAs are Anti-Freedom and Anti-American and I cannot inderstand why any American would subject themselves to one.
PS - I hope Mr. Vidales continues to fly his flags with pride. In fact, maybe he should have another one made up to fly under the American flag: I picture a field of solid dark blue flag with bright yellow letters reading “FTHOA”.
See that would make sense -— if something is a bona fide eye sore then yeah...toss it, but the American flag??? C’mon! Damn hippies...
He will and does! Thanks for the feedback! :)
An HOA is just like any other contract that one enters into. It is not anti-freedom any more than a mortgage (they demand you send them money every month) or taking a job (they tell you where to be, when to be there and what you have to do - and will quit giving you money if you don't submit.)
If you don't want the hassel of a HOA, don't buy a house in a community with one. If you want the benefits of one, do.
HOAs are quasi governmental...and are a BIG scam!
Thanks and thanks to your Dad for his service.
Regarding the comment about ‘damn Mexican’ it’s a shame that ethnic supremacist can’t recognize a true American who put his life on the line so they can live safely in their smug bigotry.
One Nation under GOD...with liberty and justice for all. Even the prejudiced elitists.
I see your point, but at the same time...the whole MANDATORY HOA thing seems to be more of a status thing than anything else. There are plenty of areas we’ve lived in regardless of the HOA status. We all purchase our homes based on what we like, not based on whether there is an HOA in place or not.
I have found that wandering around my property with my assault rifle in my hands, muttering loudly about how I’m gonna “get” the “bastards” that “did this to me” often defuses any problem I have with a HOA.
“My dad was approached by a member of the mandatory Home Owners Association (HOA) and said that some concerns were raised at the last HOA meeting with regards to “that damn Mexican’s” flag pole.”
These are the kind of fools that make life miserable for everyone. My HOA doesn’t like me either, and calls me really bad names....one phone message from a director when I disagreed with him..’You F.....Pig.....” etc. These types use any excuse to be a bigot and feel very threatened when opposed at any level. HOA’s and the people who love and run them are by definition Anti-American.
By the way, the effect is maximized when I wear this costume:
You sound a bit deranged, Laz - they have an HOA at the State Hospital? (insert smiley here...)
I can guarantee you that many of your neighbors see your Dad’s side of this. Start a blog for them, like we did, and expose their nonsense.
http://krcehoamembers.blogspot.com/
Seriously? It might have other "unintended" consequences as well...
Hust because you buy a home in a certain area, what “requires” you to be a member of this HOA???? Isn’t it EVERY Americans right to choose whatever organizations he/she wishes to belong or not belong?
SOUND deranged?
I'm insulted.
After all, I helped the Koreans with this sign:
Many of the HOAs, like mine was, are started by the developer to force the residents to pay for improvements (roads etc) to the subdivision that the developer should have done. It’s a giant, unconstitutional scam that the rich developers (political contributors) just love...yes, everything is about politics.
I agree with the whole “social contract” premise behind your arguement, but the fact still remains HOAs are not the end all be all of housing matters. We don’t buy a house because of the stellar record of the HOA. Nor would we over look major electrical problems with the house because the HOA is just fabulous. We buy a house because, we like it, the house or property meets our needs. The only HOA concern that most people have is giving into the mandatory HOA fees yearly...and that’s pretty much it.
When they bought the home, they did so because they liked the house and the location...he didn’t poll the neighborhood prior to moving in to it and see who didn’t appreciate seeing the American flag on a daily basis...I don’t believe most of us would...the issue sprang up after the fact. I don’t think he used his service record as an intimidation tactic, but as fact. He did serve the country, has a respect for it and those people who gave their lives in his company during his service, as well as those who still do today. Period.
If people are intimidated by that fact it is probably due to their own internal grievances about our country or inability to respect our history, country, democratic nature or American flag.
Moreover, we live in a country of majority rule, minority rights. Someone should not be required to move out of the home that they have purchased because of Article 12 subsection b code 4.5 of the HOA which apparently doesn’t like flag poles. There were two (liberals) people, who didn’t like the flag. He had the support of everyone else in the neighborhood and HOA.
I do believe in universal rights (for the most part, i.e. convicted murderers etc), but I don’t believe that one individual should be required to change their way of life to acquiesce to the minority opinion.
Well, I was trying to be nice.
Didn’t want to scare anyone off...
I guess I should known better!
Thank you and I couldn’t agree more!
Ha ha. Yep that’d would do it.
Not a single problem, ever since I mounted THIS on the roof:
Ever since then, I've noticed the cops doing this in front of my house:
Great story!
This reminds me of when my brother tried to buy a flag at Home Depot for someone who had just moved into a new home around Christmas time.
He asked some kid where the American flag kits were. The kid said, “We don’t have any right now. They are a seasonal item.”
My brother (who is about 6’5” and 275 pounds) said, “Patriotism knows no season!” The kid just about pooped his pants. I think they finally found them at Wal-Mart or Ace.
If you value your personal liberty at all, you cannot buy a piece of property that has HOA covenants tied to it. Its hard enough dealing with busy bodies in a small borough.. but HOA’s guarantee your land is not your own.
When a local (county) government requires a POA or HOA by ordinance for new subdivisions they become increasingly harder to avoid. And being in an HOA is NOT like entering into a contract, it is like being subject to a quasi-governemntal agency.
PS - I DON’T want the hassle of an HOA and I don’t live with one (I purchased my property years beffore the local HOA requirement came into effect).
PPS - Please enlightn me as to the “benefits” of being abused by one of these Nazi-like organizations. We already have the racist “ ‘Mexicans’ shouldn’t be allowed to fly flags, benefit” - can you think of any others?
Now THAT’S funny!!
First, I, like you, don't live under one. It is a major benefit for people who don't want to do outrageous things on their property and don't wish to live in a neighborhood with people who do. (i.e. I give up my right to park cars on blocks in the front yard if you will too.) We hear the seemingly annoying limitations that come from HOAs, but the routine, reasonable limitations never make the news. Outside of communities with HOAs, there are plenty of examples of properties where people have created eyesores and nuisances.
Thanks...I have for the most of my 59 years lived in the country on open lands...I really didn’t understand about the HOA....Being a Vietnam veteran myself, my allegiance
would have definitely been with the homeowner...not the association..
Wow. That sounds like something Michelle Obama should draft for her husband “SB 1123: Seasonal Patriotism”...it can be backed by Home Depot! JK haha
Thanks for your service!!!
“Well, I was trying to be nice.
Didn’t want to scare anyone off...”
Laz, that is a FUNNY series of pix. I’m skeered too.
Thank you, dear lady...and the same to your Dad...
You probably could have spent a few more minutes coming up with a headline that’s a bit more respectful of God.
That said, I don’t have much sympathy for the situation your parents find themselves in. It’s all in the HOA handbook. When you buy a home in a homeowners association, you’ve got to live by the rules they set.
Maybe they could politely ask the association board for an exception. Or they could “demand their rights” and earn a reputation as being bad neighbors.
But... Why OWN property if you’re not going to do outrageous things on it? ;^)
My dirt-bike-riding/shooting parties are LEGENDARY in my neigborhood (there are some who mistakenly believe that one cannot engage in both activities at the same time).
SHOULD not - maybe...
CAN NOT - Ha Ha Ha Ha...
Thank you for your service, Boonie.
My hope is that this gentleman uses whatever provisions are in his HOA agreement to align with his supportive neighbors and change the HOA rules that ban flags or flagpoles, or at least make an exception for U.S. flags. That way, future like-minded citizens who move into that HOA after he’s gone will not have to go through this fight again later.
Many HOA rules can be changed by the majority of the homeowners. My father in law did it in Florida!! Read the contract again.
I specifically chose that title because I didn’t want to take the Lords name in vain...
Secondly, I think it’s ridiculous to say that because of the wording in a handbook that literally has little to do with actually purchasing a home, one should be discouraged from buying that home due to an HOA handbook. It is beyond ridiculous. Rules are meant to be broken and if they are wrong (which this one was) they should and can be changed.
(Please don’t make me use the slavery and womens suffrage analysis here...we get it. Things that are put in writing or are considered law can be changed if they are seen as gross misinterpretations of rights)
My father did ask the board for an exception and received it...and are now viewed by the community as exception neighbors and patriots rather than “bad neighbors” as you so eloquently put.
*exceptional neighboors*
Sorry...you get the pic.
I think you did very well, Katy...
Twice in one headline you diminish the term “God,” treating it so casually. I wonder what kind of title you’d come up if you hadn’t tried not to “take the Lords name in vain.”
Your disrespectful title just set me in a grumpy mood about your parents’ situation. Glad it worked out for them.
Bump to that.
And down with HOAs!
Sorry if I offended you Theo...luckily for you I’m a Catholic so I’ll be sure to whip myself and doubleup on my time in the Confessional ... all the while I’ll keep you in mind.
Luckily for me, the Lord’s all about forgiveness...are you?
Calling God a TERM and not recognizing Him as the Father of the Universe is OFFENSIVE and I hope HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, because you cavalierly treat God as a TERM.
:) Thank you!
“Many HOA rules can be changed by the majority of the homeowners. My father in law did it in Florida!! Read the contract again.”
I have the ‘contract’ memorized. I read the ‘rules’ before I moved here. The board ignores the rules. Yes, the articles of incorporation and By laws (the rules) says a 75% majority can change the By laws. They say 50% majority can dissolve the HOA. We have a 68% vote to dissolve, the board refuses, their atty says it takes 100%, it doesn’t , but they won’t budge without a lawsuit to force them to act. I can’t afford to win, as most people can’t. But we’re working on it. EACH state is different as well.
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