[Silly]

when they drafted the rule that permits residents in the association to fly flags that are mounted on their porches or on the outside of their actual houses.

How many times do we have to repeat it: There is no such rule!

They bylaws are silent on flag-flying!

[Alberta's Child]

The bylaws may be silent, but apparently there is some kind of regulation in effect (if this information is correct from another post):

Anyway, if YOU people did a little more research YOU would find that other homes in the neighborhood have the short staffs attached to porches that fly flags. Apparently there is nothing that prevents our hero from flying an American flag if he used that type of support for it. Or, at least it would eliminate the HOA’s given reason. He moved to a place with a HOA and got hosed. Sucks for him, but that’s his problem. And it’s not news..