Posted on 11/06/2004 8:47:08 AM PST by antaresequity
Furor over flag in Marin
and Tad Whitaker
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| Ford Greene of San Anselmo put this upside-down flag on his building on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard this week to express his displeasure with the re-election of President Bush. He replaced it with another sign after angry callers objected to his display. IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel |
San Anselmo resident Ford Greene is annoying some residents of the Ross Valley again, only instead of using a political sign he's enlisted the American flag to make his point.
After President Bush won re-election this week, Greene hung a large American flag upside down on the side of his building on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. That prompted more than a dozen angry phone calls to San Anselmo Town Hall and the police department, but there's nothing the town could do to force him to take the flag down.
"People seem angry about it and want something done," said Town Administrator Debbie Stutsman. But, she added, "It's a permitted use."
Greene knew the flag would cause a stir, and that was the last thing that would stop him.
"Anytime a strong and honest statement of any sort is made, undoubtedly there is someone who is going to be offended," Greene said yesterday.
Barbara Czelusta, who lives nearby, said she is not the only person offended.
"It's a First Amendment right, but he feels the U.S. is in distress because of the results of the election," Czelusta said. "I feel offended because the country is supposed to unite now."
Yesterday, Greene removed the flag and replaced it with a sign that read: "Well I didn't burn it besides flag upside down is international signal of distress."
The controversy about the sign that Greene periodically updates and hangs on the side of his building at 711 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. near the San Anselmo Hub has been ongoing. Greene has sued the town for passing an ordinance regulating the size of signs.
Hadden Roth, the town's attorney, said he does not believe Greene did anything illegal in hanging the flag upside down, particularly because the U.S. Supreme Court considers symbolic expression to be protected under the First Amendment.
Roth has been updating the town's sign ordinance and the Town Council is set to discuss it at its Tuesday meeting.
Czelusta, who corresponds with troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, believes it is wrong to force people to view signs or symbolic expressions.
"If people want to burn effigies they usually do it at a march," Czelusta said. "I can choose not to go. This is on my way to work and it's in my face."
A previous sign that read "Take the thug out" also angered Czelusta.
"To me, that's a threat to the president, and that is a federal offense," Czelusta said.
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, and he's a sore loser," Ghiringhelli said. "I guess the great thing about this country is people like Ford Greene can hang a flag upside down on his building."
Greene said he would continue to use his building as a way to express his feelings about the state of the nation.
"In my view, democracy has been turned on its head by ... people voting for someone who was appointed by the Supreme Court, lied to start an erroneous war, destroyed a country and alienated all of our traditional allies," Greene said. "The Bush administration is taking away our freedom."
Contact Nancy Isles Nation via e-mail at civiccenter@neteze.com
Friends of San Anselmo Fight Back Against This Scum Bag
Thanks to burningman2004
for this picture of Ford Greene
Take a few minutes to read this website concerning an attorney by the name of Ford Greene.
The topics covered in these web pages are of interest not only to the citizens of San Anselmo, CA, but to the public at large. Why? Because Ford Greene is fast and loose in manufacturing allegations against his opponents, yet a review of his own actions cannot stand up to close examination.
http://www.friendsofsananselmo.org/Photos/bush_threat.jpg
More Information on Ford Green:
Ford Greene
Attorney
fordgreene@attbi.com
location: 711 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
San Anselmo, California 94960-1949
telephone: (415) 258-0360
fax: (415) 456-5318
Ford Greene, Esq. provides litigation services on a sliding fee scale for those who are confronting organizations which use mind control, especially when those organizations are abusing First Amendment protections to commit anti-social and destructive acts. Mr. Greene has won numerous cases involving cult groups, including the seminal case, Molko v. Holy Spirit Association (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1092 [establishing the right of those tricked into exposing themselves to coercive persuasion to sue for fraud] and State of Colorado v. Brandyberry [successful use of choice of evils defense to acquit deprogrammer of kidnapping charges]; has studied many specific cults [Bubba Free John of Johanine Daist Communion, Robert Burton of Fellowship of Friends, Werner Eerhard of est, Norbu Chan of Chakpori Ling Foundation, Arthur Andrews of Religious School of Natural Hygiene, Swami Kiyananda of Ananda Church, Sun Myung Moon of Unification Church and Scientology]; and is the subject of the book " Moonwebs " and the movie " Ticket to Heaven ." He won a $1.625 million jury verdict in 1998 against Swami Kiyananda and the Ananda Church.
An American flag hung upside down is a distress signal. Someone should call the ATF, FBI, CIA, local PD, state PD, and attorney general and tell them bloody murder is probably happening at that location because of the distress signal. Then he can foot the bill for crying wolf.
While he is a flaming @$$hole, it's his right to do so. As well as it is the right of others to express their dislike of his actions.
BTW, I was fully prepared to do the same if, perish the thought, sKerry had won just to pi$$ off my liberal neighbors.
Yes there is. According to The United States Code, Title 36 Chapter 10:
§176. Respect for flag No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
If there is no emergency, or instances of extreme danger to life or property, the authorities have the power to make him display it properly.
So, when people stay away from his business, now he can blame Bush for it's failure. How convienient!
I fully agree.
" BTW, I was fully prepared to do the same if, perish the thought, sKerry had won just to pi$$ off my liberal neighbors."
When Clintoon won in 91, I did the same thing for several days, however my flag was on a flag pole.
My neighbor came over a few days later and asked me if I knew that I had the flag upside down.
I said thanks for telling me, I had no idea. I changed it's position to upright and suffered like the rest of us for eight years. ;)
Four years ago, quite a few freepers were displaying the flag upside down during the recount fiasco.
It's not quite the same thing, but it is political expression.
"If there is no emergency, or instances of extreme danger to life or property, the authorities have the power to make him display it properly."
To the fatalistic liberal losing to Bush is an extreme danger to life and property. Just another example of how liberals turn common sense on it's ear.
If there is no emergency, or instances of extreme danger to life or property, the authorities have the power to make him display it properly.
Is this guy in distress? If so, then I must the Waaaaahhhmublance.
Extremely cool and trustworthy looking dude, especially the crushed pink cowboy hat. Just who I'd want for a lawyer. If I were not a law-abiding citizen, I might suggest calling the cops (from a pay phone) every day and reporting drug selling activity at this guy's address.
A dirtbag among nutballs!
Did you send the information to the Mayor, City Council and police department?
His answer which I have never forgotten was, "You're FofS ENDS about 1 mm from my ear."
This guy's insult of Bush was really stupid, for he insulted me by his display. Don't I have a right to tell him to wise up?
The old theological seminary that sits at the base of Mt. Tamalpais
I admire his study of cult "indoctrinations"; however, when is he going to sue Marin county on the basis of their au-so-trendy indoctrination of their own citizens? How about the Public Schools? Nah. I read parts of one of his cases long ago.. the problem I had with it is: He doesn't hold an individual up to account for their willful joining of a cult. Nope. He knows these are big pocket organizations, too.
LOVE the photos! Thank you. I once lived just down the hill from the Seminary. And during one of the floods, we all moved our cars and our families up to the Seminary parking lot. On a full moon night... the skyline surrounding the Seminary is surrealism to the max: beautiful. Resembles the castle in "Pink Panther Strikes Back".
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