University of Maine Desecrates American Flag

Maine College Republicans ^ | 4-16-08 | Video

[kellynla]

Looks like I posted the email to the wrong campus of U. of Maine.

Here is the correct email to the President of U. of Maine, Farmington
kalikow@maine.edu
Theo Kalikow

[cowtowney]

http://www.farmington.edu/about/theo.php

Name Theo Kalikow
Position President
E-mail: kalikow@maine.edu
Telephone: 207-778-7256

[batter]

Thanks for the link. Nice contrast to the video from Maine. Seeing the Vet and how he was treated was sad. Seeing the baggy pants twit standing on the flag infuriated me.

[cowtowney]

This is Maine Farmington. The president is in the video.

[batter]

Seeing the baggy pants twit standing on the flag infuriated me.

That also brings up a point. Why weren't the idiots standing on the "art display" arrested for tampering with it?! Why threaten to arrest the Vet for tampering with the display when others are doing so. Guess that speaks to the priorities of the UofM - stand on the flag..er..art all you want, just don't pick it up off the ground. BS.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Can someone punch the artist in the nose and call it art?

No, but they can call it Free Speech!

[kellynla]

yep, I received a response from U. of Maine and was given the correct school and that’s why I corrected the email address

[nancyvideo]

From: Theo Kalikow To: Subject: Re: Please End the UMF American Flag Desecration Display Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:57:20 -0400 The display was taken down last night. It had permission to be installed for 24 hours only, and was taken down at the artist's initiative considerably before that time. That being said, our American First Amendment protections include the right to free speech and artistic expression, even speech that is repugnant and unpleasant and offensive. UMF, as a teaching and learning institution, has an obligation to foster debate and disagreement about difficult subjects -- this is an essential part of our democracy. Thanks for your expression of your point of view. Sincerely, Theodora J. Kalikow, President.

[batter]

protected by the 1st Amendment; I see flags as property, protected by the 4th & 5th Amendments. Public disgrace for disgraceful behavior needs to be more prevalent.

I agree. Too bad more didn't join in to protest and make the artist a public disgrace.

I was able to find another story on this: Flag project hits nerve. It states:
"Crane's [the artist] professor of visual arts, Katrazyna Randall, had asked students to do a project that could be either guerrilla art or a social experiment. The latter is when artists use visual communication to foster a response from their art, which will generally shed light on social behavior or a political issue, Randall said."

So the project was supposed to "foster a response". Well, why isn't picking the flags up a response. If that is really the aim of the project, then it failed miserably. Certain responses were prohibited while others were ok (such as standing on the flag). Sounds like the artist was only willing to allow limited, predetermined responses to the project. So will she get an "F" for the project?

[cowtowney]

She’s a liberal. I hope that she affords conservative free speech the same protection as liberal free speech.

I won’t hold my breath.

[bt_dooftlook]

http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/flagetiq.html

Good page on flag etiquette. There are no fines or penalties associated with flag desecration, as the USSC has determined that its display for political purposes is protected free speech. However, it would be fair to state that intentionally violating the flag code is a breach of etiquette and that you can exercise your free speech rights by contacting representatives and senators to withhold any state or federal funds going to support the flag desecration. I would add that it is particularly disdainful of a public employee (i.e. the school's President) to be actively participating in such desecration, and that the president and his faculty should be subjected to the scorn they have so richly earned by being poor examples to their students.

[Chickensoup]

This is Portland, Maine

[armymarinemom]

Shame on UMF. Folks need to remember that Vets for Peace was born on the campus of UMO.

[armymarinemom]

Farmington Sun Journal article. The student declares herself a conservative Republican.

[freema]

Fascinating doesn’t begin to describe this. Don’t miss armymarinemom’s Post #74.

[weldgophardline]

It would be interesting to see if she had used the U.N. flag just how long her project would have been allowed.

[tomkat]

Hey Doug,

Here's a version of that same vid, followed by comments by Monday and Lasorda.

Seems Lasorda was on his way out from 3rd base to do the same thing, but Monday got there first.

Rick Monday saves Old Glory...

[Mr. Silverback]

Wbill, you rock and I agree completey. My people go back to when the Acadians got kicked out of Nova Scotia, and I was the first to ever move out of state.

[Mr. Silverback]

If you watch the video again, they identify the tall jerk as the provost of the university.

[manc]

Now if a student wants to do that with an islamic flag or the koran will the same people stick up for it like they are here

I bet no