Good Job!!
Posted on 12/02/2001 9:31:00 AM PST by ElectricStrawberry
When the United Nations flag went up on Oct. 24 at Jamaica Pond, it was meant to be a significant statement about people living together in peace and a way to recognize the important role the United Nations is playing in the war on terrorism.
Now, just a few weeks later, the flag has been taken down because it made "some people" uncomfortable according to Gerry Wright, the president of the Jamaica Pond Project.
Although the Jamaica Pond Project received approval from city officials to fly the flag along with POW/MIA and city flags and below the American flag, calls were made to the Office of Justine Liff, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, requesting that the flag be taken down.
"I thought [flying the UN flag] was a great idea, but it made some people uncomfortable, so we had to respect their wishes," said Mary Hines, spokesperson for the Parks department.
She said around a dozen people felt it was not appropriate to fly the United Nations flag with the American flag. Since the Parks Department only received messages, she said it was hard to speculate who the complainers were.
At present, the United Nations is playing a key role around the world and in Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush said in his first address to the United Nations on Nov. 10, "The United States will work closely with the United Nations and development banks to reconstruct Afghanistan after hostilities there have ceased and the Taliban are no longer in control. And the United States will work with the U.N. to support a post-Taliban government that represents all the Afghan people."
Although Wright was disappointed to take the flag down, he complied after reading the Preamble, Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
According to the charter, "the people of the United Nations are determined to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors."
Wright said, "To me, the Preamble, Purposes and Priciples were why we put the flag up and then took it down."
For Wright, seeing the flag at Jamaica Pond was significant to "the environment and the poor people throughout the world." He said he admires the United Nations' interest in human rights and actions as a peace keeping force.
Wright said he thought it was crucial to have the United Nations flag not only because of the September 11 tragedy, but also to shed more light on the everyday struggles of people around the world.
Hines, who said the citywide policy is only to fly the American, POW/MIA and city flags commented that Wright and Christine Cooper, Project Directer and Park Keeper, put a lot of thought into their idea. She said, "We could not run Jamaica Pond without Gerry and Christine."
Now the flag has found a new home inside the First Church Unitarian Universalist of Jamaica Plain. The Jamaica Pond Project donated the flag to the church, and the church accepted.
Reverend Terry Burke said, "We are pleased to accept the gift of the United Nations flag from the Pond Project. We are proud to be providing a sanctuary for the flag."
That does leave me with the need for a new place, but at least everyone got out except a cat :-{
WARNING: DO NOT put vinyl siding on your house. The thick black clouds of toxic smoke from the burning vinyl almost bagged a few people last night, long before wood smoke would have.
I relocated to the Cape for a few days and appreciate all your prayers.
If this idiot really believes that then he should fly the American flag, as it is the ONLY symbol in the world for liberty and freedom. The UN is repressive. What a moron!
How do you think that most of the professors at American's Universities?
They are brought in through these teacher's unions through the United Nations.judges, through the American Bar Association, police chiefs, through the Internation Police Chief , and school teachers.
They have just opened up a U.N. class in my neighborhood's high school.
John Hopkin's University has brought in U.N. Health Personnel to open up health clinics in Baltimore<P. and also in public schools
Unbelievable responses (positive) from people driving by including local law enforcement giving us the thumbs up! FReep on!
We had mostly heat, smoke, and fire department damage (they kicked in all the doors and broke all the windows etc...). The biggest drag is trying to find a place to move in to and imposing on friends' couches in the meantime.
The good thing is, my Freeping gear is all intact!! Bring 'em on!!!!
ES
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