Posted on 04/16/2002 8:02:02 AM PDT by Vladiator
Students try to burn gay-themed flag
Mon Apr 15, 7:26 PM ET
Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network
SUMMARY: Three students at the University of Idaho face a criminal investigation and a school penalty for stealing and attempting to burn a rainbow-colored flag owned by the school's gay-straight alliance.
Three students at the University of Idaho face a criminal investigation and a school penalty for stealing and attempting to burn a rainbow-colored flag owned by the school's gay-straight alliance (GSA).
The students, freshman Matt Henman and sophomores Kevin Smith and Joel Sturgill, admitted their actions to police, and they have since resigned as elected senators in the Moscow campus's student government.
Very early on March 31, the three reportedly used Smith's access card -- a senator privilege -- to get into the student center where the GSA has office space. They took the group's flag, which looks like the American flag except for multi-colored stripes, and tried to burn it at a nearby fraternity house, as reported in the Argonaut, the campus newspaper.
The flag was flame-retardant, however, so the students threw it in a dumpster.
In a statement to police, Sturgill said he did not intend any malice toward gay people or the GSA.
"I saw the flag as trying to copy the flag of the United States of America," he said, "and my patriotic spirit went a little too far."
Amanda Henry, a junior at the University of Idaho, disagreed: "I think it's a hate crime disguised as patriotism." She said that many details of the case were not made public until several days after the fact, which added to her suspicion about the motive.
Idaho does not have a hate crime law that includes sexual orientation. However, the GSA is planning to file criminal charges of theft and vandalism, the Argonaut reported.
School officials are also weighing an administrative penalty for the trio, which could range from a warning to expulsion.
Uhh, yeah, duuuuuuude!
Probably absolutely protected, indeed. It's just that it's scary anytime a majority starts burning stuff that belongs to a minority.
They STOLE the flag. If they'd made their own "gay flag" and burned it, they might have a chance, but not when they've confessed to destruction of stolen property. Put a fork in them, they're done.
How do we know the burners weren't gay?
Plant the seed, Amanda... hey, maybe ALL patriotic acts are really hate crimes in disguise! That fits! </sarcasm>
Now, although I cannot condone the theft; I have to admit that I CAN understand the frustration. How do you protest a homosexual's slap in the face on a campus? Heck, the way our Universities are today, if you turn down a homosexual advance you are likely to be accused of being a homophobe! To protest "their" flag in public? That would be very risky. You might even be burned at the stake!
However; the homosexuals can and do push their lifestyle on others every chance they get. In addition; they are immune from any objection. To do so is "intolerant".
If a guy hits on a girl, even by just saying she is pretty; the PC mindset on our campi gives her every right to slap the guy. However, for a guy to slap another guy for hitting on him, no matter how blatant and obnoxious; that is a hate crime!
I applaud the sentiments expressed by the trio, but again; cannot condone what they did. Nor can I have any respect for anyone who comes up with such a foolishly planed crime!
MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/
MARK A SITY
Excellent point! In fact, since the article said they "tried to burn it at a nearby fraternity house" we should probably assume they are gay indeed!
Many of the kids today are either bisexual, gay, or just accepting of any perversion. The school system is doing it's job well.
Again, I think we ought to all feel a little creeped out when a majority picks on a minority. As they say, just subsitute "black" for "gay" and see how the story looks. creepy. Or 'jewish' or 'arab' or any minority.
Betcha those colors run...
Nothing a little kerosene wouldn't solve
What about when a minority picks on a majority?
Besides which these people(the pickers) are a minority of the majority so it can be argued that this is a case of the minority(the pickers) picking on the minority(the pickees).
a.cricket
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