Duluth Paints Over American Flag

WXIA-TV ^ | 1.10.06 | Keith Whitney / Michael King

[mhking]

Last year, it was the runaway bride that put the town of Duluth on the media map. This year, the town is back in the spotlight. But this time, it's all because of a patriotic little girl and her great big American flag.

Duluth is as patriotic a town as you will find. On the Fourth of July and Memorial Day, the city puts out hundreds of flags.

But right now, just one has captivated the city of Duluth and the nation. The one on Whitney Place, in the middle of the street -- as big as American pride, but painted by little hands.

“We just wanted to paint a picture for fun, and we had no clue all of this would happen,” said flag painter Rachel Renbarger.

What has happened, has turned 9-year-old Rachel into a modern day American hero. A tiny Betsy Ross whose flag has come under fire.

Ironically, in the town that loves its flags, Duluth has asked little Rachel to paint hers over.

[mhking]

Just damn. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't done the write myself.

[msnimje]

People who think the American Flag "means war" need to be sent to live in Syria, Iran or North Korea for a few years to discover the true meaning.

[Darksheare]

I second that.
Just damn.

[Ptarmigan]

Cool. A little girl inspired it, which is even cooler.

[StarCMC]

Yeesh!

[enviros_kill]

Not sure if I like the American flag being driven over (she painted it on a street it appears). Seems disrespectful.

[July 4th]

Agreed. The flag on the ground doesn't sit well with me.

[Just Lori]

The American Flag does not belong on the ground. Not even a picture of it.

[TheForceOfOne]

I fly the American flag in my front yard. I dare anyone to try and take it down.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Someone complained that they thought the flag was a pro-war statement, when in fact, it was a Fourth of July project for the neighborhood kids."

Only someone with a negative view of America, or our enemy, could think that. Perhaps someone who hates America.

[Virginia-American]

The American Flag does not belong on the ground. Not even a picture of it.

Have to agree with that, especially as it's being driven over, getting rubber and soot and mud on it. Although I'm sure the girl's motives are good, she needs a lesson in the Flag Code.

[dk/coro]

I agree strongly! No tire tracks on the Grand Old Flag!

Gives us new meaning to the old ensign of Yesteryear:

"DONT TREAD ON ME!"

Kindest regards to my Fellow Freepers.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

You all need to het a grip it's a painting of a Flag not an actual Flag

It's been painted on cart's path's garden rocks the bottom of swimming pools trash cans garbage trucks garage floors wall buildings any place you can paint a picture a flag has been put !

It's a Picture

[Just Lori]

It's a Picture

a picture that doesn't belong on the ground. Sorry.

[Appalled but Not Surprised]

It's a picture.

Of a flag.

It is not the Constitution.

It is not the Declaration of Independence.

It is not Lincoln's grave site.

It's a picture.

Of a flag.

It is P E R F E C T L Y O K for a little girl to draw one on the pavement.

Really.

Geez....

[Echo Talon]

The flag was paintd on the street and shouldnt be there. Her parents helped them, the parents are the ones that messed up.

[Echo Talon]

"Someone complained that they thought the flag was a pro-war statement, when in fact, it was a Fourth of July project for the neighborhood kids."

Wrong! A POW complained about the flag on the ground.

[Echo Talon]

It's a Picture

OK, if they allow the flag to be painted on the street then they must allow ANYTHING to be painted on the street.

[1stMarylandRegiment]

Sorry, a picture of a United States Flag is a United States Flag, for purposes of respect and appropriateness of display.

Per U. S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1 - the Flag paragraph 3.

The words 'flag, standard, colors, or ensign', as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.

See for Yourself

[Dustbunny]

Ditto to that comment !!!!!

[Dustbunny]

I really don't like the idea of the flag on the ground, painted or otherwise, that would be driven over.

[lesser_satan]

Duluth is as patriotic a town as you will find.

Must not be talking about Duluth, MN.

[Echo Talon]

Don Ogden, an 81-year-old World War II vet who spent time in a POW camp, demanded the painting be removed because it denigrated the flag;

[Billyv]

how about some patriotic Dulithites finding the kids a billboard to paint and maintain as an American Citizenship project?

[Echo Talon]

how about some patriotic Dulithites finding the kids a billboard to paint and maintain as an American Citizenship project?

Exactly, liberals only fight for a flag thats painted on the ground.

[Echo Talon]

Don Ogden said the flag painting on a Duluth cul-de-sac was disrespectful. 'It is beautiful, but it doesn't belong on the ground.'

here

[HolgerDansk]

Ah, Dull-uth raises its ugly head.

Northern Minnesota is a cell of socialism, the likes of which are only found in darkest San Francisco or perhaps Boston.

[Echo Talon]

here try this link here

[Texas_Jarhead]

Interesting. How does that square with the article excerpt I posted about the "pro-war" complaint.

[Echo Talon]

I dont know, sounds like your article is messed up, since this one is way more specific.

[Petronski]

Duluth GA I presume?

[Virginia-American]

I understand what you're saying, but I disagree.

The flag (or a picture of it) shouldn't get oil, rubber, mud, etc on it.

[willyboyishere]

Only people who are perpetually primed to be offended themselves would find the flag to be a "pro-war STATEMENT", rather than what it has always been , a symbol of the nation, and one's feelings of patriotism for that nation. These people see everything as a PROVOCATION, a "statement", and they're the same people who don't like creches, manger displays, any depiction of a Bible, etc. in a public place. Someone has got to stand up to them, rather than give in to the ONE person that complained. Tell them to take a walk.

[Echo Talon]

from your article "Someone complained that they thought the flag was a pro-war statement, when in fact, it was a Fourth of July project for the neighborhood kids."

Who knows maybe some nutjob complained about it being a pro-war statement, but thats not the main reason it was taken down. Sounds like slanted news to me.

[willyboyishere]

Having gone to the link and read the real story, it now seems appropriate that the flag be removed from the ground, where no flag or depiction of a flag belongs.
It did seem a little unlikely that ONE complaint by a whacko in a town like Duluth would cause that kind of controversy.

[OnRightOnLeftCoast]

Reminds me of the home owner associations that have done just that....

[Echo Talon]

I agree nothing Patriotic about parents teaching bad behavior and poor etiquette to kids. The parents should have to class in flag etiquette since they are ones that put the kids up to it.

[NapkinUser]

"It is P E R F E C T L Y O K for a little girl to draw one on the pavement."

Nornally yes. But unlike most kids drawing on public roads, this wasn't done with normal chalk that washes off in the rain. This is called vandalism.

[wattsup]

I respect the patriotism of Miss. Renbarger but as a retired member of the Armed Forces and as a First Sergeant my job was to be the expert of the flag to the Squadron. The flag is not displayed properly and should be painted over. The following is an excerpt of the rules for the US Flag. Pay attention to Sec 8b and c

What is a flag?
This question does not have an obvious answer. Our conclusion is that the flag is that which we recognize to be the flag.


Sec. 8. — 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.

The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning
I do not wish to discourage the young one of her sense of duty and honor for our country but the proper display of our most cherished symbol should be the priority.

Please follow the following link for the US Flag Rules
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

[noblejones]

>>
The town believes if they spare Rachel’s flag, the precedent could spawn other, less patriotic versions.
<<

I gotta go with them on that point.

Perhaps if she had done it in chalk it could have been a brief homage which could be reproduced every so often.

[noblejones]

>>
how about some patriotic Dulithites finding the kids a billboard to paint and maintain as an American Citizenship project?
<<

Excellent idea.

[ccwoman]

when I first saw this on my local news tonight I thought the town was going overboard..especially when they said that allowing a painting of the flag to be on the street would lead to them to "having to allow other paintings such as swastikas". All of you have made fine points, and now I see where it was a nice idea but should have only been done in chalk, if at all. I do have to ask what we as parents should do with all the paintings and drawings of the flag our children have done over the years. would just throwing these away after they have hung on the fridge be unpatriotic?

Our elementary janitor simply runs the flag down the pole at the end of the day, letting it and our state flag fall to ground, he then scoops them up in his arms and walks back into the building. I complained about this and honestly the response was, "Oh Jeez, its only a flag". I tried talking to the principal about it but he was, "too busy". I think this kind of disrespect deserves far more attention than the flag painted on a cul-de-sac.

[Appalled but Not Surprised]

This question does not have an obvious answer. Our conclusion is that the flag is that which we recognize to be the flag.>>

I salute your service, 1SG, but you're wrong.

A flag is made of cloth. It flies from a flagpole. It is carried in a parade. It stands by a courtroom bench.

This is a picture of a flag painted on concrete/blacktop.

There's a term of art here: idolatry. Just because it looks like a flag doesn't make it one. Nor should it be protected like a cloth flag. Otherwise where does it stop?

If the city decides to paint over it, oh well. Sorry kid.

It's a picture of a flag. Nothing more.

[hershey]

If the flag was painted on the street and traffic drove over it, then you could say the image of the flag was being treated with disrespect, which might be why Duluth wanted it removed. Or maybe they decided it would encourage graffiti.

[Jemian]

The flag is on the road, where cars drive around the circle at the end of a cul-de-sac. I have a problem with that. I would not want to drive over the flag. I don't want others to drive over it. I know that the middle of the circle isn't where many drive, but bicycles drive over it, kids play on it and the middle of the road really isn't the best place for our flag.

[groovejedi]

I agree,...it's jsut a painting, and there are paintings of the flag everywhere!

[mcmuffin]

[Kokojmudd]

With respect to Mr. Ogden the little girl owes him no apology. It is a painting and not actual flag and it was a patriotic gesture not a code pinko painting. Had she pasted an actual flag to the street that would have been different. I have an old t shirt with a flag picture on it...if it gets lint on it do I have to burn it?

[ariamne]

Unfortunately, we are infested with vermin that hate America. Why don't they bag it up and go elsewhere?

[Just Lori]

It's a picture. Of a flag. It is not the Constitution. It is not the Declaration of Independence. It is not Lincoln's grave site. It's a picture. Of a flag. It is P E R F E C T L Y O K for a little girl to draw one on the pavement. Really. Geez....

I'm not saying the little girl did anything wrong. The adults in her life should have just explained to her that the ground is not the place for a picture of the US flag. They could have given her a piece of plywood or something and propped it up in their yard. Anywhere but on the ground. No, it's not perfectly ok. Really.