My name is Peter Ryan Lynch; I am a student at UNM. I am a decorated 8-year veteran of the US military, honorably discharge this July. I am appalled a foreign banner flew unaccompanied on UNM campus flagpole for three days, including a US holiday. I am an American passionate about our country and I would feel the same way if it were ANY foreign banner.
The Mexican flag was flying over UNM campus unaccompanied by an American flag on U.S. Constitution Day 17 September 2007.
According to United States Code (Federal Law): "The flag should be displayed on all days especially on… Constitution Day, September 17…."
"The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution."
"The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse."
Throughout history, flying a nation’s banner is a claim of ownership. To do this on U.S. Constitution Day is an insult to all Americans. I am outraged that UNM administration allowed this happen. I thought before my class was over they would address the issue. I left class, and the foreign banner was still unaccompanied. I went to the dean’s office, pleading for action. I also notified Army ROTC, who has the honor of raising and lowering the US flag on UNM campus this month. I waited one and one half-hours after these notifications to take action myself. I made a profound statement and tore down this foreign banner. My actions although overzealous, are warranted.
Americans have one of the most diverse cultures on the planet, we embrace our differences, and unless you are a foreign visitor or illegal immigrant then your nationality is American! We are all equals under the Constitution and Stars and Stripes that protect us. Americans should fly their historical nations’ banners with pride. UNM is a public institution, governed by the laws of our nation, and on 17 September 2007, Federal law was broken; American’s are insulted. I am livid, with all the press coverage, only Julian "Top" Martinez said anything in my defense. Furthermore, the press has a responsibility to gather all the facts before printing.
I would like to assure El Centro de la Raza that hate or racism did not motivate my actions. I ask UNM administration specifically, David Schmidly (University President), Rita Martinez-Purson (Interim Vice President for Academic Diversity), and Cheo Torres (Vice President for Academic Affairs), to apologize to all the American Students, including Mexican-American students, for allowing a foreign banner to fly over UNM for three days in violation of Federal laws.
Sincerely, Peter Ryan Lynch
Maybe someone needed some cheap TP.
ouch!
the unm is in violation of u.s. laws.
The US Supreme Court said we all have the right to desecrate an American flag as part of our right of free speech. Apparently alien flags on American soil are protected by the part of the same ruling written in invisible ink.
“My name is Peter Ryan Lynch; I am a student at UNM.”
Peter, you should really consider making a run for office, perhaps Fed. Representative. Go out to conservative leaning money people and tell your story.Contact your Federal Republican Senator. Whether you want it or not, you are a worthy candidate for office.
But they wouldn’t say a damn thing if La Raza members desecrated an American Flag.
I bet they would really soil their Britches if someone dropped a Koran.
Rita Martinez-Purson
Interim Vice President,
Institutional Diversity
Cheo Torres
Vice President
for Student Affairs
Just a hunch,but I don’t think these people are Irish !!!
Excellent! Welcome to Free Republic.
Semper Fidelis,
LH
Welcome to FreeRepublic! Thank you for your service to our country. It is an honor to have you with us.
I swear one of these days someone is going to raise a Mexican flag on US Soil and people aren’t going to just take it down, it will be much much worse eventually.
Welcome to Free Republic, Peter! Glad to have you here
Welcome to F.R.
“celebrating the Mexican independence day”
The hell you say??
Remember the Alamo
remember our heroes
Remember why the died
their sacrifice
Freedom
will never die
From our ashes Texas will rise
We won’t surrender
We won’t retreat
our spirit they can’t defeat
We fought with honor
We lived with pride
as free texans we’re gonna die
Remember the Alamo
remember our heroes
Remember why they died
their sacrifice
Before dawn
we’ll all be gone
but a new star will be born
Don’t forget our sacrifice
defend this land
even with your life
Against the tiranny
we standed alone
we were just men
made of flesh and bones
David Crockett
Jim Bowie
William Travis
Tejanos
Free Texas
Muerte a Santa Anna
Victory or death
Mr. Lynch.......Ty for your sevice to our country as well!!!
Whatever you do, don’t put their school addresses or emails on FR.
Please explain why the destruction of a Mexican flag is not an 'expression' protected by the right of 'free speech', as is the destruction of an American flag just such an expression.
Try not to fall into too great an exercise of double standards in the process, if your intellectual level permits the possibility.
I would like to assure El Centro de la Raza that hate or racism did not motivate my actions. I ask UNM administration specifically, David Schmidly (University President), Rita Martinez-Purson (Interim Vice President for Academic Diversity), and Cheo Torres (Vice President for Academic Affairs), to apologize to all the American Students, including Mexican-American students, for allowing a foreign banner to fly over UNM for three days in violation of Federal laws.
I appreciate your sentiments above but rest assured LaRaza hates you and apparently American as well. It will be a cold day in hell before they ever apologize.
Welcome to FR and best fortune to you.
Student tears Mexican flag; suspect remains at large
by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
A student took down a Mexican flag from a flagpole outside Scholes Hall Monday, tore it and took it to the Air Force ROTC office, police said.
A summons was issued for Peter Lynch, 30, by the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court for criminal damage to property, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police.
Davis said Lynch is not a member of ROTC, and it is unclear why he took the flag to that office.
Lynch has not been charged because UNMPD cannot find him, Davis said.
UNMPD investigated the vandalism as a potential hate crime, but witnesses from the ROTC office told police it was not a racially motivated crime, Davis said.
“He was frustrated a foreign flag was flown without an American flag nearby,” he said. “We’re basically investigating it on witness statements.”
The Mexican Student Association raised the flag outside Scholes Hall on Friday for Mexican Independence Day, said Cheo Torres, vice president for academic affairs.
Mabel Gonzales, president of the Mexican Student Association, declined to comment.
Torres and interim vice president for institutional diversity Rita Martinez-Purson issued an apology Tuesday from the University for the incident.
“This sort of incident hurts everyone,” Torres said. “It’s something that you don’t expect to see at a place like the University of New Mexico where we celebrate diversity.”
Martinez-Purson said the incident caught her off-guard, as well.
“I don’t think anything really prepares you for this type of vindictive behavior,” she said. “Obviously, we need to have strong dialog across campus about respect for other people and their cultures.”
Whether the vandalism was racially motivated or not, it was offensive, especially to the Hispanic community, Martinez-Purson said.
“There’s still an impact that has to be dealt with,” she said. “He did insult them. His thoughtless behavior had consequences.”
The University won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, President David Schmidly said.
“It’s inexcusable to desecrate a flag,” he said. “I’m not going to be very pleasant to deal with on this issue.”
What makes the situation worse is that it was a Mexican flag, Schmidly said.
“For God’s sake, New Mexico was part of Mexico at one time,” he said. “There’s tremendous ties, and we have a large population of Hispanics that live in our state and many of them have relatives and connections to Mexico.”
I’m happy to see a true patriot stand up for all Americans. You don’t appear to be one who will back down from a rightful position and issue the usual craven “apology” political correctness demands. I think you will find much support here at Free Republic, even including contributing to any legal bills you may incur defending yourself. You are right and they are wrong, even if you need to make a federal case of this matter.