Posted on 09/25/2007 1:17:19 PM PDT by CedarDave
A University of New Mexico student who tore down the Mexican flag from a school flagpole said Monday he was upset because the university was flying another nation's flag without the U.S. flag.
"I was livid with the situation, and it wasn't the fact that it was the Mexican flag," said Peter Lynch, a mechanical engineering student who served in the U.S. military for nearly eight years. "It was the fact that it was any foreign banner."
He said he was particularly upset that it happened on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, and that university officials did nothing to rectify the situation after he informed them.
UNM officials said miscommunication led to the Mexican flag flying at Scholes Hall without the American flag.
Flag etiquette prescribes that no other nation's flag be flown in place of the U.S. flag. ...
The U.S. and state flags were raised outside the UNM administration building Sept. 14 by Army ROTC [students] ... A third pole that usually carries the UNM flag was left empty so the Mexican Student Association could raise the Mexican flag later that day in honor of Mexican independence day.
At the end of the day, the ROTC students lowered the U.S. and state flags but left the Mexican flag flying because they believed that the Mexican Student Association would take it down. The students forgot and left it hanging all weekend, McKinsey said.
On Monday morning, the ROTC students who were scheduled to raise the American and state flags forgot to do so.
UNM police say Lynch tore the Mexican flag apart on Sept. 17. A criminal complaint charges him with misdemeanor criminal damage to property.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Works for me.
Way to go Peter! If only he would have burned it.....
Good for him but the pusillanimous multicultural faculty will probably punish him severely. If the Mexican Student Association wants to celebrate Mexican independence day, there’s a whole country where they do that!
FYI...
If there is we should all contribute to it immediately and if not, how do we get one set up?
Why are they trying to bring with them, the very thing they're trying to get away from?
US flag goes up first and comes down last.
As such, there should never be any other flag flying alone except the US flag.
The Mexican flag should never have been flying in the first place.
Good for you Peter Lynch! I’m livid with you.
For your NM PING! list.
He tore it apart? I think it’s commendable that he took it down, but it should not have been damaged.
Miscommunication. The UNM officals problably didn't understand Lynch, who addressed his concerns in English.
That was my reaction as well. This guy better go into hiding, else "THE FACULTY" will quietly ship him off for Re-Education & Sensitivity Training.
Bravo Sierra.
ROTC Students forgot to lower or raise the flags they were tasked with doing? My military mind tells me they might need adult leadership.
ROFL! You done good Peter, you done good!
He would have ended up in jail and extradited to Mexico.
Sounds to me like the students in the Mexican Students Ass who forgot to take the Mexican flag down should have to pay for the flag and make a public apology to the students of the University.
With you. It’s not his property, and not his to destroy.
As far as taking it down, I consider that an act of patriotism. If I walked by a Mexican flag flying solo on my campus, my guts would have roiled.
If I were you, and if you really want to fight this, I'd dial up the political pressure on the university by bringing this matter to the attention of Tancredo, Duncan Hunter, and New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici (forget about Bingaman--he's a 'Rat), all of whom might just ask the university why it was actively violating the U.S. Flag Code.
In the meantime, I'd also run down to the local Five-and-Dime and buy a new Mexican flag to replace the one you ripped to take the air out of the university's sails on this.
I thought we were living in the U.S.A. I guess the school will next be flying the flag of Syria? Or Iran?
I’ll pay his fine.
“..but bringing Mexico with them is unacceptable.”
Why not? It is acceptable to Jorge and many other politicians.
Remember the Alamo!
“Mexican flag flying at Scholes Hall”
Isn’t the point of this story is that it is NOT flying.
They have eyes but do not see.
That's right MSA - Mexican INDEPENDENCE Day. They are a sovereign nation. The USA is a sovereign nation (at least for now). We also have an Independence Day and we don't raise the Union Jack in the States. Celebrate Mexican holidays on Mexican soil.
If you want on or off the NM Ping list, please FReepmail me.
bcsco for your ping list
Right on, Peter!!!
Why should it be tolerated at all that a Mexican Students association put up the Mexican flag AT all on American soild (public property, no less, not private home)!
Especailly so near our Constitution day!!
Mexican independence day can go to France! I don’t care..
ping
The explanation sounds ok to me. The JROTC students would not have done this except for poor communication. Sorry that is just what I believe happened. If others think otherwise than the JROTC students are owed what you think happened.
I think he was pretty ticked off by the time he took it down. He shouldn’t have torn it, but he did.
His actions hardly call for him being labeled as racist, xenophobic, hateful, etc. as the UNM is doing though.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1901205/posts
And you’ll just love this.... No concern at all for Americans or the treatment of the American flag at all.
“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.”
Thank you, Peter Lynch!!!
We need more — MUCH MORE — of this sort of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE from our side.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title4/chapter1_.html
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof.
Pete should hie himself down to the nearest federal courthouse and swear out a complaint against the Mexican student organization . . .
Oops, I forgot: our laws don’t apply to our friends to the south.
Since the Mexican flag was not supposed to be raised...there is no problem with taking it down and destroying it.
Its a foreign flag, not an American flag.
Since it is seditious to fly a flag that symbolizes overthrowing America (the flag used by Aztlan movement) I have zero problem with its removal or destruction
Burning is much too respectful.
They're not even good liars!
No, it should never have been flying, ever, at all. Good for him. Is this written in the law, do any of you lawyers know??
“The University won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, President David Schmidly said.
FU Snidely!
In America, you win by waging a campaign on three fronts -- the courts, the press, and the streets. You do have to pull together like-minded and motivated individuals to form the mob. The lawyers love the press. The courts usually don't. But shining a light on the sneaks in the courts and government will get you a win faster than you will ever get through the capricious justice system. It really sucks after paying all the taxes to public servants you have to go do the work these servants won't do.
Personally, I’ve had enough.
Thank you , Peter Lynch for you service to our country.....Then And Now!
"The students forgot and left it hanging all weekend, McKinsey said," and the ROTC students forgot to raise the flags on Monday as well?
He clearly misses the point of his very own words!
Right On!
“The Mexican flag should never have been flying in the first place.”
To he!! with this diversity cr@p. If someone wants to fly a mexican flag at his home that’s one thing. To put it on a public building is outrageous.
When will they start teaching in U.S. schools and universities the truth about Mexico, namely that it is a failed state whose form of government is inferior to our own and ought to be changed, a long line of dictatorships that noone should be proud of?
Thanks. Seems to me that this is “protected speech,” just like burning the American flag.
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