Hollywood and businesses are poles apart on flags along State Road 7

sun-sentinel.com ^ | 03/21/08 | Ihosvani Rodriguez

[TornadoAlley3]

Display of Stars and Stripes along S.R. 7 a visual blight, officials say State Road 7 in Hollywood is one patriotic corridor. From small tire shops to major car dealerships, it seems nearly every business on the busy roadway has its own sizable supply of Stars and Stripes flapping away. City commissioners are considering regulating the mass displays of American pride, calling it a visual blight.

[purpleraine]

When did the bus driver make a turn and takes us out of the US into some political social Twilight Zone?

[BenLurkin]

Unbelievable

[BenLurkin]

Indeed:

What diff’rence if I hail from North or South
Or from the East or West?
My heart is filled with love for all of these.
I only know I swell with pride and deep within my breast
I thrill to see Old Glory paint the breeze.

This is my country! Land of my birth!
This is my country! Grandest on earth!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,
For this is my country to have and to hold.

[purpleraine]

I always rely on the ACLU to teach me how to express my love of country. Otherwise I’d have to exercise my civil liberty.

[rockinqsranch]

It appears some of these Auto Dealers are truly using the flags inappropriately.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> It appears some of these Auto Dealers are truly using the flags inappropriately.

Yup. Like incorporating it into the company logo, f’r’instance.

[rockinqsranch]

“Oded Haims, owner of Haims Motors, has flags hoisted on the roof of every used car.”

“Advertising is really expensive. How else will people know there’s a dealership here?” asked Sanchez.

Is this truly an appropriate use of the American flag?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

” Haims Motors, has flags hoisted on the roof of every used car.”
The dealers do admit that they’re using the flags to “catch people’s eye.” That doesn’t seem like a patriotic reason to fly the flag.

[rockinqsranch]

“The dealers do admit that they’re using the flags to “catch people’s eye.” That doesn’t seem like a patriotic reason to fly the flag.”

We concur.

[TornadoAlley3]

Who says? The residents in that city or the mayor? What is the government's role? And who decides what is an appropriate display of the American flag.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

‘”Advertising is really expensive. How else will people know there’s a dealership here?” asked Sanchez.

Commissioner Heidi O’Sheehan, a retired Army captain who spent a year in Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said the patriotic argument doesn’t fly with her.

She said there are already laws and protocols regulating the use of the American flag and the city needs to educate owners about them.

“The flag is something that is very dear to my heart,” she said. “I do think they are out of control [on 441]. It looks tacky.”
“Advertising is really expensive.”
Yeah! That’s patriotic all right!

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Is this truly a n appropriatelegal use of the American flag?

There fixed it.

Let's see what the Flag Code has to say on the subject:

> § 7. Position and manner of display

(deletions)

(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

§ 8. Respect for flag

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America;
(deletions)

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

(deletions)

(g) 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.

(deletions)

(i) 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 napkin 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.

The entire Flag Code can be found here: http://www.legion.org/national/americanflag/flagcode

So it would appear that the answer to your question is "No".

*DieHard*

[TornadoAlley3]

These flags are on poles flying high above the dealership, if they are on cars they are not stuck on the windows, etc...no advertising decals are on these American flags... I saw the display on TV.

[RedStateRocker]

"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." (United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag, Section 8i) just FYI. I wonder how many of these flags are hung during rain? I do wonder how many of these dealerships sell foreign cars:-)

[rockinqsranch]

Thank You Die Hard, and Tornado, please see Die Hard’s post#13.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> These flags are on poles flying high above the dealership, if they are on cars they are not stuck on the windows, etc...no advertising decals are on these American flags... I saw the display on TV.

I guess this is one more salutary reminder for you not to believe everything you see on TV. From the linked article:

>> Oded Haims, owner of Haims Motors, has flags hoisted on the roof of every used car. He said Friday that beauty is in the eye of the flag-waver.

"It think it makes the place looks really nice," said Haims. "It shows American pride and catches people's attention."

Gimena Sanchez, owner of American Car Outlet, incorporated an American flag into her dealership's logo. Sanchez also has a dealership in Miami Gardens, where the city regulates the use of flags at businesses.

*DieHard*

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Thank You Die Hard, and Tornado, please see Die Hard’s post#13.

My pleasure. I think the US has an enviable Flag Code, and that other countries would do well to adopt something similar.

Interestingly, many US Athletes are in direct contravention of this Code, as it prohibits the flag being incorporated into an athletic uniform. (Remember Mary-Lou Retton’s gymnastic leotard, for example?)

[TornadoAlley3]

Well by golly let’s arrest all those who do not follow the flag code. Make that man take off his shirt. That is what you pay taxes for, so we can be overrun with illegals, display the flag wrong and you will pay. Hang the Mexican flag high, that American flag at your place of business, no way.

[rockinqsranch]

Perhaps you missed the point of this discussion. I believe so.

[TornadoAlley3]

I think you missed the mayor's point. I understand and agree about the flag code, but I disagree that govt needs to be going after American flag code breakers with taxpayer dollars.

[TornadoAlley3]

I'm a bit of a patriotic sort. I like a lot of flags flying and I don't care for what reason. If they're well cared for then fly a hundred of them!

[DPMD]

Waitadamminutedammit! In the spirit of the First Amendment, it appears that it’s not only okay but recommended to burn American flags in public for cheap political gain, it’s okay to wear American flag patches on the butt of one’s jeans, and it’s okay to supplant it with the garish rainbow flag that adorns every light pole in gay cities. But it’s not okay to fly it on a pole near a business?

The flags are “tacky?” O’Sheehan needs a brain.

[rockinqsranch]

So, you disagree we should enforce our laws?

The American flag is being abused by people, businesses in that community and the Mayor wants it to cease. I’m in favor of the Mayor’s efforts.

[Moonman62]

That road has been a dump for decades. I’ve never noticed the flags much. But local governments have big plans for redevelopment along that corridor, and there is already a big Indian casino there.

[TornadoAlley3]

September 11, 2006, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush stand on a carpet of the American flag at Ground Zero in Manhattan, the site of the September 11, 2001 attack..... It is petty and the mayor is not doing this because of complaints from constituents.

[TexanToTheCore]

Friday I was driving East on Hwy I10 in Houston and I saw flags everywhere. On top of high buildings, on flagpoles in front of auto dealers, regular businesses, gasoline stations. Flags on top of 20 story cranes and small cranes.

It was magnificent. Simply magnificent. It brought joy to my heart.

A friend of mine from Canada loves to come to the US and one of the reasons he loves it is that the people display their hearts on their sleeves with flags flying everywhere, a rare thing to see in Canada.

[rockinqsranch]

OK, You’ve shown me (us) the Bush’s standing on a stylized American Flag carpet.

Enough of this.

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/wallofshame.htm

Okay, well you said we should enforce the flag laws.