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Suspected flag burner pilloried
timesunion.com ^ | Sept. 26, 2009 | BOB GARDINIER AND HUMBERTO MARTÍNEZ

Posted on 09/26/2009 10:12:55 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

VALLEY FALLS -- The young man was given three choices: get turned over to the police, go one-on-one in a fight with a seasoned war veteran, or be duct-taped to a flagpole for six hours with a sign around his neck identifying his alleged crime: flag burning.

It was the third option that would still have the small town buzzing a week after a 21-year-old was hunted down and forced to endure a public humiliation with its roots dating to the Middle Ages. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1938 were incensed enough to tie up the man last Sunday after they accused him of setting the flag in front of their building on fire.

Post Commander Nick Normile, a Vietnam War veteran, said the man came into the post's bar Sept. 18 on Poplar Avenue and was eventually turned away for not having a proper ID.

Apparently angered, the young man, who Normile did not want to name, cut the rope of the American flag flying overhead and used a cigarette lighter to set it on fire, Normile and others said.

The man sat pilloried as the village had its fall youth soccer picnic with a long parade of children passing in front of him.

"He'll never disrespect the flag again, I can tell you that," Normile said.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesunion.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fightingwords; flagburning; happyending; traitor; vietnamvets
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To: Melas
... who could blame a family member of this kid for going vigilante on the vigilantes which of course would beget retaliation in kind...

Not likely in this case since his father was a previous Commander of the Post.

161 posted on 09/26/2009 6:59:56 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government)
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To: the invisib1e hand

Nietzsche’s ideas live and that is the problem


162 posted on 09/26/2009 8:25:56 PM PDT by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric cartman voice* 'I love you guys')
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To: FreeStateYank; Joan Kerrey; been_lurking; Eaker

Two problems and it’s not complicated: 1), one of the choices involved getting his ass beat. That’s extortion by violence. 2) the perpetrators made a deal that they really didn’t have the authority to deliver. The police were still free (and still are) to charge the victim with vandalism, arson and a host of other charges.


163 posted on 09/26/2009 9:23:04 PM PDT by Melas
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To: wardaddy
Melas, don't try to defend that. You have publicly admitted here you fight a bit too

Exactly why I find it so abhorent. I don't fight a bit, I fought (past tense) a lot. A distinction I believe to be profound. I've got a face scarred by violence and memories of drinking a 5th to go to sleep because my hands were so swollen and painful that I couldn't sleep otherwise after pounding some poor bastard until I didn't have the breath to pound on him anymore. Consider me the militant ex-smoker of brawling.

164 posted on 09/26/2009 9:28:31 PM PDT by Melas
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To: Big_Harry

I’ve seen that too. I saw a cop bi_ch slap a college hippy in Texas once when the hippy started walking on the flag. I laughed so hard I had tears coming from my eyes.


165 posted on 09/26/2009 10:22:42 PM PDT by I got the rope
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To: Melas

You left out he could call the cops.

Big thing to leave out.


166 posted on 09/26/2009 10:33:58 PM PDT by Eaker (Kaiden sez, "If you have a problem and If explosives are an option then explosives are THE answer.")
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To: Melas

Well, I guess since one of the choices was going to the cops, the other don’t bother me.

Even if the cops choose to press charges [which I’d be surprised if they did] I suspect that the vets wouldn’t testify.


167 posted on 09/26/2009 11:18:53 PM PDT by FreeStateYank (I want my country and constitution back, now!)
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To: dr_who; nufsed
That’s called vandalism, nothing more. Do you beat up vandals, or do you press criminal charges against them? How about you, do you believe in the rule of law?

Give me a moment to think this one out. Which one involves less paperwork?

168 posted on 09/26/2009 11:32:05 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: dr_who; wardaddy
when freepers start on all that “you people” sort of talk they soon become gone

Is that a threat, "wardaddy"? You should think more about what you say.

I don't think wardaddy threatened you. I think he was explaining that self righteous posers tend to get the zot.

169 posted on 09/26/2009 11:53:27 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: Ron H.; dr_who
Maybe you can still get on at the WhiteHouse, why don't don't 'ya give 'em a call, you might just get lucky. I hear Hussein O. still needs a pet.

I thought the "Smug, self-righteousness Czar" position was already filled.

170 posted on 09/27/2009 12:52:18 AM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: Melas

I enjoyed the fights I lost less..lol...I’m too old now....I just spank my kids and my wife when she’ll let me (/s) and brawl a bit here.

Vicarious old age living sux...

my last fight was 8 years ago at 44 but I won against a youngster...a w-worder...it was great way to retire

now I can just flap my gator with relative impunity


171 posted on 09/27/2009 1:29:31 AM PDT by wardaddy
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To: dr_who

you’re on a run making pals here today pardner, are you always so warm and fuzzy?


172 posted on 09/27/2009 1:30:46 AM PDT by wardaddy
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To: I got the rope

Was that in Houston? I seem to remember some Iranians getting knocked around in a protest downtown in the ‘70s.


173 posted on 09/27/2009 5:51:45 AM PDT by Big_Harry ( Thank God I am an "Infidel"!)
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To: Little Bill

that’s a true story, he just didn’t want to be a pat of it....Funny as hell, “If they burn that flag, will you arrest me while I am kicking his ass or after?”

And Little Bill is right, the cop just shook his head and walked away! :)

I can imagine his thoughts...”3 weeks until retirement, Lord, please let me finish it soon...”


174 posted on 09/27/2009 7:44:54 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: dr_who

Quite pointed and pretty smart!


175 posted on 09/27/2009 7:46:05 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: dr_who

I doont care where the flag was made or how much it costs.

He deserved and asskicking, but I’ll settle for humiliation


176 posted on 09/27/2009 7:48:22 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: RichInOC

Duct tape can’t hold ice. Sad, but true...(sigh)


177 posted on 09/27/2009 7:49:05 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: dr_who

and you’re the one who is advocating retreat against the liberals

it is long past time to be polite to traitors


178 posted on 09/27/2009 7:51:46 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: Allegra

now THAT sounds like a plan!!! reord the expired license plates!


179 posted on 09/27/2009 7:54:01 AM PDT by RaceBannon (OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE IS SHOVEL READY...FOR SENIORS!!:: NObama. Not my president.)
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To: RaceBannon

One can make a basket of duct tape to hold ice.


180 posted on 09/27/2009 7:54:16 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 248 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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