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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Many in the crowd outside Oakland City Hall shouted "Burn it! Burn it!" as masked protesters readied to set fire to an American flag. That's when a woman emerged from the scrum, screaming for them to stop, that it would hurt the cause.

What a putz...........

Thomas Jefferson was only 22 years old when the Son’s of Liberty raised the “rebellious stripes” to the top of the Liberty Tree in 1765. Ten years later he would draft the Declaration of Independence defining in timeless prose the rights of all men to be free. But his wisdom may have been even more evident when in his Inaugural Address in 1803 he warned against the redistribution of the fruits of free enterprise. He said “To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare...

The Tea Party Was Born Under This Flag America's First Flag… The Liberty Tree Flag

The US flag is to be lowered in Baghdad, formally marking the end of US military operations in Iraq after nearly nine years of war. Most of the 5,500 remaining soldiers have now left Iraq, with security in the hands of the Iraqi authorities. President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging to bring troops home, said the US left behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq". Some 4,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died in the war. It has cost the US some $1tr. Republicans have criticised the pullout citing concerns over Iraq's stability, but most...

A black college student has won the fight to keep a Confederate flag in his dorm room after school officials initially told him to take it down. “It’s not racist for me,” Thomas, a Georgia native, said in the video. “All it is is a symbol that I see as a sign of respect, and people don’t want to see it that way.”

Over the past several months, the NAACP has launched a campaign against the Confederate Battle Flag by protesting its presence at the South Carolina statehouse. Governor Nikki Haley did not respond to the demands of the NAACP to remove it. In a similar matter, black protesters have called for the removal of the Battle Flag from a Georgian cemetery that happens to have interred the bones of Confederate soldiers. And now, most recently, Republican presidential candidate Governor Rick Perry of Texas has become the newest target of the NAACP over whether the Battle Flag should appear on license plates. In...

When wearing a U.S. flag T-shirt is wrongBy Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor updated 11:16 AM EST, Fri November 18, 2011 San Diego, California (CNN) -- When is wearing a T-shirt with the American flag on it considered provocative? Answer: When you wear it to a high school with a dress code that explicitly prohibits "any clothing or decoration which detracts from the learning environment." And when the high school, where 20% of the 1,300 students are English-language learners and 18% come from low-income families, has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having "an ethnically charged atmosphere." And...

  Sorry, Mr. Key, Our Flag Is Not Still There David C. Stolinsky Nov. 17, 2011 Federal judge upholds school officials who banned American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, because they might cause “a substantial disruption.”− News item Federal judges are well known for upholding free-speech rights. For example, a judge blocked school officials from preventing boys from wearing T-shirts labeled “Big Pecker.” Clearly, judges tend to uphold the First Amendment, even when the “speech” has nothing to do with politics and is arguably obscene. But the judges’ devotion to free expression has limits. Even the dedication of...

"Leadership is about submission to duty-  not elevation to power" Ever met an actual hero before? Here's your chance... You might remember a news story that began a couple years back, re. the 'stubborn' old man who defied his homeowners association, refusing to take down the 21-foot flagpole and full-size US flag he'd recently erected on his property. A little bit of background might help you understand his point: the man in question was born Van T. Barfoot -a Choctaw Indian, actually- in Edinburg, Mississippi on June 15, 1919.  Twenty-five years later, a world away near Carano, Italy, the lanky, 6'4", Van T....

Until 1912, there was no set design for the Stars and Stripes. And so, hidden in older versions of the flag, its makers laid hints of the country's history and quest for identity.Aptly - given its national anthem is about the flag - the Stars and Stripes is a key part of America's identity. It hangs in classrooms and in courtrooms, on state buildings and suburban porches. It has been the national flag since 1777. And the flag that inspired the anthem was enormous. Measuring 30 by 42 feet (9 x 12.8m), it was raised over Baltimore's Fort McHenry during...

The surreal part of the article: About 30 minutes before Brandl ordered Old Glory removed from its elevated perch, Snyder said the bridge workers intended to take it down after the holiday weekend. But Brandl said safety could not wait. "It was not authorized, and we do not need the distraction," he said, adding, "I can't imagine who it would offend, but I do not want controversy."

Dariano v. Morgan Hill Unified School District (N.D. Cal.), decided the day before yesterday, upholds a California high school’s decision to forbid students from wearing American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. (See here and here for more on this case.) On Cinco de Mayo in 2009, a verbal exchange and altercation arose between a group of predominantly white and a group of Mexican students. This altercation involved an exchange of profanities and threats were made. A makeshift American flag was put on one of the trees on campus. A group of Caucasian students began clapping and chanting “USA” as...

Weekend media reports showed al-Qaida’s flag flying in central Benghazi, and noted that Libyan anti-aircraft missiles had been purchased by terror groups, but White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday the administration has not been surprised by news reports from Libya. “I’m not aware of anything that has been reported that has surprised us out of Libya,” Carney said during a morning press briefing. White House officials have not responded to The Daily Caller’s request for an explanation of Carney’s statement.

Weekend media reports showed al-Qaida’s flag flying in central Benghazi, and noted that Libyan anti-aircraft missiles had been purchased by terror groups, but White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday the administration has not been surprised by news reports from Libya. “I’m not aware of anything that has been reported that has surprised us out of Libya,” Carney said during a morning press briefing. White House officials have not responded to The Daily Caller’s request for an explanation of Carney’s statement.

McALLEN, Texas — An assignment for a high school Spanish class that made students recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance and national anthem upset a parent. “I don’t see a connection between all this Mexican history, and the allegiance and the national anthem … and learning Spanish,” William E. Brinsdon said in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Monday. “I just find it appalling, the indoctrination (that) is going on down here,” said the 47-year-old truck driver, who had instructed his 15-year-old daughter to take a video recording of the exercise at McAllen’s Achieve Early College High...

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Sean May has been wearing an American flag pin to work every day for the last two years. "In this day, I kind of feel like it has a little bit more of a powerful meaning than just a pin on somebody's jacket, and I wear it with pride because I like where I live and I love this country," May said. The 26-year-old front desk supervisor at Casa Monica Hotel in the heart of downtown St. Augustine was told to take the pin off Thursday because it violates company policy. "I've actually gotten probably more...

Dear Guest: We are very sorry for any misunderstanding about this issue. We do not have a policy at Olive Garden concerning bringing the American flag into our restaurants. Some members of our team were misinformed about company policy by our corporate office. As a company we take responsibility for that and we regret it. We take pride in how we communicate to our restaurants and we are correcting this so it doesn’t happen again. Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes. In fact, we periodically provide...

Olive Garden apologizes for refusing to allow 80-year-old Marti Warren bring an American flag into their restaurant during her Kiwanis Club award banquet last week. Olive Garden issued this statement: "We are very sorry for any misunderstanding about this issue. We do not have a policy at Olive Garden concerning bringing the American flag into our restaurants. Some members of our team were misinformed about company policy by our corporate office. As a company, we take responsibility for that and we regret it. We take pride in how we communicate to our restaurants and we are correcting this so it...

Does Michelle Obama mouth "all this just for the flag" at 911 ceremony & Shake Her Head? If you're a lip reader, you might want to verify that she said this ( Obama, who was standing beside her, nods his head in agreement ). CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

DOVER, N.H. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Old Glory hangs proudly in the hallway at Dover Middle school where the pledge of allegiance is recited every morning. But there was a breach in school policy when a 7th grader, who is also autistic, brought his flag to school. The flag was taken away because school officials said it could be used as a weapon.

The caption on the above photo reads: President Obama and former President George W. Bush greet family members of the deceased. Bush read a letter from President Abraham Lincoln (who) wrote to a widow who lost sons in the Civil War: Mary Altaffer/The Associated Press (hat tip Boq) The picture says it all. When President Bush spoke at the official ceremonies of the tenth anniversary of the 911 attacks, he was met with applause and warmth from the families. When Obama spoke, there was silence (just as with Mayor Bloomberg). The animus was palpable. UPDATE: Wait, there's more to turn...

SIERRA VISTA — When the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, left the nation reeling in sorrow and sadness, the ideas of how best to remember the fallen were plentiful. Flags, ribbons, flowers and other mementos adorned makeshift memorials across the nation, and locally, a giant American flag, created by Americans, for Americans, and expressing the true pride that comes with being an American, was created four days after the attack at Tucson Electric Park as thousands gathered to work on mending the wounded heart of the nation. And with such success in drawing people together back in 2001, what better...

Last night, I was drafting a message to publish on my Twitter and Facebook accounts, in recognition of Patriot Day and the 10th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, when I found I was missing what I wanted to share most with my family and friends: an image of the American flag. You see, special text characters and symbols can be inserted into the text fields of popular social media sites. They’re often used to recognize holidays and events. You can find most of them here http://thenextweb.com/TwitterKeys/keys.php and here http://facebook-symbols.com/all/. I’ve used both Facebook and Twitter for years, and I have...

Days before the 10th anniversary of 9/11 a leader from a group in Massachusetts is calling on public schools in one town to ban students from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, saying it has no educational value and the pressure it places on children to participate makes his “skin crawl,” The Boston Globe reported. Martin Rosenthal, the co-chair of Brookline Political Action for Peace, or Brookline Pax, told the paper the pledge puts “kids in an uncomfortable situation” and doesn’t belong in schools. The group, therefore, will ask town meeting voters in November to pass a nonbinding resolution on the...

An elementary school in Colorado has come under criticism after they lowered the American flag and elevated a Saudi Arabian flag. The principal at Bauder Elementary School in Fort Collins said they did not mean to disrespect the American flag, according to a report in the Greeley Gazzette.

John Henderson couldn’t take it any longer. He put down his half-eaten Whopper, got up from his seat inside Burger King on West Perkins Avenue and sauntered outside. It was late afternoon, about one week ago. He stopped at the flag pole, where he proceeded to lower the American flag that was flying high above the restaurant. Henderson, 63, folded up the huge mass of red, white and blue and loaded into his pickup. Then he drove to the nearby VFW post, where he hoped the flag would be “retired properly.” “When I looked at the flag he brought in,...

The American flag flies in tatters above the U.S. Capitol after Hurricane Irene moved through the nation's capital.

Pilgrims from the Brooklyn diocese display the 9/11 flag A U.S. flag that has appeared at every World Youth Day over the past decade in remembrance of 9/11 victims has arrived in Madrid. The flag originally belonged to the family of a young Catholic woman from Brooklyn who was killed in the 2001 terror attack on the World Trade Center. “This flag was given to the family of Suzanne Geraty,” said Fr. Gerard Sauer, chaplain to the World Youth Day pilgrims from the Brooklyn diocese. “She was a parishioner of mine and I buried her,” he told CNA. Thirty-year-old...

Call the White House and remind them to lower the flag to half mast in remembrance of our Navy Seals. Switchboard # is 202-456-1414. Voice mail comments # is 202-456-1111. Thank you. God bless America. I was not sure if this has been posted yet.

Expect even more flags at Republican campaign events. And if the Democrats were wise, they might well strip the stage of flags altogether, suggests a new Cornell study, the first to look at the political impact of the flag's image on Americans. The research finds that for up to eight months after glimpsing the stars and stripes, voters of all political persuasions shift toward conservative Republican attitudes and voting behavior. "Part of the reason we think this effect is so durable is because we primed people with the flag while they were thinking about their voting choices," said Melissa J....

Citizen Warriors | Foreclosure Fraud Special w/ June Clarkson & Theresa Edwards – Radio Show Saturday from 8-10 am EDT with 4closurefraud.org and ForeclosureHamlet.org We will be hosting our radio show tomorrow on WDJA 1420 from 8-10 am EDT. We are going to have some interesting updates and discuss topics emerging from the Pam Bondi scandal related to the firing of the nations two top fraudclosure investigators. This show will be hosted by Lisa Epstein and myself, Michael Redman. (Carol is out of town but may call in) Special Guests: Former Assistant Attorneys General & Foreclosure Fraud Investigators June Clarkson...

Just a glimpse at the American flag can sway voters, even Democrats, toward more Republican voting behavior, attitudes and beliefs, a new two-year study says. The authors, from the University of Chicago, Cornell University and Hebrew University, say the research proves the American flag has a powerful effect on voters. "A single exposure to an American flag resulted in a significant increase in participants' Republican voting intentions, voting behavior, political beliefs, and implicit and explicit attitudes, with some effects lasting eight months," reads the study titled, "Long-Term Effects of U.S. Flag Exposure on Republicanism."

It’s a fun, yet quiet community, just west of Tampa, Florida. It is probably best known as the home of the Safety Harbor Spa. Safety Harbor was the site of a small Fourth of July parade that can only be called perfect homespun Americana. Residents lined up on Main Street in rows that were, in some places, 15 and 20 deep. Some sat in lawn chairs while others stood and all were sincere as they paid their respects to the July 4th date as well as the flag. Patriots, one and all stood to salute the colors as they passed....

<p>Just in time for Independence Day, a retired Marine will be able to fly his United States and Marine Corps flags without fear of fines.</p> <p>The Lakeland Village Community Association filed a lawsuit Dec. 9 against Mike Merola, who has a 20-foot flagpole in his backyard. The neighborhood association claimed the flagpole violated the northwest Harris County community's design rules.</p>

CORPUS CHRISTI — Why would anyone steal a U.S. flag from a war memorial? And just days before the Fourth of July? "That's the flag. It's in our schools, our hospitals, our government buildings," said Vietnam veteran Ram Chavez. "It's draped over the casket of those who've died defending this country." For the past three years, the city has depended on Chavez, founder of the Veterans Band of Corpus Christi, and the group's members to lower the U.S. flags at the city World War Memorial in a brief, but respectful ceremony when the flags become worn and to replace the...

U.S. Veteran Faces Legal Action for Flying American Flag Published June 26, 2011 | FoxNews.com A retired U.S. Army chaplain is being threatened with legal action for flying the American flag in his front yard, the Daily Mail reports. Fred Quigley, 77, of Macedonia, Ohio, a minister who served active duty during the Vietnam War, has been told by the homeowners’ association that his flag violates the property rules. The association has offered to fly the flag at the entrance of the building development, but Quigley refused the offer. “If they can dictate to me that I cannot fly an...

A 77-year-old Army veteran is being threatened with legal action for flying the American flag in his front yard. Fred Quigley, of Macedonia, Ohio, a retired Army chaplain and minister who served active duty during the Vietnam War, has been told his flag violates his homeowners association's rules on flagpoles. As an alternative, the association offered to place the flag at the entrance of the development, but Mr Quigley refused. ***** Mr Quigley's lawyer Gerald Patronite said the association has no right to stop his client. He cites a 2003 state statute that addresses the homeowner's rights in such a...

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons "in special recognition of his contributions to the state, people, and culture of New Jersey."< snip > "... I was struck with an overwhelming feeling that the days of my youth were now finally over. My condolences to Clarence's family and all the members of the E Street Band.” < snip > Christie is an avid Springsteen fan and has attended 125 concerts...

Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, respectively, on Tuesday introduced an amendment to the Constitution that would allow Congress to pass laws preventing the physical desecration of the American flag. Tuesday was Flag Day. The two senators have introduced this legislation in the past, and believe that an amendment is needed in order to give Congress the right to protect the flag. Hatch explained on Tuesday that under a 1990 Supreme Court ruling, burning or destroying the flag is protected speech, and that any law against these actions...

There's nothing really bad to say about Rep. Allen West going diving off the coast of Deerfield Beach with a bunch of military veterans -- except for the fact that he violated U.S. federal law in the process and provided a pictorial of himself doing so. During his diving session Sunday, Lt. Col. West was photographed holding an American flag underwater, on top of an artificial reef -- which would be a violation of the United States Code. Let us flip to Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, Subsection B of the United States Code: (b) The flag should never...

Debbie’s Daily Dose of Food for Thought The stars and stripes of our flag are known round the world. Here is the first stanza of a poem to ponder and a few things to know about our flag and Flag Day. “There’s a flag hangs over my threshold, whose folds are more dear to me Than the blood that thrills in my bosom its earnest of liberty; And dear are the stars it harbors in its sunny field of blue As the hope of a further heaven that lights all our dim lives through.” -- Julie Ward Howe (American Poet,...

Today is Flag Day. I thought it appropriate to give links to proper flag etiquette and a history of Flag Day. U.S. Flag.org Flag Etiquette When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own...

For three years running American Border Patrol celebrated the Fourth of July by placing thousands of American flags on the border fence at its Arizona ranch. Each flag had a message from an American citizen attached. Last year more than 16,000 flags were placed on the fence (10,000 were new). But the Obama administration decided it didn't like the flags and messages, so it sent U.S. Border Patrol agents out in the middle of the night to tear them down and thrown them on the ground.

Martin "Marty" Winters didn't serve in the military, but his dad, relatives and many friends did. His uncle was killed in Vietnam. So when Winters, 52, kept hearing about protesters heckling families at funerals for soldiers killed in action, he took it personally. In colorful terms, he indicated he would like to eject protesters from funerals by kicking their backsides. Instead, he decided to exercise his right to free speech with a message heard as far away as Afghanistan — an American flag the size of a small house waving from high above the towering trees off Lithia-Pinecrest Road. "I...

For the month of June, those working in the city of Richmond can view the Gay Pride flag as they go about their day as the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has hoisted the colorful flag to fly just under our Stars and Stripes. President Obama has declared June as LGBT Month. Local Christians and conservatives are outraged but there is little that can be done about it. A private firm like the Richmond Federal Reserve can promote the homosexual agenda all they want. Marshall to Richmond Fed: "Take Down That Flag" Lawmaker questions gay pride flag flown from Federal...

Sandi Cauley CBS 6 Executive Producer 6:11 p.m. EDT, June 1, 2011 RICHMOND, VA— It's not unusual to see flags flying beside a downtown Richmond building, but on Wednesday CBS 6 answered several phones calls after drivers saw something different. Below the flag of the United States was a rainbow striped flag - the flag that represents gay pride. A call to the Richmond Federal Reserve confirmed the change. Sally Green, Chief Operating Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, said the flag is flying in honor of Lesbian and Gay Pride month, that started on June 1.

Objections fly with rainbow flag President Obama has declared June "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month" -- and to the dismay of a pro-family group based in Richmond, Virginia, the Federal Reserve Bank is joining in the celebration. Though The Family Foundation's new office in Richmond has a beautiful view of the state capitol and the flags, the rainbow flag fluttering above the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is also in view. Foundation president Victoria Cobb does not expect it to fly away any time soon. "Our expectation is it'll be flying all month," she predicts. "We think the...

MSNBC HOST SAYS AMERICAN FLAG IMAGE BREAKS FEDERAL LAW You gotta hand it to the left. When they get after somebody…they get after somebody! The loons at MSNBC have been after Sarah Palin from the get-go. In yesterday’s post, I wrote about Palin’s handling of the MSM – MSNBC included – during her bus tour. Martin Bashir, (best known for his slimy interview with Michael Jackson), has his panties in a bunch over the whole thing – and he has a new plan of attack. Apparently stupified that Palin is playing his comrades like a collective fiddle, the MSNBC host...

MARTIN BASHIR: "It's time now to Clear the Air and to ask a question: what is the purpose behind Sarah Palin's current bus tour? It's difficult to ask that question directly because Sarah Palin specializes in checkbook journalism. That is, she only gives interviews to a network that pays her in excess of $1 million a year. So we're forced to make judgements from the outside and it all looks like the precursor to a presidential campaign. The vehicle itself reminds us of all those campaign buses that crisscross the nation at election time. The media are ever-present, catching her...