Clearwater Florida’s Parks and Recreation Director, Kevin Dunbar, is under fire after he ordered the removal of 13 flagpoles and flags from the city this week. Dunbar concluded that flying old Glory was no longer affordable — a move that parallels the decision of various cities and states to sell parks and historic sites even as the United States continues to spend billions on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Besides being the headquarters of the Church of Scientology, Clearwater previously attracted national attention over its crackdown on a bait shop displaying a copy of the first amendment, here.
In Dunbar’s defense, the parks and staff have been cut by one-forth in the last three years — making the flag maintenance a bit difficult.
The city council has voted to block Dunbar’s decisions, here.
I bet a Veterans Organization would gladly take over these duties. If the BSA, Boy Scouts of America have a merit badge included I bet they would take it over as well.
Now what about the CSA or BPP? I bet they would as well. But for a Price.
Penny wise but pound foolish.
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/08/dna-of-what-is-killing.html
I’ve never believed in flags as symbols for anything but jingoism. I’ve never felt that the Pledge of Allegiance was Constitutional. That being said though I understand that my view is way in the minority and I have no objection to flags being flown on flagpoles at public expense. What this indicates to me though is how since the days of the mediocre President who was a “B” movie actor, the anti-tax movement has made mincemeat of all of US infrastructure and forces cost cutting moves like this. If a City can’t even maintain 13 flagpoles, what other aspects are in ruins? The anti-tax, anti-government types are really turning this country into a “banana republic” and don’t care as long as they can drive their expensive cars and live in their “Gated Communities.”
All this sentimental clap trap about not raising the American flag reminds me of Rehnquist’s dissent in Texas v. Johnson; the very words that convinced me that if this idiot can be Chief Justice then I’d do fine in law school.
i guess that flag care is just as expensive as it sounds and it is important to save public money for the really crucial matters that a community has to address like prayer in public schools.
Mike and Bob,
I consistently get dirty look at those occasional gigs that for one reason or another involve saying the pledge (graduations, fund-raisers, etc.) because I just stand politely and don’t participate (I don’t do anything to draw attention to myself and try to be as much in the background as possible).
Gyges,
Me too, except when my wife gives me dirty looks. As you say I try to do it unobtrusively. Beyond unconstitutional I think the pledge is Un-American.
Gyges writes: I consistently get dirty look at those occasional gigs that for one reason or another involve saying the pledge (graduations, fund-raisers, etc.) because I just stand politely and don’t participate (I don’t do anything to draw attention to myself and try to be as much in the background as possible).
yeah. me too. try sitting through the pledge and see what happens. when my hip replacement was brand new I once chose to remain in my seat. I did not only get looks. even after I pointed out that I was 2 weeks post-op and see here, here’s my walker…I still got noise from a few patriots.
as if a flag alone can make one a patriot or love one’s country.
my kids dont say the pledge either and for a while this was a problem in school.
Mike S writes: Beyond unconstitutional I think the pledge is Un-American.
I agree. it is contrived, a statement that means you will (or wont) engage in rote celebration of something that is all for show.
Spending shows the true priorities of a society. As far as I’m concerned they can burn the flags in protest of social injustice. but the cutting of social services at the local, state and federal level tells us what matters in this nation.
So far the 3 trillion in bailout money went to the top of the food chain. Meanwhile job losses continue, extended unemplyoyment benefits are scheduled to run out, the forclosure moritorium is over, and the food banks are empty. We have 47 million and growing uninsured. There is little help in sight for the poor and middle class. We cannot afford our empire and we cannot afford crony capitalism.
All people of good will need to make clear that we do not accept the transfere of wealth away from the poor and middle class to the wealthy. It is morally wrong and practically speaking, simply unsustainable.
If the city fathers are reduced to cutting flag maintenance expenses, that should tell you that here in Florida the legislature has already substantially crippled programs having a lower priority, such as mental health care and services for dependent women and children.
I suspect that very few people here, with the exception of other ancients such as Mike S. and FFLEO, can recall when the phrase “under God” was added to the pledge of allegiance. I was in either first or second grade, and I distinctly recall the teacher telling us one morning that thenceforth we would include those words in the pledge. We actually practiced it that morning.
Mike A.,
You’re right about the services, first things first. That’s really interesting about the pledge– somewhat Orwellian but interesting. As to the heads, good idea. Like Buddha I’m off to buy supplies! As to the funeral request, if your wife married you, she also must have a good sense of humor and she’ll do it!!!
Here’s an important story. It’s all about your tax dollars at work to pay for govt. sponsored murder:
Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder
By Jeremy Scahill
August 4, 2009
A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company’s owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe,” and that Prince’s companies “encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life.”
http://rebelreports.com/
Jill,
I linked to the original article at The Nation here:
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/08/04/d-c-council-members-call-for-investigation-of-protest-case-and-resignation-of-attorney-general-peter-nichols/#comment-71884
Thanks for the video.
This could be huge and merits monitoring.
Buddha,
I’m sorry I missed that yesterday. I think it’s a really big deal. For A.Y., Scahill, the author of the article, has an excellent reputation as an investigative journalist and he is considered an authority on Blackwater. Bill Moyer’s has interviewed him about Blackwater/Xe at least once.
Mike Appleton,
I do remember the “under god” addition to the Pledge. I was a First Grader (I was so bright that I was allowed to skip Kindergarten…or maybe it was because that “K-grade” was not offered in TX at that time, or….)
FFLEO, I was living in Melbourne, Florida at the time and we didn’t have kindergarten either. That early educational deprivation probably explains why I wound up significantly left of center.
FFLEO, I forgot to mention. After pledging allegiance “under God,” we occasionally practiced our “duck and cover” routine so that in the event of nuclear annihilation, we would be amply protected by that half inch of desk oak over our heads.
Mike A writes: FFLEO, I forgot to mention. After pledging allegiance “under God,” we occasionally practiced our “duck and cover” routine so that in the event of nuclear annihilation, we would be amply protected by that half inch of desk oak over our heads.
it’s all coming together now… school prayer was ended about a month before Duck-and-Cover was introduced into the classroom. maybe its the god in foxholes sentiment.
Mike Appleton,
This thread is bringing up many fun, crazy childhood memories. I swear, that when I read your post last night and was unable to then reply, while I was lying in bed I thought about the Pledge and then I remembered the “duck and cover” type drills. When I posted this morning I meant to post that part of the story but forgot! Then you mentioned it and I remembered what it was that I forgot to write.
One of the funniest aspects of those emergency drills is that for a potential nuclear blast, we ducked under our desks, but for a tornado drill, we all were directed to the hallways like a bunch of cattle to sit against the wall with our hands over or head!
Remember this was Bible Belt Texas in the early to mid-1950s. By the way, you cannot blame your left of center leanings on missing Kindergarten because I missed it and I am clearly *right of center*. Maybe it was the differences in the States’ water quality…
Thanks for conjuring up those ‘fond’ memories of us 1950s ‘Little Rascals’.
Mike Spindell, did you experience this in the 50s Chicago area, or elsewhere?
Pardon Me, thanks for that video reminder of ol’ Bert.
There is a 9 minute video of Bert the Turtle over at YouTube about these Civil Defense warnings. I liked those CD days then much better than the TSA/Homeland Security days of now.
FFLEO,
I experienced “duck and cover,” under God added to the pledge in NYC in the 50′s. I also didn’t go to Kindergarten, because I kept getting sick when I started. It seems odd that 3 men in our age range didn’t go to Kindergarten, I thought everyone but me did.
Mike S writes: I experienced “duck and cover,” under God added to the pledge in NYC in the 50′s. I also didn’t go to Kindergarten, because I kept getting sick when I started. It seems odd that 3 men in our age range didn’t go to Kindergarten, I thought everyone but me did.
its not weird. its a conspiracy. someone knew that 50+ years into the future there would be a kid named barak hussein obama who wold become president and you three would have to have skipped kindergarden — but only you three.
I went to Kindergarden and I think my 85 year old father still has some hot fantasy about my teacher, Mrs. Swensen, a tall leggy blonde.
School Daze
by Pardon Me?
I didn’t attend kindergarten. My schooling began in First Grade, September, 1962.
It was awful.
While 30 strange and wide-eyed kids stared, Mom somehow managed an escape from my death grip. She abandoned me in the care of the very large, cankled, bespectacled, and mustached Miss B. I cried for an hour, or so until we were given peanut butter cookies and small cartons of milk with straws. My brand new dress, one of 3, was itchy all day.
In Miss B’s room, our rectangular desks were adjacent, situated concentrically in 2 U-shaped rows. Early in the first year, I was minding my own coloring business, and somewhat intoxicated by the smell of freshly mimeographed paper, when I was tapped on the shoulder by my classmate on the left. I turned, off guard, naive, and unsuspecting. To my surprise and ultimate terror, she exposed herself. I was instantly traumatized. I cried. I probably feigned illness the next morning.
The playground was mostly fun. Chalked hopscotch patterns on cement, a high and fast slide, whirley-gig, monkey bars. It reminded me of the cool play area at the drive-in. I developed a crush on a little boy with an easy laugh and sparkly eyes. To be included with him in a game of chase was thrilling. Then, after one exceptionally rowdy recess, I came to a horrible realization: one of my pigtails had come down. I appeared lopsided, one-eared, a fool. The boy I had come to like certainly did notice, and that was why he was laughing and pointing. I probably feigned illness the next morning.
Another fateful day, I ate someone’s glue. With a ruler, Miss B severely whacked the palm of my right hand. It hurt badly, I cried. I probably feigned illness the next morning. In retrospect, only would I deem righteous such severe punishment in regard to my singing with my cousin, in front of a rapt class, our heartfelt rendition of “Yellow Polka-dot Bikini”, and then continuing solo with a Johnny Crawford tune about carrying books, “looks that say I love you”, the boogie man, and a growing no-o-ose.
I enjoyed trips outside, weather permitting, to gather around the flagpole to salute and recite the Pledge. But time passed and one such outing left me haunted, taunted by chants of “Goldwater, Goldwater, he’s our man. If he can’t do it, nobody can!” How could anyone disagree with my parents?
Mostly what I regret about those early school years is having been denied my fair share of cleaning chalky erasers. I guess I missed out some of those 30 days I didn’t attend.
School Days, School Days, Good ole Golden Rule days, readin ‘n
writin ‘n rithmatic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick.
pardon me?,
I was very moved by your post. My own elementary school days
weren’t good either and for the first six grades I had about 30 absences a year. Sometimes being “sick” was a blessing. Even though I am much older than you, where I went to school we didn’t have ruler smacking by teachers. That to me is a horror.
As we age we forget the terrors we felt as children and like the snatch of song above, they are transformed into golden years. People don’t allow themselves to remember the terrors that children face, even in the best of situations, because it is a new world and there is so much to learn and we are so little.
Your writing beautifully captured the emotions of that little girl, thrust into a frightening new environment, where she wasn’t sure of the “rules,” or of the good will of those around her. You have talent with words because yours certainly evoked many feelings in me.
Mike-
I’m happy to see you this morning.
Thanks for making my day.
I’m smiling big.
pardon me? sayed,
Mike-
I’m happy to see you this morning.
Thanks for making my day.
I’m smiling big.
________________________________
Well, I aint! The durned ol’ cuss…
Of course, welcome back Mike! Regardless of our vast philosophical and political differences—amongst our very similar personal values—I will forever and always consider you a fine man, as I have said at least 3 times in various ways before your absence, so I aint accused of *just* feeling worry or concern for you.
Pardon me?, you and Mike are a lot alike in that you both are very open with your thoughts and emotions, to the distinct benefit of the other regulars. Exhibiting such openness/candidness demonstrates people who are very comfortable in their own skins and unafraid of comments or self-deprecating humor some disingenuous people strive to take advantage of at every turn.
Thanks for those little life stories. Amongst us is a very wise, revered constitutional scholar who is also humorously self-deprecating and his witticisms are seldom equaled.
Most people only know the chorus of School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids). Here is a midi of a neat song.
http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/s120.html
Nothing to do, Nellie Darling,
Oh, there’s nothing to do, you say,
Let’s take a trip
On the Memory Ship,
And sail back to the good old days.
Sail to the old village schoolhouse,
Anchor outside the school door,
Look in and see,
There’s you and there’s me,
A couple of kids once more.
School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days.
‘Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick’ry stick.
You were my queen in calico,
I was your bashful barefoot beau,
And you wrote on my slate,
‘I love you, Joe,’
When we were a couple of kids.
‘Member the hill, Nellie Darling,
And the oak tree that grew on its brow?
They’ve built forty stories
Upon that old hill,
And the oak’s an old chestnut now.
‘Member the meadows so green, dear,
So fragrant with clover and maize,
Into new city lots
And apartment block plots,
They’ve torn them up since those days.
School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days.
‘Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick’ry stick.
You were my queen in calico,
I was your bashful barefoot beau,
And you wrote on my slate,
‘I love you, Joe,’
When we were a couple of kids.
Thank you, FFLEO. You’re a dear.
Now my evening is made, too.
Mike Spindell, you ornery ol’ Cuss, I wanted to ensure that you saw the postings after yourn, especially pardon me’s post.
“Mike Spindell, you ornery ol’ Cuss, I wanted to ensure that you saw the postings after yourn, especially pardon me’s post.”
FFLEO,
I saw them all and appreciated them, particularly pardon me’s which I appreciated back and yours which gave me the full words I had not known. What is so interesting about that song is that is is sung to a nursery rhyme type of tune and yet is really dark in it’s lyrics. Makes me wonder if the author was being ironic. I didn’t comment because I though there was little I could add.