The American Flag: Banned

A Hummer dealership in Las Vegas
has come under attack recently for flying a large 30'x60' American Flag above it's property. The reasoning by the city council is because of complaints from surrounding neighbors of the noise of the flag flapping in the wind, as well as a few others claiming it isn't right for the dealer to use the flag as advertising for business.

"What disturbs us is the exploitation of veterans," said Steve Sanson, a Marine in Desert Storm. The flag "is being used for selfish financial gain." Wayne Earl, a WWII veteran stated, "I like to see the flag flown. I don't like to see the flag used as a commercial draw...It should be flown reverently, not auspiciously."

The council voted to force the dealership owner, Dan Towbin, to remove the flag and pole from the property within 60 days. Towbin is outraged by the decision.

"Its ridiculous in todays' day and age to suggest removing an American Flag," he said, insisting the flag is only about his patriotism. "Whether my heart is in the right place, only I would know. How would anyone else know that?" He highlighted his involvement at Nellis Air Force Base where he is an honorary commander.

At the city council meeting, Towbin read from a letter written by the business owner next door, Joseph Esposito. "The flag "fills my entire team of 55 employees with pride," Esposito wrote. "Any individual or group that would refer to this symbol of America as a nuisance, eyesore, or noisemaker should be looked at by the Department of Homeland Security to see where their sympathies lie." Strong words.

Whats the deal here? We're now at the point in this country where people are arguing over whether or not a business owner can fly a flag over his own property? Towbin was also planning to construct a memorial at the base of the pole in the memory of fallen soldiers, which was awaiting the city's final approval of the flag. He didn't actually believe the flag would be banned.

He should have though, this not being the first time he's had a run-in with Las Vegas over flying American flags. Just before Memorial Day in 2004, Towbin was ordered to remove small flags flying from vehicles at the Prestige Infiniti dealership because they were "attention gaining devices."

Jesus Christ...American flags are attention grabbing. What a crime. What have we come to as a society when flying our own flag can be controversial. The city did back off in '04 after the story hit the national spotlight. Hopefully they will back off again.