[Grovenet] That's one big flag

Fri Apr 24 12:02:30 PDT 2009

Amen, Jane.

Geri

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jane Burch-Pesses" <phoenixacm at aol.com>
To: <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag

> Very eloquent, Mike.  I have to agree that the founding fathers never 
> realized what they were letting themselves in for when they said, 
> "...all men are created equal."  It's a job that gets passed down to 
> each new generation.
> 
> I also have to ask, how did the radical right co-opt my country's flag? 
>  No one has ever mentioned anything to me about not pledging the flag 
> when everyone else does at FG Chamber luncheons, but the reason is, as 
> a Navy vet, I have taken a pledge that supercedes that one, to "defend 
> the constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic."  I may 
> not pledge to it anymore, but it is still my country's flag.
> 
> Jane B-P
> 
> 
> Phoenix Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
> Home of the TAO (Team Against Obesity)
> www.phoenix-acupuncture.net
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steele, Mike <steelem at pacificu.edu>
> To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Sent: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 8:23 am
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
> 
> I'm in none of the categories mentioned below by Holly, but it still 
> spoke to me.  Geri and I were at the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor 
> last summer.  This was a very difficult visit for us; my Dad was in the 
> Navy for 30 years, 1926-1956, and was stationed there when the attack 
> hit.  I grew up hearing his stories about that fateful day. Our visit 
> to the Arizona was overwhelming.
> 
> My Dad and I took very different paths in 
> life, but he was always 
> supportive of me and I am eternally grateful to him for that thoughtful 
> understanding and loving support.  Because of his military career and 
> the numerous times he deployed for naval warfare, he had a keen 
> understanding of the demands.  He knew b.s. when he heard it and he 
> never backed down; he knew that young lives were being put in harm's 
> way...he totally mistrusted those who commanded those young lives.  He 
> taught me a healthy disrespect for authority figures.
> 
> Much of this came back to me driving by the flag, oversized or not.  
> Perhaps I had mixed feelings...but I do know that the flag that spoke 
> to me then represents a country not only that is and has been, but what 
> it could be--and that project is unfinished, so important hopes and 
> dreams remain to be fulfilled.
> 
> Peace,
> 
> --Mike
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On 
> Behalf Of Holly T.
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:55 PM
> To: Forest Grove local interests list
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
> 
> I agree, Walt. I will not mince words. The thing is hideously grotesque 
> IMHO. Betsy Ross must be turning over in her grave.
> 
> As Tom Robbins said in his novel, Fierce Invalids Home from Hot 
> Climates, "The more advertising I see, the less I want to buy."
> 
> I feel frightfully embarrassed to be a Forest Grove resident because of 
> this monstrous dis
> play of "patriotism". I fear that anyone who drives 
> through Forest Grove, upon being blindsighted by this abhorant 
> flag, will think that our community is overrun by redneck Republicans 
> who are pro-war, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-women, and against 
> spending tax dollars to help people and the environment. That's not MY 
> Forest Grove and I resent my city being portrayed in this tasteless, 
> conservative, unprogressive manner.
> 
> The next time I pass the bus stop between Safeway and Goodwill and see 
> all those homeless people standing around less than a block away from 
> this monstrous flag, I will not be able to keep from wondering, "How 
> many of them could be fed for a very, very long time for what that 
> monstrosity cost?"
> 
> For me, the mark of a true patriot is how much time and energy you 
> spend helping your fellow citizens. It's all about how much good you do 
> for your community. Not how big your flag is, how many wars you've 
> illegally and immorally and imperialistically waged against the wrong 
> enemy, and how many forests you've cut down in the name of capitalism. 
> I thought we got past all that ridiculous flag waving and conservative 
> leanings when Dubya was finally booted out at long last and Obama was 
> sworn in. I thought there was a rebirth in this country. A rebirth 
> whereby people would do their best to rebuild our nation, to undo the 
> horrific damage done by the Bush Administration, and to help each 0D
> other.
> 
> I wonder how much money this "anonymous family" who donated this crass 
> monstrosity gave to charities this year. How much did they roll up 
> their sleeves to help those less fortunate than themselves? I wonder.
> 
> Holly Tsur
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Walt Wentz <waltw at teleport.com>
> To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:32:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
> 
> Not to be "unpatriotic" or anything, but it strikes me as somewhat 
> like the burger-joint-chain gimmick of a few years ago-- when local 
> sign codes limited the size of their signs, they just flew humungous 
> American flags to attract attention to themselves.
> It is astonishing, even a bit overwhelming.
> Walt
> On Apr 23, 2009, at 8:49 AM, Allen Warren wrote:
> 
>> Bigger is better? One better than the Jones'? "Because we 
>> can!"? :-)
>>
>> Allen Warren
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Steven <NoSpam03 at comcast.net>
>> To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:26:21 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
>>
>> Is there a good explanation for why there is a humongous flag?
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-
>> bounces at rdrop.com]On
>> Behalf Of Bob Browning
>> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:47 AM
>> To: Forest Grove local in
> terests list
>> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
>>
>>
>> No chuck, Chuck!! Any flag you can see from one end of town to 
>> the other
>> is one humongous flag!! I wonder how long until the City has no 
>> money to buy
>> the replacement flag when this one is all tattered in about 12 to 14
>> months?? Or, maybe the Mayor is going to come up with the 
>> additional funds
>> needed??
>>
>> bob
>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> chuck wrote:
>> Saw the flag yesterday as I was leaving town for work.
>>
>> That's - um - one - HUGE - flag.
>>
>> Wow.------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>>
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