[Grovenet] Who got to choose: That's one big flag

Fri Apr 24 17:28:37 PDT 2009

The most disturbing thing to me is that the citizens of Forest Grove were not allowed to be part of the process for deciding to fly this huge flag.

The mayor had talks with the donor and that was it?  Not very democratic.....

Some people like to wear "big hair" - I guess Forest Grove is insecure in it's patriotism and has to wear a big flag.....

Alana

--- On Fri, 4/24/09, Steve Jerrett <stevedj at teleport.com> wrote:

> From: Steve Jerrett <stevedj at teleport.com>
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] That's one big flag
> To: "Forest Grove local interests list" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Date: Friday, April 24, 2009, 11:49 AM
> Holly,
> 
> 
> When did the U.S. flag become a pro-war, anti choice,
> anti-gay, anti women
> etc. symbol?  Why do you see this flag as an icon of
> everything you see as
> negative about our country ?
> 
> Why don't you see it as representative of
> everyone-gays, straights,
> homeless, wealthy, etc., etc.. Why doesn't it illicit a
> feeling of pride in
> the fact that we have the freedoms of opinion, religion,
> sexual orientation,
> etc. that make us such a unique civilization. Why do you
> feel that it
> doesn't also represent YOUR Forest Grove? Don't you
> feel the least bit
> apprehensive in being so audaciosly prejudicial in your
> assumptions about
> the "anonymous family" regardless of  your
> rhetorically postured approach?
> Why do you feel the need to chastise and belittle those
> that differ in
> opinion as "tasteless or unprogressive?"
> 
> I find your level of intolerance  disturbingly ironic.
> 
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Holly T." <feralcattamer at yahoo.com>
> To: "Forest Grove local interests list"
> <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:54 PM
> 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 display 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 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 interests 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.------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GroveNet mailing list
> > GroveNet at rdrop.com
> > http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet
> 
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> 
> 
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