6 months in jail for removing a Mexican flag?

[ajritter04]

While not truck driving related, I thought you all might find this interesting.

http://kob.com/article/stories/S375155.shtml?cat=516

A little more background on the story:

The subject of the story says that he was walking past the courtyard area near the main library of UNM (University of New Mexico) back in September and noticed that there was a Mexican flag flying unaccompanied.

He took the flag down and disposed of it, making a big deal of the fact that there was a Mexican flag flying alone in the US without a US flag above it.

Nobody thought it was that significant until one of the students in some sort of Hispanic Student Union got wind of it and went to the local media screaming and yelling that the guy who took it down was a racist and that the event was nothing more than a hate crime directed at all the Hispanic students.

When higher-ups in administration at UNM were questioned why there was a Mexican flag, they said they allowed the Hispanic Student Union to fly the Mexican flag on September 16th (Mexican independence day) and ONLY for that day. However, whomever put it up was either too lazy or didn't "remember" to take it down that night.

Now, my personal thought on this, having several family members in the military (though not being in the service myself)....I think that there NEVER should have been a Mexican flag flying alone for ANY reason whatsoever. If they wanted to fly it, it should have been displayed as US Flag Code dictates. I don't mind foreign flags being displayed as long as they are displayed properly. This one was not displayed properly.

Furthermore, I think that it's asinine/ludicrous/unconscionable/etc. that this guy is facing legal charges & possibly up to 6 months in jail for removing a foreign flag flying alone in our country.

[Cluggy619]

He did nothing more than I would have done.

In the USA, no flag shall fly higher than old glory. And I have gotten into fights because of it in my younger years.

And I still will, should I see another country flag flying higher than our stars and stripes ......little alone flying by itself.

[Mackman]

He did nothing more than I would have done.

In the USA, no flag shall fly higher than old glory. And I have gotten into fights because of it in my younger years.

And I still will, should I see another country flag flying higher than our stars and stripes ......little alone flying by itself.

I would have done the same damn thing. Putting down the USA to me you better be putting your dukes up.

[Syncrosonix]

i would have pulled the mexican flag down as well.

[mikey4069]

If they put him in jail for doing his duty as a citizen than THATS JUST WRONG. :evil: :evil:

[greg3564]

I can't believe they arrested this guy. I've heard NM was slipping to the liberal side. Now I believe it.

[ajritter04]

I can't believe they arrested this guy. I've heard NM was slipping to the liberal side. Now I believe it.

Not really "liberal", as much as we're sliding south of the border. Sometimes I wonder why anyone bothered to put the "New" in front of Mexico.

Any of you who have ever come through here know what I'm talking about.

I live in Albuquerque where this story took place, BTW.

[Useless]

Sorry, Folks!!

We all live under the same Constitution; the same rules, the same protections apply to all of us.

Our Constitution allows for peaceful protest, but that is not the issue here.

The heart of the issue is that neither the flag pole, nor the flag, nor the property upon which it was flying belonged to the person who took the flag down and disposed of it.

To protest the decision of UNM??

I'd support that.

Had the student simply removed the flag and returned it to the university??

I would consider that to be a justifiable act of civil disobedience.

To remove the flag AND dispose of it??

IMO, that crosses the line that separates peaceful protest and civil disobedience from unlawful conduct. The confiscation and destruction of someone else's property based upon political disagreement is unlawful, and it should be.

On a larger scale, consider the environmental radical groups who have burned down lumber yards to protest companies practices of tree harvesting. Although this matter is on a much smaller scale, the principals here are the same.

[ajritter04]

Found a video from one of the other local stations:

http://www.koat.com/video/14206020/index.html

[Cluggy619]

Sorry, Folks!!

We all live under the same Constitution; the same rules, the same protections apply to all of us.

Our Constitution allows for peaceful protest, but that is not the issue here.

The heart of the issue is that neither the flag pole, nor the flag, nor the property upon which it was flying belonged to the person who took the flag down and disposed of it.

To protest the decision of UNM?? I'd support that.

Had the student simply removed the flag an not disposed of it??

I would consider that to be a justifiable act of civil disobedience.

To remove the flag AND dispose of it??

IMO, that crosses the line that separates peaceful protest and civil disobedience from unlawful conduct, and destruction of someone else's property based upon political disagreement.

On a larger scale, consider the environmental radical who have burned down lumber yards to protest companies practices of tree harvesting. Although on a much smaller scale, the principals here are the same.

He didn't make a public burning.....he probably just threw it away. The original owners of the flag didn't raise the issue, some damn Mexican social group did.

Now, had the owners of the flag raised a stink, I would have gone along with it because of it being "personal property". But they didn't.

It's always some damn group sticking their nose into **** that doesn't even concern them......if they wanted the flag so much, they should have claimed it for themself. They didn't even care enough to tend to it the next day.....it was a couple of weeks before they even heard what has happen.

So yes, it should have been brought down, and disposed of as GARBAGE SINCE NO-ONE WAS THERE TO CLAIM IT.

Because to be truthful about, that's all that flag was at that point. Liter on a flagpole. The guy was right. And he was doing his country a favor....by cleaning up after the Mexican had their celebration.

You, sir, are so very wrong. :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Cluggy619]

Found a video from one of the other local stations:

http://www.koat.com/video/14206020/index.html

After watching this video, and found that the flag was taken down by a US veteran.....a 30 year old student who HAS SERVED with the US military, I believe that this is nothing more than some bull***** that the younger, Mexican students who form this group is using to get some attention. The guy inform the Dean of the school, and nothing was done, so he did what he was suppose to.

I now, more than ever, believe that his actions were correct. And I feel sorry for all of you who don't.....


:evil: :evil: :evil:

[Useless]

Sorry, Folks!!

We all live under the same Constitution; the same rules, the same protections apply to all of us.

Our Constitution allows for peaceful protest, but that is not the issue here.

The heart of the issue is that neither the flag pole, nor the flag, nor the property upon which it was flying belonged to the person who took the flag down and disposed of it.

To protest the decision of UNM?? I'd support that.

Had the student simply removed the flag an not disposed of it??

I would consider that to be a justifiable act of civil disobedience.

To remove the flag AND dispose of it??

IMO, that crosses the line that separates peaceful protest and civil disobedience from unlawful conduct, and destruction of someone else's property based upon political disagreement.

On a larger scale, consider the environmental radical who have burned down lumber yards to protest companies practices of tree harvesting. Although on a much smaller scale, the principals here are the same.

He didn't make a public burning.....he probably just threw it away. The original owners of the flag didn't raise the issue, some damn Mexican social group did.

Josborn:

How the flag was disposed of is not an issue. He confiscated the flag unlawfully, and he disposed of it unlawfully.

As far as your shallow remarks about "some dammed Mexican group", your bigotry is screaming.

Now, had the owners of the flag raised a stink, I would have gone along with it because of it being "personal property". But they didn't.

It's always some damn group sticking their nose into $&!+ that doesn't even concern them......if they wanted the flag so much, they should have claimed it for themself. They didn't even care enough to tend to it the next day.....it was a couple of weeks before they even heard what has happen.

So yes, it should have been brought down, and disposed of as GARBAGE SINCE NO-ONE WAS THERE TO CLAIM IT.

As I stated, if he had removed the flag and returned it to the administration, I would agree with you.

Because to be truthful about, that's all that flag was at that point. Liter on a flagpole. The guy was right. And he was doing his country a favor....by cleaning up after the Mexican had their celebration.

Man you sure do hate Mexican and Hispanic people, don't you!!!

You, sir, are so very wrong. :evil: :evil: :evil:

How ironic it is that you want to wrap youself up in the American flag, and trash the Constitution that the American flag supposedly represents!!

Vote RepubliKKKan, Josborn!!

It's a hellu'va lot easier than thinking!! :P

[Mackman]

I agree with you Cluggy that man needs a pat on the back for a job well done.

[Fozzy]

This is simple.. this in no way was this person's right to DO anything like this.. you have the right to be disgusted, you have the right to voice your displeasure, you have the right to make a complete ass of yourself. The instant that you decide to steal someone else's property, you are pi**ing on this same constitution that is supposedly so important to you. He doesn't deserve anything but to get arrested and pay restitution for the items that he stole and destroyed. In court he can whine about the flag all he wants too.

[Bigmon]

How come nobody gets arrested when the Mexicans were burning the US flag during their big protest last year. They must have pictures of Bush bent over.

[homealone3]

I found this interesting..........


1 There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation's language.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.. All government business will be conducted in our language.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how Long they are here.

5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No Welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government Assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an Amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land... Options will be Restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are Reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9.. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving Of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our President or his policies. These will lead to deportation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be Actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your Deportation can be arranged. All assets will be taken from you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harsh, you say?.......

<>The above laws are current immigration laws of MEXICO

[Twilight Flyer]

As much as I agree with the reasoning behind the guy doing what he did, I have to agree with Fozzy and Useless. The guy went about it the wrong way. Yeah, he'll garner some cheers for his actions and I applaud his patriotic feelings, but he took what did not belong to him and disposed of it.

For example, I can't stand seeing the political signs for Obama or Hitlery and if I decided to set fire to them in someone's yard, I might earn some cheers, but would also earn myself some trouble.

This guy did the same thing. Yeah, a lot of people are going "hell yeah!", but the law is the law. There were other ways to be effective here.

[Useless]

How come nobody gets arrested when the Mexicans were burning the US flag during their big protest last year. They must have pictures of Bush bent over.

The answer is simple:

Like it or not, (and BTW, speaking as a Liberal Democrat, I DON'T like it!!) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that flag burning is a constitutionaly protected act. Speaking as a Liberal Democrat, I can not say that the court was wrong in handing down that opinion, but I do believe that that ruling cold be remedied by passing legislation which would provide that all U.S. flags are the property of the U.S. Government, just as all U.S. Mail boxes (including the one at your home or apartment) belong to the U.S. Government.

As long as the flag was not stolen, according to the law, the protesters were within their rights burning it; that does not mean that I agree with them, or think that they were right in what they were doing.

[Mackman]

I found this interesting..........


1 There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation's language.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.. All government business will be conducted in our language.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how Long they are here.

5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No Welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government Assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an Amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land... Options will be Restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are Reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9.. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving Of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our President or his policies. These will lead to deportation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be Actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your Deportation can be arranged. All assets will be taken from you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harsh, you say?.......

<>The above laws are current immigration laws of MEXICO

The USA needs them same laws here.

[Skywalker]

To remove the flag AND dispose of it??

IMO, that crosses the line that separates peaceful protest and civil disobedience from unlawful conduct. The confiscation and destruction of someone else's property based upon political disagreement is unlawful, and it should be.

I have to disagree my friend....since the US Supreme Court decided some time ago that "desecration of the US Flag" is a "freedom of speech" protected by the First Amendment....there is in reality NO issue here. The only contrived issue is one borne of "political correctness and pandering".

I can't believe that anyone....even took notice. As to the student who shouted "hate crime".....that clown should have disappeared the following day....and should have been "tossed on the other side of the border...naked and without ID on him". :shock: 8)

What should be happening is a US Congressman or Senator for NM should be stomping on the Administration of UNM....demanding to know who the "dumbass" was that allowed the Mexican flag to fly by itself over SOVEREIGN UNITED STATES SOIL!! That is the real crime....and if this fellow's lawyer has a brain...he will ride that to the ground.

Frankly....I can't believe some of the crap going on in this country!!