Jim Broussard, a U.S. veteran, took down Mexican and American flags that were displayed above a Mexican bar. According to the video and Broussard, the Mexican flag was put above the American flag. Broussard could not bare with the sight, so he used a knife from U.S. Army to cut down the flags and took American flag with him while he left the Mexican flag on the floor.
["I took this flag down in honor of my country with a knife from the U.S. Army," Broussard told a Reno television station.
"I'm not going to see this happen to my country," he said. "I want to see someone fight me for this flag."]
I thought this was very fasinating. Having other nations' flags above American flag is not illegal. Many Americans agreed with Broussard while some think his action was too extreme. Everyone loves their own country. I'm just wondering if Broussard's doing was justified.
What is the message of having another flag flying above American flag? If you live in America, are you suposed to honor this country more instead of where you came from?
I came from Thailand and I love my country very much. Due to many reasons, my family was forced to move here. I also began to fall in love with America. However, it is a difficult question when someone asks me which country I like more. Both nations gave me homes to live in and a ground to stand on. I would not dare disrepect either one of them. If I want to display flags, I would probably display Thai and American flags next to each other on equal level. Will there be someone who takes my flags down and seizes the American flag away?
Here is the article about this subject:
http://cbs13.com/national/local_story_277081459.html
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
That's a really interesting post...
I can see both his side, and the side of the owners of the bar (assuming they are from Mexico). Looking further, if you move to or visit a country, you have to respect that country... and them flying the Mexican flag above the U.S. flag is like my flying the U.S. flag above another country's flag in that nation. I think that would be seen as arrogant and wouldn't really be tolerated elsewhere either... so my opinion would be perhaps Broussard's actions were a bit extreme, but he made a very clear point, and it was one I agree with.
I was siding with Broussard too because I understand how he feels completely. But I didn't like the fact that he left the other nation's flag on the floor as if it's a piece of trash. I believe the Mexican bar owner was mad too. At the same time, the owner should not have put his country's flag above the American flag. I'm curious to know if he realizes what consequence this would bring...
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.mylot.com/?ref=truelife
I forgot about the part where he left it on the floor. I agree that was wrong... but on the other hand, the bar owners clearly disrespected the American flag... on the (nonexistent) third hand, they bothered to fly it in the first place, so they must care about it on some level. Hmmm... what an interesting situation. I also wonder what will come of it!
i have to bookmark this so i can respond later
____________________________________________________________________-
It Changes
I Dance Naked Around A Tree At Midnight
"I've already been to Heaven, and after 5 minutes I was like 'let's go!'" --Liam Sullivan
The US flag, while flown on US soil, should always fly higher than any other national or state flag. There is no law regarding this, but is considered the proper way to fly the stars & stripes.
To do otherwise is to imply an insult to the United States. I can appreciate a person wanting to fly the flag of their homeland that they love, but to fly it above the US Flag on US soil is to say that your country is better than the US. And maybe in your heart you feel that is true, but a lot of people will see that and think, "If Mexico is so great you need to fly it's flag above the US flag in the US, maybe you should go back to Mexico."
It's kinda like someone coming into your house and telling you all about how wonderful everything is at their house while eating at your table and enjoying your hospitality.
Republican TomTancredo called the man a hero. He stood up for what he thought was right. I am not sure if charges are going to be brought because this did happen on private property.
Some people think xenophobia is right, it doesn't surprise me in the least that a Republican would applaud xenophobic acts of vandalism and theft as heroism.
To Quote Charles DeGaulle:
"I love my nation far too much to be a Nationalist"
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
He did not contact the owners of the establishment personally to see if he could come to some sort of agreement. If he had, the owners of the restaurant would have rearranged it themselves. The owners took control of the restaurant from a previous owner who had set the flags up in this arrangement.
What he did was vandalism. In interviews, he said he felt mad because of the current illegal immigration debate, and felt it was his duty to destroy someone else's property.
Idiots like these should be thrown in jail. You do not pretend to be a patriot by disrespecting the laws of our country, and the very essence of freedom of speech.
"The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is title 4 of the United States Code: 4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with them and they are not widely enforced"
It IS law actually and according to Broussard there had been several attempts by other residents of the town to convince the bar owner to change the display of the flags to no avail. If Broussard was breaking the law then why are there no charges being filed? The reason why is that he was upholding the law, not breaking it.
Though he might have been a little over passionate as some veterans who have fought for our conutry can be, I fully support his action and hope it sheds light on an issue that many immigrants might not be aware of.
Advisory rules are not laws. The Flag Code specifically only serves as a guide for civilian groups to follow. They do not come with a set of penalities, and there is nothing to enforce.
Also, the Supreme Court has ruled all flag desecration laws unconsititutional. Anyone wanting to stitch the flag onto their jacket and wear it can do so, anyone wanting to burn the flag in protest can do so, etc.
"If Broussard was breaking the law then why are there no charges being filed?"
Maybe because the bar owners aren't as petty as Broussard, not to mention the liklihood of the owners fear of 'over passionate' reprisals from 'over passionate' men.
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
They were considering chargeing him with trespassing. NOT destruction of property or anything like that.
I wonder what Broussard's reaction would be to somebody cutting down Old Glory from outside of his business with a tomahawk and dumping it in the dirt?
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
If he were in another country he probably wouldn't be stupid or ignorant enough to display it inappropriately. I would hope that he would be smart enough to change the way it was displayed once someone pointed it out to him.
If you're referring to the whole Native American thing and that this is really their land (tomahawk) then that is a completely different conversation.
...that Mr. Broussard behaved in a criminal fashion. In my opinion, he dishonors the very flag he seeks to defend with his criminal disrespect for the very principles that the flag is supposed to represent.
percivale
-------------------------
"Vi Veri Vniversum Vivus Vici." ~ V.
FIRST - Technically yes a law but no real way to enforce.
SECOND - Brussard broke a law by trespassing and they haven't decided YET on whether to prosecute him or not.
THIRD - no damage was done to either flag (unless you consider dirt damage).
FOURTH - Brossard said that if they (the bar owners) wanted the American flag back they would have to fight him for it because they were disrespecting our flag by flying it under the Mexican flag.
There are many people who have died and are currently dying for what that flag stands for. We have no control over what happened a hundred years or more ago but if they are taking advantage of our freedoms then they better respect our flag (or they can go home).
-A proud American
I lost my father but he fought for my freedom (Navy Vietnam) and I wish I could thank him every day for it.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SOLDIERS
COME HOME QUICKLY AND SAFELY
Those words you wrote are exactly what these people, these so-called patriots, do not understand. We fight for what the flag stands for. Even if people do anything to desecrate our flag, it doesn't change the fact that this country stands for liberty and freedom. We don't care about symbols, we care about the actual freedom.
.
People like Mr. Broussard are all too common in this country, fake patriot wannabe cowboys who think it's their duty to show people how great America is.
...and to the author of this blog, you don't have to like this country just because you live here. That another thing people like Broussard don't understand. It's far less likely that someone will take down a Thai flag because nobody's pissed off at the number of Thai immigrants in the U.S.
If we have the right piss on a U.S. flag, we certainly have the right to "disrespect" it on our own private property.
____________________________________________________________________-
It Changes
I Dance Naked Around A Tree At Midnight
"I've already been to Heaven, and after 5 minutes I was like 'let's go!'" --Liam Sullivan