Neighbors annoyed by flag flap

[Aviyah]

DETROIT, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Ray Saelens thinks of himself as a patriot and has been flying a huge U.S. flag -- 12-feet-by-18-feet -- to honor those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

But that fervor has landed Saelens in court for disturbing the peace. Neighbors say Old Glory just makes too much noise when it flaps in the breeze.

I can't believe that someone is complaining abut the American flag," Saelens, 51, told Friday's Detroit News. "It's unpatriotic."

Saelens spent $4,000 to put up the flag and a 50-foot flagpole at his suburban Detroit home nestled on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Chesterfield Township

Saelens' neighbor, Mark Grucz, said the flag sounds like popcorn popping, when there's a good wind out of the northeast.

"If he would take it down at night or when it is windy, that would be an easy solution," Grucz said, adding he hopes the case is resolved before it goes to court

Winds were blowing at 28 mph Monday, according to the National Weather Service, when Grucz called police to complain about the noise.

No trial date has been set for Saelens. He could face 90 days in jail and a $500 fine if convicted

The sound of the flag is the voice of all of the people who died for the country," said Saelens, adding he is at a loss to understand what all the controversy is about. "It is a soothing sound


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Now its ppl liek this who is going to be the downfall the US since when cant you fly the American flag this is going to far , i say ship ppl liek this out send them to iraq

 

[Ajnin]

If I remember correctly from a sign I read in a class room one time and an Encyclopedia brown book once, your supposed to take the flag down at night and when there's bad weather. If this guy was a real patriot he would actually have read the paper about how to handle the flag that came with the flag when he bought it, instead of just hauling the flag up on a pole and forgetting about it.

 

[kern]

Originally posted by Soldier_of _God

Now its ppl liek this who is going to be the downfall the US since when cant you fly the American flag this is going to far , i say ship ppl liek this out send them to iraq

Utter nonsense. If something is causing a disturbance in a neighborhood, it doesn't matter if it's the American flag. Have you ever heard how loud a large flag can be when it's windy? Imagine living next to that and trying to sleep at night with that thing slamming against the flagpole and making lots of noise. It's the same as any other disturbance.

"If he would take it down at night or when it is windy, that would be an easy solution,"

How unreasonable is that? All the person wants the guy to do is take the flag down at night, when no one can see it (which you are supposed to do anyway) so that he can sleep. The person flying the flag is clearly aware of the disturbance the noise causes but just brushes it off.

They wouldn't let you blast the national anthem 24 hours a day either.

-Chris

 

[El]

The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are found in detail in the United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains to the flag and seal, seat of Government and the States; Title 18, Chapter 33 pertains to crimes and criminal procedures; Title 36, Chapter 10 pertains to patriotic customs and observances. These laws were supplemented by Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.

§173. Display and Use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs; definition

The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America is established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or more executive departments of the Government of the United States. The flag of the United States for the purpose of this chapter shall be defined according to Title 4, United States Code, chapter 1, section 1 and section 2 and Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant thereto.

§174. Time and occasions for display

(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.

 

[notto]

Originally posted by kern

They wouldn't let you blast the national anthem 24 hours a day either.

-Chris

LOL!

For some reason when I read this, I put together a scenario of the neighbor of the Flag owner blasting Rosanne Barrs version of the anthem at night to prove this point.

 

[crazyfingers]

Americans have an almost psychotic passion for the flag not seen to that extreme anywhere else in the world.  Not even the Brits regard the Union Jack with such irrational passion as do Americans for the flag.

I think that it is a sign of serious mental illness that some people think that a piece of cloth is more important that the values that the piece of cloth are alleged to represent.


 

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Originally posted by Soldier_of _God
Now its ppl liek this who is going to be the downfall the US since when cant you fly the American flag this is going to far , i say ship ppl liek this out send them to iraq

It's strange how the people who talk the most about patriotism and fighting for freedom are the first to want to destroy the freedom of those who disagree with them.

 

[Dewjunkie]

Why would a flag have to be 12 x 18 feet to be patriotic? We didn't even use flags that big on the 800' long US Naval ship I was stationed on.  He couldn't fly a smaller flag and be just as patriotic?

I don't think his neighbors are being unreasonable in wanting him to lower the flag in inclement weather or at night. The neighbors have as much right to a peaceful living environment as he has to display the flag.

 

[Starscream]

I think it is completely obvious that the neighbors are annoyed by the lack of sleep then the flag itself.

If you can't be patriotic without being obnoxious then I can only wonder who much of a true American you really are.

 

[Evangelion]

Dewjunkie, I am liking you more and more.

 

[Job_38]

Ajin, or whatever, I think you missed the point.

He should be able to fly the flag.

 

[Evangelion]

Ajnin isn't denying that he should be allowed to fly the flag. Ajnin is simply pointing out that if he does fly the flag, he should take responsibility for his actions and fly it properly.

Surely a true patriot would want to do it by the book...?

 

[Starscream]

Originally posted by Job_38
Ajin, or whatever, I think you missed the point.

He should be able to fly the flag.

Even in the absence of responsibility?

 

[kern]

Job_38 said this in Post <a href="http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=643381#post643381">#11</a>

Ajin, or whatever, I think you missed the point.

He should be able to fly the flag.

At night? In the wind? Even though it's a public disturbance?

No one is claiming that this person should not be allowed to fly a flag. But surely he can find a way to compromise so that it doesn't disturb his neighbors and prevent them from sleeping.

-Chris

 

[bigat]

Wow, I didn't think such a ridiculous story would get so much feedback.&nbsp; Ahhh well, I guess I should toss in my $.02.&nbsp;

Why does it have to be a HUGE FLAG?&nbsp; I know he has "the right" to fly the flag, no matter what the size, but at the expense of others living around him?&nbsp; If he has the right to fly it, then I have the right to get upset when I can't sleep because of his flag flappin' in the wind!!&nbsp; Ya gotta love the American Lawyers!!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Laters