WT Forums

I found this over on the AF TWS web site. Posted by Sgt Jim Stastny who is currently serving in the Air Force.

In case you haven't heard, there's an art display at the University of Maine, Farmington, comprised of American Flags on the ground placed where people may walk on them.


I CUT AND PASTED THE FOLLOWING FROM EAGLES.UP

SICK!... University of Maine Lays Down US Flags for Students To Walk On For Art
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This really is going to far.
Thank God there was one veteran to say something.
He started picking up the flags before the campus security arrived but was out numbered and in unknown territory. He must have felt like he transported to a Iran university when he went into that place.
I give some but not much credit to the student who came to shake is hand and thank him, though he and the student with the camera, should have started scooping up the flags.
Check the link below for the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH9bVRAe ... ch?q=MAINE

For those of you who would like to respond to the University of Maine, Farmington, here's the contact info:

Name: Theo Kalikow
Position: President - University of Maine Farmington
E-mail: kalikow@maine.edu
Telephone: 207-778-7256

Me personally, I think this is the most disgusting display of anti-American sentiment on an American college campus since the 1970's.

I did a quick look on Snoops and couldn't find anything on this, so I guess the video speaks for itself.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Words absolutely fail me. Once I find them, you can bet your ass they'll get an email.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

I found two things interesting...

--No one, besides the artist's posse, actually stepped on a flag. Everyone, even the girl on crutches, went around the flags.

--The kid who stood beside the vet took his watch off after shaking his hand...just in case things got heated.

Coach

If I had been that Campus Cop, I'd be looking for work today. No way in hell I'd have stopped that veteran from picking up the flags. I've have even joined in. Some things are worth losing your job over.

Interestingly enough, on another site I found a newspaper article with the whole story. The \"artist's\" father, who helped her place the flags, is also a veteran, (I guess he sleped through basic). Shortly after the video was shot, the Fire Chief came in and demaded that the flags be removed as they created a fire hazard. The \"teachers\", and for me it's a streatch to call them that, argued with the FC who finally said that they could stay on the floor but had to be moved to one side. Shortly after moving the flags, the girl and her father, called it quits and picked them all up.

I've tried 5 times now to email the schools president to voice my opinion, but I just can't keep it civil. Here's one from AF TWS with a reply from the school.
The email had been sent in by SSgt Mark Welsh:
Surprisingly, I received an email back from the president of University of Maine -Farmington. I will share:

Dear Mr. Welsh: While I personally found the art project disgusting,
since I would never disrespect the flag, our American First Amendment
protections include the right to free speech and artistic expression,
even speech that is repugnant and unpleasant and offensive. UMF, as a
teaching and learning institution, has an obligation to foster debate
and disagreement about difficult subjects -- this is an essential
part of our democracy. Thanks for your expression of your point of
view. And since you yourself are a veteran, then my deepest thanks
for your service and sacrifice. Sincerely, Theodora J. Kalikow,
President. P.S. UMF welcomed a demonstration last Thursday of about
100 veterans in support of the flag. It was respectfully received by
faculty, students and staff.

I then responded again to President Kalikow:

While I respect you for answering my email and thank you for your acknowledgement to our service members, the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed free speech, although our forefathers would have never dreamed it would be a catch-all phrase to condone anarchy type behavior from radicals bent on destroying the morale of patriotism, the foundation of which the Constitution that allows these freedoms is built upon. If the First Amendment guarantees these rights, then institutions of higher learning and individuals who attend these institutions at the expense of federal dollars from taxpayers disguised as student aid, should be stripped of any moneys allotted to them. They can not have their cake and eat it also. I have a daughter in college, a very conservative daughter, and will have another in college in 2 years. I, alone, without any type of government subsidies, must foot the bill for this education 100%. If she were to partake in any kind of liberal radicalism while there, my funds to her would be cut off so fast that she would get a wake-up call in the real world before she could say \"what happened to my gravy train\". Adults that condone this type of behavior \"reap what they sew\" and it's up to parents and educators of this country (my wife is a teacher) to teach respect for others. Freedom of Speech is one thing, the apparent disrespect and disdain for those who made those freedoms possible is quite another.

Mark Welsh
US Air Force veteran 1978-1984


I don't think I could have expressed my self better than Mark did.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Alot of these people waving the \"Rights\" flag conveniently forget that with that Right comes attached a \"Responsibility\" of not abusing it.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Sad, but in these days of Lawyers, \"Responcibility\" seems to have become a dirty word. Something that only applies to others. No one is Responcible for anything, we're all victims and it's always someone elses fault.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

There was an \"Art exhibit\" in Paris recently that involved a dog being placed in a see-through room, and being let to starve to death as ART MUSEUM CUSTOMERS strolled by.

Artists can apparently be some sick mohter-effers.

Shoulda put the starving artist in there with it.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson