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Politics : Obama Asks Americans To Observe Flag Day "With Pride" -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	1/29/2014 5:35:21 PM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Recommended By ManyMoose Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 268

George Washington statue concealed The annual MLK observance at the state house in Columbia SC had an interesting twist this year. The event is held on the north side steps of the statehouse. Prominent at that location is a large bronze statue of George Washington. This year, a box was constructed to conceal the father of our country from view. This rally was sponsored by the NAACP and they said that they covered the statue because they "didn't want to offend anyone".

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	1/29/2014 10:29:19 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 268

Heroic New York boy gets firefighter funeral Tyler Doohan saved 6 from fire, died trying to save 7th Jan 28, 2014 By Chris Boyette CNN wgal.com (CNN) —Tyler Doohan, the 8-year-old upstate New York boy who rescued six relatives from a fire but died while trying to save his grandfather, will be laid to rest Wednesday with a ceremony and honor befitting a fallen firefighter, according to local fire officials. Penfield Fire Company has kept an honor guard standing by the remains of the boy during calling hours since Monday, and at the end of a church service on Wednesday, Penfield Fire Chief Chris Ebmeyer will declare Tyler an honorary firefighter and present his family with a special fire helmet inscribed with the boy's name. "The young man acted with a lot of courage and bravery to try to rescue his grandfather after rescuing other members of his family," Ebmeyer said. "He showed valor and strength, and paid the ultimate sacrifice." Ebmeyer said he received calls from fire departments from Maine to California, saying something should be done to honor Tyler. At the service, firefighters from multiple fire departments will stand at attention in formal "Class A" dress uniforms with bagpipers playing -- the hallmarks of a traditional firefighter's funeral, Ebmeyer said. There will be no funeral procession at the family's request. "We want to honor him in a way family and friends will remember and look at him as a hero," Ebmeyer said. "He should be looked at as going above and beyond, even putting his life in danger... This is what firefighters do." Tyler, an East Rochester resident, was staying at the home of relatives in Penfield on January 19 when he noticed a fire in the single-wide trailer, officials said. As firefighters and sheriff's deputies responded to a 4:45 a.m. emergency call, Tyler was able to wake six other people in the small trailer, including two more children, ages 4 and 6, the fire officials said. Then Tyler went back into the blaze to help his grandfather, who was disabled and would have been unable to get out of the home on his own. "By that time, the fire had traveled to the back of the trailer," Ebmeyer said at the time. "Unfortunately, they both succumbed to heat and smoke." The pair were found together on a bed in the back room. It appeared that the boy was trying to lift his grandfather from the bed when he was overcome by the smoke and fire, fire officials said. The funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John of Rochester Catholic Church in Fairport. Read more: wgal.com

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	2/3/2014 7:58:36 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 268

You can’t celebrate America, school says ............................................................................. By Todd Starnes February 03, 2014 foxnews.com Students and parents at a Colorado high school are outraged after administrators turned down their request for a spirit week day honoring America because it might offend non-Americans. “They said they didn’t want to offend anyone from other countries or immigrants,” a 16-year-old member of the student council told me. “They just really did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.” The student council at Fort Collins High School had proposed having a day to celebrate the United States during next week’s Winter Spirit Week. The young people pitched “’Merica Monday” – and invited their classmates to dress in patriotic colors. Their proposal was promptly shot down by administrators. “They said they didn’t want to be exclusive to any other country,” a 17-year-old member of the student council told me. The students and parents who talked to me about this incident have asked to remain anonymous. The parents feared their children might face reprisals from liberal educators. “It’s bizarre and idiotic that we’ve come to this crossroads in our society that we are having to sacrifice our own culture and belief system,” one of the parents told me. “I can’t even tell you how it got our blood boiling.” After the administrators rejected the day to celebrate America, the teenagers offered a compromise – “My Country Monday.” “We opened it up to everyone – no matter what country you are from,” the 17-year-old student told me. “That got declined, too.” The school’s decision left students frustrated, confused and angry. “It’s shocking,” the 16-year-old said. “There are men and women fighting for our country and we should be able to celebrate that and be proud that we live in a country where we are allowed to vote – the right to free speech. They won’t even let us celebrate it.” The irony, said the students, is that they are required to participate in Cinco de Mayo celebrations. One member of the student council pointed out the hypocrisy – and noted that students were not being forced to dress in red, white and blue for “’Merica Day.” “We were confused why we couldn’t do one day that was for America,” the student told me. The parents said they are “so tired” of political correctness. The principal at Fort Collins High School did not return my phone calls and neither did the assistant principal. A spokesperson for the Poudre School District sent me a statement acknowledging they rejected the “’Merica Day” celebration. “Building administration met with the students to discuss the inconsistency of this day versus the other planned theme days including PJ day and Twin day,” the statement read. “The students then suggested changing the first day to My Country Monday and administration agreed. This theme day allows students to showcase their pride in America and for international students, their country of origin.” However, parents and students said that’s not accurate. They said My Country Monday was originally rejected last week and was only reinstated midday Monday – shortly after I called the school district and began making inquiries (a coincidence, I’m sure.) I asked the district spokesperson to clarify their statement. The spokesperson did not return my message. “They said they didn’t feel comfortable having a day celebrated where students might feel uncomfortable with the patriotism that students are showing,” one of the students told me. Unbelievable. This is the United States of America. We welcome the huddled masses yearning to be free with arms wide open. But if you come to our land and take offense at our values and traditions, then don’t let the door hit you on the way out. And shame on the administrators at Fort Collins High School for treating American school children like second-class citizens. To the young patriots at Fort Collins High School, I offer these words: America, America, God shed His grace on Thee. Don’t let your teachers tell you otherwise. Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is "God Less America”.

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	2/5/2014 7:29:10 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 268

Colorado high school to students: No celebrating America. But Cinco De Mayo is just fine. ................................................................................. American Thinker ^ \| 02/05/2014 \| Rick Moran

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	2/7/2014 7:49:40 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 268

The Media's Most Outrageous Olympic Outbursts: Ashamed of the U.S.A. NewsBusters.org ^ \| February 7, 2014 \| Geoffrey Dickens Sports fans checking in on coverage of Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia might want to brace themselves for unexpected outbursts of liberal preaching from reporters covering the games. Over the yearslefty reporters and writers used the games to celebrate socialist policies, bash expressions of patriotism and even work in jabs against Republicans. The “Stop Waving That American Flag, It’s Embarrassing!” Event Iron Curtain Ridicule (runner-up) “Yet the star-making machinery is oddly out of touch, with huge streaks of lingering Cold War mentality and sexism. The American swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg is one of the most appealing personalities, low-key and modest. One of the many features about him born in Odessa, moved to California began, ‘He’s known life behind the Iron Curtain and in the land of opportunity.’ When is the last time you heard the term ‘Iron Curtain’ used with a straight face?” *— New York Times* television critic Caryn James, September 27, 2000 review of Olympic coverage. Today Show Hosts Worry that U.S. Patriotism Could Mar Games Today Hosts Worry that U.S. Patriotism Could Mar Games Matt Lauer: “You are expecting a greater wave of patriotism here in the United States, in this particular time, than other countries have shown when they’ve hosted the games.” Lloyd Ward, U.S. Olympic Committee President: “I certainly expect the stands to be rocking. I expect the flags to be flying. And you know, the expression of patriotism is fine for any country that hosts the Olympics. We want to express our nationalism as a part of the world's community and I expect to see that.” Lauer: “But we have to also be careful and draw a line not to let our patriotism get in the way of the games in general.” — Exchange on NBC’s Today show, February 7, 2002. “Obviously, the opening ceremony, the games themselves will be very patriotic in feel. And yet sometimes the international community can interpret that as arrogant nationalism. Obviously, you’ve gotta balance those two things. Are you all, clearly you’re mindful of that. How are you, how are you going to do that?” — NBC’s Katie Couric questioning Salt Lake Olympic Committee Creative Director Scott Givens on Today, Feb. 8, 2002. Awful “Nationalistic” Medal Counts Bryant Gumbel Condems 'Nationalistic' Medal Counts Jane Clayson: “To see Jimmy Shea last night kissing that gold medal, it was really, his story is such an emotional highlight of these Olympic games.” Bryant Gumbel: “Yeah, but I liked what he said. He said that, you know, they shouldn’t be keeping a medal count, that this is not about nationalistic efforts, this is about individuals and medal counts don’t mean anything. Love that!” — Exchange on CBS’s Early Show, February 21, 2002. “Nationalistic” Medal Counts Liberal Radio Host: It Pains Me to Chant “U.S.A!” “As I’ve grown older, I find my ‘U.S.A.!’-chanting reflex increasingly interrupted by pangs of discomfort,** and not because I’m ashamed of our country or our Olympians....Missed in the ensuing red-white-and-blue hoopla, of course, is the fact that we are not so exceptional outside the Olympic village....We are not gold, silver or even bronze medalists when it comes to healthcare; sadly, we are 39th for infant mortality, 43rd for female mortality, 42nd for adult male mortal-ity....If we do stand atop a dais anywhere other than at a sporting event, it is for military spending, carbon emissions and incarceration rates.” — Colorado radio host David Sirota in an August 1, 2012 piece for Salon.com, “Don’t chant ‘U.S.A.!’ It’s liberal Americans’ Olympic dilemma: How do they root for their countrymen without being jingoistic?”

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	2/8/2014 3:42:12 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 268

It was announced this week that the 9/11 Memorial and Museum was going to charge an admittance fee of $24. This announcement was met with a great deal of derision from families that had loved ones perish on 9/11 and from conservative outlets. The mainstream media was their normal, silent self and ignored the story. The thought of a museum and memorial dedicated to 9/11 charging such an exorbitant fee is nauseating. I guess they need the money to pay for their incredibly high-paid salaries. As Breitbart.com has reported, the president and CEO of the institution has a salary of $371,307. Eleven members of the staff have salaries of over $170,000 each. Overall, a billion dollars was raised for the institution. Of course, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is no stranger to controversy. They do not even address Islam or jihad at all, despite the fact that it was Islamic terrorists that carried out the attacks. In fact, the attackers are displayed more prominently than the victims. This is just sickening, but yet it has happened at the heart of the attack. Last July, the museum was criticized because they wanted to exclude the iconic image of three firefighters raising the American flag at the rubble of the World Trade Center. The creative director of the museum, Michael Shulan, deemed the photo too "rah-rah America" and too kitschy. The museum compromised by showing three images of the same scene so as to undercut the myth of the "one iconic moment," according to chief curator Jan Ramirez. This is how progressive liberals work. They need to define the narrative to fit their agenda, and the best way is to control how people remember the attacks. Pro-American images are bad. Detailing the barbaric nature of Islamic jihad is bad. Putting the entire 9/11 attack into the category of a sad accident or tragedy is good. Making money off such an endeavor is even better. The park of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum only has a single American flag. I'm surprised that they even have that one as isn't an American flag too "rah-rah American"? I was stunned to learn that unidentified remains of those who perished on 9/11 are at the museum, so if you want to pay your respects to a loved one, you'll have to cough up $24 to do it. There's a special level of Hell for those running the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)

2/26/2014 5:07:08 PM

From: joseffy

Respond to of 268

Soldier posts pic of herself avoiding flag salute, ignites online firestorm

Pfc. Tariqka Sheffey declares she just doesn’t care as she lays back in her car in full uniform to avoid the 5 p.m. salute of the American flag as a member of the 59th Quartermaster Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade at Fort Carson, Colo.

By Lee Moran / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, February 26, 2014
nydailynews.com

Instagram Pfc. Tariqka Sheffey is catching serious flak for posting a photo of herself ducking in her car to avoid having to salute the U.S. flag.

A U.S. Army soldier is in hot water for snapping a selfie and boasting about hiding in her car to avoid saluting the flag.

Pfc. Tariqka Sheffey is catching serious heat for uploading the image, where she appears in full uniform, to Instagram.

RELATED: SECOND NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIER SUSPENDED FROM FUNERAL DUTY

"This is me laying back in my car hiding so I don't have to salute the 1700 flag," she captioned the picture.

"KEEP ALL YOUR 'THATS SO DISRESPECTFUL/HOWRUDE/ETC.' COMMENTS TO YOURSELF cuz, right now, IDGAFFFF," she added, under her handle sheffeynation.

RELATED: SOLDIER SUSPENDED OVER MILITARY FUNERAL JOKES

The picture, and its caption, went viral and Sheffey — a member of the 59th Quartermaster Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade at Fort Carson, Colo. — is now facing calls for her removal.

Other critics are demanding she be fired from her post, the Army Times reported.

Thinkstock/Getty Images Army colonel chaplain salutes the U.S. flag as required. Failure to salute has critics of Pfc. Tariqka Sheffey wondering how she can defend it.

"Any soldier who refuses to salute the flag is in the military for the wrong reason, and should be removed by dishonorable discharge with loss of all benefits," one Facebook user said.

"If they won't salute it, they damn sure won't fight for it," he added.

A Fort Carson spokesman revealed that an investigation into the posting of the image is underway.

Sheffey appeared to offer an apology, of sorts, by posting a video to the social network Tuesday.

"I seriously just want to say thank you to everybody who stood up to me today, like seriously. That s--t to me was not serious. I am not a disrespectful soldier, and I really appreciate you all," she said.

The incident comes one week after several Wisconsin National Guards were suspended for uploading photos of themselves posing behind a flag-draped coffin.

Read more: nydailynews.com

To: Honey_Bee who wrote (208)	5/23/2014 8:27:02 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 268

Motorcycle enthusiast claims Harley voided warranty over flags Dave Zien, a former state lawmaker from Chippewa Falls, says Harley-Davidson cited his flags in deciding not to approve a warranty claim after the bike’s clutch failed. He is shown on a different motorcycle. By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel May 23, 2014 jsonline.com Dave Zien says Harley-Davidson refuses to honor his warranty due to the flags he flies. A former state lawmaker from Chippewa Falls who has logged more miles on a Harley-Davidson than probably anyone on the planet says Harley has denied a warranty claim on his new bike because there are too many big flags flown on it, including a 3-foot-by-5-foot American flag. Dave Zien, who rode more than a million miles on his 1991 Harley that's now parked in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in South Dakota, says Harley-Davidson refused to honor the warranty on his 2014 motorcycle after the clutch failed on a recent trip to Dallas. "All they said was, because I fly flags on the bike, there's no warranty on the powertrain," Zien said Thursday. Since the 1970s, Zien has flown multiple flags on the motorcycles he's owned. He has seven flags on his 2014 Harley, including a National Rifle Association banner that says "Stand and Fight." "Ain't nobody gonna stop our flags, not even Harley-Davidson corporate," Zien said. "It's just my way of serving the Lord with prayer, flags and Harleys," he added. Harley-Davidson says the warranty on Zien's motorcycle, a trike that has about 15,000 miles on it, is still in effect. But the company says his warranty claim was denied because the motorcycle was not designed to handle the added wind resistance at high speeds. "The issue isn't that the flags are heavy, but they provide terrific drag on the engine and the transmission, especially when the bike is at highway speeds," said Harley spokeswoman Maripat Blankenheim. Riding at parade speeds would not likely have the same effect on the engine and transmission, according to Blankenheim. Also, the flag mounts on Zien's bike are not Harley-Davidson products, according to the company. "When you alter a motorcycle with noncompliant products, that does impact your ability to make a warranty claim," Blankenheim said. "We have a right to protect our product. And (Zien) isn't using our product for the purpose for which it was designed." Blankenheim said she doesn't want to spoil the plans that Harley riders have for using their bikes in parades. "We recognize that it's a very cool thing to (mount flags) on your bike, and we want our customers to be able to personalize their bikes in that way. We also understand, especially with Memorial Day coming, there are lots of riders who want to show not only their pride in America but other things as well. We have products designed specifically for that, and they won't negatively impact the motorcycle. But because of what's been done to (this) motorcycle, and how it impacts the motorcycle's performance, we just didn't cover the warranty claim," she added. Zien's complaint quickly caught the attention of other motorcyclists Thursday. "I think every Harley Owners Group road captain, every Patriot Guard Rider, every American Legion rider and any patriotic American Harley-Davidson rider should be enraged at such a suggestion that flying a flag would void a warranty," said Tony Sanfelipo, cofounder of the motorcycle organization ABATE of Wisconsin. With his "million mile Harley" and other accomplishments, Zien has become a celebrity at Harley rallies and parades. He's logged more than 2.5 million documented miles on motorcycles and, despite losing part of his leg in a near-fatal crash in Florida in 2011, he continues to ride tens of thousands of miles a year. "I am all Harley-Davidson, heart and soul. But they ain't going to take away my flags," Zien said. Retired now, the former state senator and Marine Corps veteran travels across the country on his bike, advocating for veterans. Zien says he's flown multiple large flags on his bikes for decades, without a powertrain failure from it. He also believes that flags make a motorcyclist more visible in traffic, reducing the risk of getting hit by another motorist. "More people should be flying flags. I believe a tattered flag is a beautiful thing," Zien said. Still, some motorcyclists aren't convinced it's a good idea to have that much cloth blowing in the wind off the back of a bike at highway speeds because it changes the way the machine handles. "I can understand doing things like that in a parade, because you're at a slow speed and you don't have to worry about aerodynamics. But once you reach a point where the wind has an effect, even if you're not (damaging) the motorcycle, you're taking quite a chance," said Tom Stresing, a motorcycle safety instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College. "It's like putting a big fricking sail on the back of your bike," Stresing said. Jeff Haig, executive director of the Kettle Moraine Harley Owners Group chapter, said both Zien and Harley make valid points. "I can only hope that Harley has considered very carefully who (Dave Zien) is and the ill will that this one warranty claim denial could generate among the Harley faithful. At the same time, I can empathize with the Catch-22 Harley may feel it's in because if the company extends a courtesy to Dave because of who he is, and what he's accomplished, it would make it hard to deny the next warranty claim that comes along," Haig said.