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Town makes it illegal to fly a foreign flag

cnn.com — This is where we've arrived in this country: You have the constitutional right to burn an American flag, but you can get into trouble for simply flying a foreign one.

Who dugg this? Made popular Nov 21, 2006

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  • cameron074, on 10/12/2007, -28/+175***** that town and ***** it's stupid residents.
  • BuddhaBoy, on 10/12/2007, -24/+79Here is that town's website...everyone visit it and crash it! http://www.pahrumpnv.org/ Show them this is America and the gov't has no right to tell its citizens that the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to stupid city councils.

    http://www.pahrumpnv.org/
  • spankalee, on 10/12/2007, -17/+67What pricks.

    Makes me want to buy a Mexican flag, drive to Pahrump, get busted, refuse to sign the ticket, get arrested and sue the ***** out of the town for violating my rights.
  • pegothejerk, on 10/12/2007, -8/+50or how about just flying a Native American nation's flag, instead of something illegal?

    It is not foreign, afterall.

    here's my tribes flag
    http://www.oiea.jp/jpn/aboutus/sistercity/homestay/saginawchippewa01_150.jpg
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -31/+73Steps for spamming the ***** out of these backwards rednecks:

    1. Create a spam account at Yahoo Mail.

    2. Paste a large body of text into the message box. The United States Constitution seems appropriate.

    3. Copy and paste the following addresses into the sent to box, each of which Yahoo recognizes as a distinct account but will send to the same person:

    drichards@pahrumpnv.org
    Drichards@pahrumpnv.org
    dRichards@pahrumpnv.org
    drIchards@pahrumpnv.org
    driChards@pahrumpnv.org
    dricHards@pahrumpnv.org
    drichArds@pahrumpnv.org
    drichaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    dricharDs@pahrumpnv.org
    drichardS@pahrumpnv.org
    DRichards@pahrumpnv.org
    DrIchards@pahrumpnv.org
    DriChards@pahrumpnv.org
    DricHards@pahrumpnv.org
    DrichArds@pahrumpnv.org
    DrichaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    DricharDs@pahrumpnv.org
    DrichardS@pahrumpnv.org
    dRIchards@pahrumpnv.org
    dRiChards@pahrumpnv.org
    dRicHards@pahrumpnv.org
    dRichArds@pahrumpnv.org
    dRichaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    dRicharDs@pahrumpnv.org
    dRichardS@pahrumpnv.org
    drIChards@pahrumpnv.org
    drIcHards@pahrumpnv.org
    drIchArds@pahrumpnv.org
    drIchaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    drIcharDs@pahrumpnv.org
    drIchardS@pahrumpnv.org
    driCHards@pahrumpnv.org
    driChArds@pahrumpnv.org
    driChaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    driCharDs@pahrumpnv.org
    driChardS@pahrumpnv.org
    dricHArds@pahrumpnv.org
    dricHaRds@pahrumpnv.org
    dricHarDs@pahrumpnv.org
    dricHardS@pahrumpnv.org
    drichARds@pahrumpnv.org
    drichArDs@pahrumpnv.org
    drichArdS@pahrumpnv.org
    drichaRDs@pahrumpnv.org
    drichaRdS@pahrumpnv.org
    dricharDS@pahrumpnv.org

    4. Send.

    5. Repeat.

    ***Not that I condone this type of thing...***
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -31/+69Err, you need commas for the addresses, you paste this:

    drichards@pahrumpnv.org, Drichards@pahrumpnv.org, dRichards@pahrumpnv.org, drIchards@pahrumpnv.org, driChards@pahrumpnv.org, dricHards@pahrumpnv.org, drichArds@pahrumpnv.org, drichaRds@pahrumpnv.org, dricharDs@pahrumpnv.org, drichardS@pahrumpnv.org, DRichards@pahrumpnv.org, DrIchards@pahrumpnv.org, DriChards@pahrumpnv.org, DricHards@pahrumpnv.org, DrichArds@pahrumpnv.org, DrichaRds@pahrumpnv.org, DricharDs@pahrumpnv.org, DrichardS@pahrumpnv.org, dRIchards@pahrumpnv.org, dRiChards@pahrumpnv.org, dRicHards@pahrumpnv.org, dRichArds@pahrumpnv.org, dRichaRds@pahrumpnv.org, dRicharDs@pahrumpnv.org, dRichardS@pahrumpnv.org, drIChards@pahrumpnv.org, drIcHards@pahrumpnv.org, drIchArds@pahrumpnv.org, drIchaRds@pahrumpnv.org, drIcharDs@pahrumpnv.org, drIchardS@pahrumpnv.org, driCHards@pahrumpnv.org, driChArds@pahrumpnv.org, driChaRds@pahrumpnv.org, driCharDs@pahrumpnv.org, driChardS@pahrumpnv.org, dricHArds@pahrumpnv.org, dricHaRds@pahrumpnv.org, dricHarDs@pahrumpnv.org, dricHardS@pahrumpnv.org, drichARds@pahrumpnv.org, drichArDs@pahrumpnv.org, drichArdS@pahrumpnv.org, drichaRDs@pahrumpnv.org, drichaRdS@pahrumpnv.org, dricharDS@pahrumpnv.org
  • sparkles, on 10/12/2007, -3/+39@dylanrush:

    "This is a democracy, and they democratically voted to ban foreign flags."

    The US isn't a democracy. It's a constitutional republic, and for good reason.

    While the country was founded on democratic ideals in many ways, there were some principles, such as the right to free expression, that were deemed to important to leave to the whims of the people. Those rights are enshrined in the Constitution.

  • maiku00, on 10/12/2007, -7/+42we ALMOST didn't have the right to burn the flag a few months back
    voteing to make burning american flags a criminal offense is one of the most unpatriotic I can even think of
  • SPNKrPunk, on 10/12/2007, -9/+33"France = Fagot"
    Fag-ot : a bundle of sticks or twigs bound together as fuel.

    Fag-got : informal, chiefly offensive: a male homosexual.


    Nice try though!
  • arkmtech, on 10/12/2007, -1/+24If you honestly want to make a difference, you can do so by writing one or more of this town's leading officers - and NOT by adding their e-mail addresses to SPAM lists.

    If you're spamming these addresses, you're also potentially blocking legitimate e-mails with legitimate opinions from concerned citizens around the U.S. - Letters that could be making a difference.

    As easy as it is to be indignantly angered by this town's actions, if you cannot conduct yourself in a reasonable manner, then please do nothing, and let others share their thoughts and opinions.

    Fighting hate with more hatred, or angst with more anger, does very little to solve the problem at hand.
  • nearlygod, on 10/12/2007, -8/+31You would have to get the law ruled unconstitutional first. The legal hassle is what allow people to pull this kind of crap because who has the time and money to fight it, ie do the right thing?
  • atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -9/+31It amazes me when people want to protect "America" by violating the very principles that stay at its basis.

    I can fly whatever damn flag I want and as high as I want -- that's my liberty of expression and it's protected by the US Constitution, if you don't like it it's your problem, but don't make a law violating my rights.
  • TenebrousX, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21@dylanrush:
    it's a little thing called freedom of expression
  • assmasterflash, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24Actually, Parumph is in Nevada

    And one of it's major tourist draws is it's legal prostitution.

  • treed, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22What if I flew my California flag there? Is that "foreign"?
  • redrob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19Nope, from the source document:
    "8. Flying of Flags on residential and business property including land. The Official Flag of the United States of America shall be flown in accordance to United States Code, Title 4. No other flag or pennant may be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America. And, if flown from the same halyard in this order from top to bottom:
    a. The Official Flag of the United States of America.
    b. The Official Flag of the State of Nevada.
    c. The Official Flag of the Town of Pahrump.
    d. The Official Flag of our Military Forces.
    e. Any other flag or pennant an individual wishes to fly other than a flag of a foreign nation.
    f. A flag of a foreign nation cannot be flown by itself, and must always be flown with the Official Flag of the United States of America, union first, from separate staffs. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag, equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States.

    For the purposes of subsections a. through e. these flags can be flown by themselves."
  • Ruckgesicht, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21Funny, that's the town where Art Bell lived in for years and years before he recently up and moved to the Philippines.
  • SPNKrPunk, on 10/12/2007, -8/+24"This is our country, you bastard."
    "Yea, but have you got a flag?"
    "Well...no"
    "No flag, no country. You can't have one! Those are the rules that I've just made up!"
    -Obligatory Eddie Izzard Quote, though I may have mucked up part of it.

    Also, I would raise a French flag, out of sheer spite.
  • jaydj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17It should be noted that Richard Billman was one of the people who voted AGAINST the ordinance. He should be commended.

    http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2006/Nov-17-Fri-2006/news/10864250.html
  • lava, on 10/12/2007, -12/+27Wasn't this town on Studio 60?
  • canewediggit, on 10/12/2007, -23/+38https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/flagsoftheworld.html

    spam the hell out of them with that link. the entire city council has their email address listed (cell phones too)
  • sxtxixtxcxh, on 10/12/2007, -6/+20lol i am in ur town flyin my flagz
  • Samiyam, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16"What about my right to not have to see other countries flags??"

    Contrary to popular belief, there is no constitutional right not to be offended. In fact, if you are not being offended by something someone says at least once a day, you should be very concerned about the state of civil liberties.
  • arkmtech, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Fighting anger with *more* anger now, Digg? Since when did Digg follow Dubya Bush's lead on dealing with world issues?

    You see someone doing something that goes against your principles, or simply angers you, so you respond with retaliation by adding their e-mail addresses to SPAM lists and/or sending them hateful e-mails chalk-full of obscenities and the like? How exactly does this make things better?

    Anyone who's serious about blocking/overturning the decision to ban national flags will undo any damage they might've already done (as exemplified above) and follow-up by writing a serious letter to the members of this town's leadership citing thier concerns.

    Fighting hate with hate doesn't work.
  • Cykaos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@Buelldozer

    Here in america we have a common law based legal system which takes into account precedence. This has already been deemed unconstitutional and so therefore it is, until another court decides to reverse decision on that earlier case.

    The constitution doesn't spell out everything that you can or can't do, but it does have a framework that our courts use as a guide. Such things as freedom of speech and expression would be considered here.
  • rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Huh, it appears this is already a law in the entire state of New Jersey (see link below.. another state forbids flying a flag of a nation that we're at war with. Of course, Congress never declared law against Iraq, so who knows):
    http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-law.html#forbidden
  • mydogjack, on 10/12/2007, -10/+24Shameful just plain shameful...
  • shirosamurai, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Your blind ignorance is revolting...
  • oskite, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Uh, that's so obviously unconstitutional.
  • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11"What about my right to not have to see other countries flags"

    You don't have one. Speech is protected. Not hearing speech is not protected. Duh.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15If you want to run a flag over your own house or car or possession, that's one thing. That's where this law is wrong.

    There should and understandably be a law against a *government building* such as a school or post office flying a foreign flag.
  • mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13"What rights? Where in the Constitution does it say you can fly a Mexican flag anywhere you want?

    It doesn't. No one ever gave you that right. It seems that every time a new law is enacted, someone says it's a violation of their rights.

    Besides, if anyone's rights are being violated, it would be those of the illegal aliens in Pahrump."

    Freedom of Speech covers non verbal forms of speech. You can, for example, put a bumper sticker on your car that says "Bush Lied People Died" or "Kerry is a Turd Eater" and no one can stop you. You can wear a shirt that says, more or less, whatever you want (within some limits, such as things that might cause a public panic and create a dangerous situation for people around you... the classic verbal example is yelling Fire! in a theatre, the non-verbal equivalent would be wearing a shirt that said I Have A Bomb! in an airport).

    Flying a foreign flag is most certainly not going to cause any harm to anyone, is not in and of itself explicit (there are SOME limits on speech for "decency", which I think is a load of crap, but they are pretty liberal restrictions), and as such it's protected speech. A first year law student could win this case.
  • Visp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Try reading Texas v. Johnson 491 U.S. 397 (1989).
  • karn, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15No one gets upset when they see Italian or Irish flags. Only Mexican or other Hispanic flags. Damn hypocrites.
  • kenwestin, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Something tells me that flying the Confederate flag would not be considered an exception.
  • Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10"What about my right to not have to see other countries flags??"

    I don't see them passing a law against turning your head the other way. And incidentally, that right didn't happen to make it into the Bill of Rights.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13 California
    prohibits the display of the "red flag or any other flag in a public place" as a sign of violent opposition to organized government. No state military group may carry other than the U.S. or State flags.
    Colorado
    prohibits display of any flag other than U.S. or State on public buildings or grounds, or displays such flag in a place knowing it is likely to cause a breach of the peace.
    District of Columbia
    prohibits, on U.S. Capitol Grounds a flag designed to bring into public notice a party, organization or movement.
    Idaho
    prohibits the display of the "red flag or any other flag in a public place" as a sign of violent opposition to organized government. No state military group may carry other than the U.S. or State flags.
    Louisiana
    prohibits, during time of war, the display the flag of a nation or of a state with which the U.S. is at war.
    Massachusetts
    prohibits the display of the flag of a foreign country outside of a public building or schoolhouse.
    Mississippi
    prohibits flags designed to bring into public notice an organization not specifically permitted by statute.
    New Hampshire
    prohibits the display of a foreign flag on a public building, or the UN flag other than subordinate to the U.S. flag on public property.
    New Jersey
    prohibits the display of a flag of a foreign country unless accompanied by a U.S. flag of at least equal dimensions.
    New York
    prohibits the UN flag above the U.S. except at UN HQ. Flags which cast contempt on U.S. flag are prohibited. Foreign flags on public property are prohibited.
    North Dakota
    prohibits public display of other than the U.S. flag, a State flag, or flag of a friendly foreign nation.
    Oklahoma
    prohibits "red flag," etc, or any flag "over public property, except roads, stadiums or arenas, unless it is the U.S. flag, the flag of a nation once having dominion over the State, the State flag, an official municipal flag, the Boy Scouts flag, the Girl Scouts flag, the American Red Cross flag, or a flag approved by the governing body..."
    Pennsylvania
    prohibits other than U.S. flags over public buildings.
    Rhode Island
    prohibits flags in a parade unless accompanied by U.S. flag, prohibits flags with inscriptions opposed to organized government or derogatory to morals, and prohibits foreign flags from public buildings or schools.
    Washington
    prohibits flags antagonistic to U.S. or State laws or constitution.
    West Virginia
    prohibits black or red flags or others antagonistic to U.S. or State constitutions, laws, ideals, and institutions.
    Wyoming
    prohibits state military organizations from carrying other than U.S. flags.

    now go spam all those states too, you diggtards.
  • talmand, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11This is not a BAN on foreign flags. It makes it illegal to fly a foreign flag by itself or above the US flag. So if you are a foreign national wishing to fly your nation's flag then you can do so by flying the US flag above it as a sign of respect to the nation you are currently in. This is nothing new and used to be considered a proper thing to do which is why there has been little or no fanfare about such things in the past. And we are more than likely not the only nation to have such laws in place.

    For all you guys saying there's nothing in the Constitution about flying foreign flags and since there's nothing there you do not have that right. The Constitution does not grant rights. It limits what the government can do and all rights specifically not addressed in the document is considered in place and valid. Therefore the Constitution not having a section on flying foreign flags does not mean you do not have that right.

    Plus all of you haters wanting to spam the people of Pahrump for exercising their rights to vote on a matter that affects themselves and their town you've totally missed out on the part where they voted to make English the official language of the town. All town business must now be carried out in English only. So when you spam your hate to these people don't forget that part.

    And always remember, you are tolerant of other people's viewpoints and opinions. Or that's what I keep hearing anyway.
  • Cykaos, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12@thefutureisours you're comments are similar to that of a nazi. How does disallowing someone to fly a flag exactly protect our country from looking like mexico? Not to mention not every latin american in the US is from mexico nor are they here illegally.

    Try a few more blanket racist statements to make yourself look even more foolish.
  • tdogg241, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10^ Apparently Fred Phelps is a digg user!
  • breakin2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@ Buelldozer

    If it isn't mentioned in the constitution, it doesn't mean that you don't have that right. The constitution tells the government what rights it can't take from you.
  • kingcam, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I'm gonna go down there and fly the Canadian flag! We'll see how they like that.
  • mfratt, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14While I would not THINK about flying a foreign flag on my property (except maybe a smaller flag of my heritage UNDER the American flag), who the hell are they to say you cant fly whatever damned flag you want?

    Oh and to Mr Constitution, a link would have worked.
  • Cykaos, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9So I am guessing you are not an immigrant? Or does the fact that your family immigrated here a few hundred years before make it alright?

    This is america, as the poster above me pointed out, land of the free. You are free to leave if diversity scares you. What makes the nation so great (although it's going to down hill) is that fact that you have the freedom to speak any language you want, worship any god you want (or lack of a god), fly any flag you want.

    So what someone has to renounce their citizenship in another country to become a citizen in the US (which is dumb by the way, most other countries allow dual citizenship). Does that mean they have to renounce their heritage, and culture? Do you want the US to be a place where everyone is exactly the same? Go move to a communist country then where individualism is frowned upon.
  • eatsushi, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11This country is losing it's ***** mind.
  • fooka, on 10/12/2007, -7/+13wanna have some fun. go there and fly an israeli flag.. see if anyone's quick to press charges. then sue them for being anti-semitic!!

    silly, i know.. but so are they. =)
  • akashra, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I remember reading a few years ago of a US citizen whose local council ordered him to stop flying the Australian flag outside his own home, because citizens on the street had complained, bitched and moaned about it.
  • ltesterman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8This is stupid. I'm not even talking about the law, but the behavior of all commenters in here. Did anyone actually READ the article? "The town council voted last week, 3-2, to approve an ordinance that makes it illegal to display a foreign flag -- unless an American flag is flown above it." The title, "Town makes it illegal to fly a foreign flag" is completely FALSE and misleading.
  • scottelloco, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11Does this include a ban on me flying my freak flag?


    This law will be found to be unconstitutional and struck down. Hopefully the city's taxpayers won't mind that their hard earned money will be used by the city to fight the challenge to this law.

    But then again, maybe the city's residents shouldn't have elected idiots into their city council to represent them and find some representatives to spend their tax money better next time around.
  • fooka, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9well. so much for land of the free, huh?

    What is with the myopic, misinformed, obsession by some Americans to have English be the official language??

    First of all, where's the freedom in that?? Why is it so bad for people to be free NOT to learn english??

    Second, maybe what you *meant* to say was; You're American now, therefore you have no right speaking anything but Apache, Navaho or Cherokee!

    in which case, forgive me for not understanding what you meant by "american"

    ...?
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