WWII vet battles homeowners group over flag issue

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh please - just because the man is a WW2 vet doesn't me he isn't behaving like a cantankerous old #######.

You (and he) need to stop taking ####### like this so personally. Its mindlessly idiotic.

Yes, I do take ppl that served for my country very seriously, it's a shame that you can not extend the same sentiment and reverence for someone that went to fight for YOUR countries freedom when it wasn't his job to do in the first place. Please, stay an LPR we don't need any ingrates here either.

That's very dishonest there Chris - what I think about this silly old ####### pissing and moaning about what he can do on his property has sweet FA to do with what I think about veterans.

That you can't tell the difference shows that you have no sense of perspective.

Please you don't know me so don't think you can make a summation of what my perspectives are based on a few posts OK?

All I'm asking is to have some respect, not only is the man a vet of 3 wars but he is also a senior citizen, the guy is 90. Your answer had nothing productive to add and could easily be misconstrued as being disrespectful toward vets. I was not the only one to comment on your statement. So maybe it best for you to look at yourself before you comment on how well you understand my angle on things.

If your comment was about his views then maybe you should make statements about sticking things up ppls orifices and then we could have a real debate instead of making a comment that is designed to provoke a certain response.

My advice - the guy should bend over and prepare to receive the full length of the flag pole in his fudge tunnel.

Funny, if it was not for ppl like that man that you want to shove the flag pole up his butt you'd probably be speaking Deutsch. Have a little respect for our veterans please.

Yes I agree - the guy at my club says if it wasn't for the French, the Americans would all be speaking English now and it's true.

I would look for a way to make him chuffed as punch but get rid of the hazard to aviation at the same time.

I was feeling a bit poorly and so I presented my son with my dad's Japanese battle flag that he took in the jungles of Burma in the 1939 to 1945 war (he got home in 1946). My son immediately put it on ebay.

Different times and glad he wasn't alive to hear of it.

And I give the French credit for their help in preserving my country. But I would never tell a Frenchman that one of their servicemen should have pole inserted in his ####### either. It just disrespectful.

Actually what you are saying is that a person is exempt from any criticism so long as they served in the military.

That's just ridiculous.

No, but if I lived in another country I sure as hell would hold my tongue before I made outlandish comments. It's called "Respect".

That's exactly what you are saying Chris, don't try to weasel out of it

You don't know what respect means.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Brother Chris, I don't want to see anyone with a flagpole anywhere. Vet or not. In this case though, I must say the guy is fighting a losing battle. Going back to topic, I repeat my point: he knew the bylaws and bought the property. He has to either abide by said bylaws or move. As a military man, he should know that rules are in place to be followed.

And I completely agree with you Sister Len. The rules are the rules regardless of who you may be and what you may have done. I have pretty much said that through out the thread.

But a part of me cannot help but feel sorry for an old man that just wants a flag on a pole. Doesn't sound like the end of the world for anyone. I agree that he has a duty to follow what the HOA has told him per his contract. Having briefly served myself makes it all the more close to home when ppl make comments like the one made before. So yes, I do personalize the comments made before a bit.

Edited December 8, 2009 by Chris_Жанна

[Captain Oates 911]

America is so black and white about everything. Why not accomplish what everyone wants by treating the guy with respect and getting the bloody pole removed at the same time. That way, everyone wins and the old gladiator is happy and so are the residents. Compromise is what makes the world go round and marriage almost possible.

I wouldn't just strong arm the guy or throw him out - he fought nazis so that he wouldn't have to be thrown in a cattle truck at age 90 and run out of his neighborhood coz he was clinging to his bit of glory which is probably all he has left.

With a bit of brain power, an amicable solution could be found that would satisfy all parties.

I would say this about anyone and not just vets who were born equal like the rest of us. They say that the war was won with British Brains and American Muscle ( Invention of anti biotics, RADAR and breaking the enigma code etc etc )

I would like to think that Americans are more thoughtful nowadays and it's not a binary thing of let him get away with it or throw him out of his house...

Edited December 8, 2009 by saywhat

[Chris_Жанна 11]

That's exactly what you are saying Chris, don't try to weasel out of it

You don't know what respect means.

You couldn't be misrepresenting me more. Please do not put words into my mouth. I'm not arguing with you on this anymore. If you want to PM me to talk or resolve this I will be more than happy to come to some understanding with you. I asked for you to have a little respect for a US Vet that is a senior citizen. If the task is too complicated for you to understand I am sorry.

I don't think military personnel and vets are entitled to any special privileges but yes a man that spent his whole life in service deserves a little better then an immigrant coming here and saying "shove pole up his A**". If you cannot understand that then I'm sorry you have no idea what the word respect means.

Imagine if I came to the UK and said "Stick a pole up a British war hero's #######" I'm sure that would piss off more then a few folks over there. But I would have the class not to say things like that.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

America is so black and white about everything. Why not accomplish what everyone wants by treating the guy with respect and getting the bloody pole removed at the same time. That way, everyone wins and the old gladiator is happy and so are the residents. Compromise is what makes the world go round and marriage almost possible.

I wouldn't just strong arm the guy or throw him out - he fought nazis so that he wouldn't have to be thrown in a cattle truck at age 90 and run out of his neighborhood coz he was clinging to his bit of glory which is probably all he has left.

With a bit of brain power, an amicable solution could be found that would satisfy all parties.

I would say this about anyone and not just vets who were born equal like the rest of us. They say that the war was won with British Brains and American Muscle ( Invention of anti biotics, RADAR and breaking the enigma code etc etc )

I would like to think that Americans are more thoughtful nowadays and it's not a binary thing of let him get away with it or throw him out of his house...

And I could not agree with you more.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's exactly what you are saying Chris, don't try to weasel out of it

You don't know what respect means.

You couldn't be misrepresenting me more. Please do not put words into my mouth. I'm not arguing with you on this anymore. If you want to PM me to talk or resolve this I will be more than happy to come to some understanding with you. I asked for you to have a little respect for a US Vet that is a senior citizen. If the task is too complicated for you to understand I am sorry.

I don't think military personnel and vets are entitled to any special privileges but yes a man that spent his whole life in service deserves a little better then an immigrant coming here and saying "shove pole up his A**". If you cannot understand that then I'm sorry you have no idea what the word respect means.

Imagine if I came to the UK and said "Stick a pole up a British war hero's #######" I'm sure that would piss off more then a few folks over there. But I would have the class not to say things like that.

I think you're taking the comment (and the topic) a tad too seriously.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

That's exactly what you are saying Chris, don't try to weasel out of it

You don't know what respect means.

You couldn't be misrepresenting me more. Please do not put words into my mouth. I'm not arguing with you on this anymore. If you want to PM me to talk or resolve this I will be more than happy to come to some understanding with you. I asked for you to have a little respect for a US Vet that is a senior citizen. If the task is too complicated for you to understand I am sorry.

I don't think military personnel and vets are entitled to any special privileges but yes a man that spent his whole life in service deserves a little better then an immigrant coming here and saying "shove pole up his A**". If you cannot understand that then I'm sorry you have no idea what the word respect means.

Imagine if I came to the UK and said "Stick a pole up a British war hero's #######" I'm sure that would piss off more then a few folks over there. But I would have the class not to say things like that.

I think you're taking the comment (and the topic) a tad too seriously.

Perhaps, but do you understand what I am saying?

I really don't want to fight about this, can we come to an understanding or at least agree to disagree?

[Captain Oates 911]

Jeez I hope the snowplough doesn't knock it down or Michelle Bachman will say Obama ordered it done - and her eyes will light up with that insane flash of surreal thoughts of which communist moslem sleeper cells carried it out....

A fund will be set up and $100 million will be received from birthers/deathers etc . Everyone else's house will be bought out and he will put a 200 foot pole up.

[slim 1,525]

I was feeling a bit poorly and so I presented my son with my dad's Japanese battle flag that he took in the jungles of Burma in the 1939 to 1945 war (he got home in 1946). My son immediately put it on ebay.

That's horrible. I'm hoping you bought it so you could give it back to him someday when he was finally mature enough to appreciate it.

And I give the French credit for their help in preserving my country. But I would never tell a Frenchman that one of their servicemen should have pole inserted in his ####### either. It just disrespectful.

I've told plenty of Frenchmen that. It's kind of a tradition amongst servicemen - regardless of language. Hell, you don't even need to speak the same language, you can play charades!

he knew the bylaws and bought the property. He has to either abide by said bylaws or move. As a military man, he should know that rules are in place to be followed.

And let's not forget the HOA said he asked for permission and then put it up anyway.

Why not accomplish what everyone wants by treating the guy with respect and getting the bloody pole removed at the same time. That way, everyone wins and the old gladiator is happy and so are the residents.

I see a good way of doing this as placing he flag pole in a "common area" and assigning him as the caretaker, maybe even a plaque that says, "donated by Col......"

Compromise is what makes the world go round and marriage almost possible.

It might make the world go 'round but........

I wouldn't just strong arm the guy or throw him out - he fought nazis so that he wouldn't have to be thrown in a cattle truck at age 90 and run out of his neighborhood

I bet he's still got some fight in him. Men that old don't seem to care too much about things like dying.

They say that the war was won with British Brains and American Muscle ( Invention of anti biotics, RADAR and breaking the enigma code etc etc )

Well, that and the whole draft thing.

[Captain Oates 911]

I see a good way of doing this as placing he flag pole in a "common area" and assigning him as the caretaker, maybe even a plaque that says, "donated by Col......"

Excellent suggestion.. way to go !

[scandal 951]

Senator: Va. medal winner can keep his flagpole

(AP) – 1 day ago

RICHMOND, Va. — A 90-year-old Medal of Honor winner can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner's association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.

The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines.

Neither Barfoot's daughter, Margaret Nicholls, nor homeowners' president Glenn Wilson immediately returned telephone messages.

Dropping the issue effectively ends a request that White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday called "silly."

Warner and Sen. Jim Webb, both Virginia Democrats, had rallied behind Barfoot, a World War II veteran.

In a letter last week, Webb urged the association to "consider the exceptional nature of Col. Barfoot's service when considering his pride and determination in honoring our flag."

Barfoot's fight also has lit up veterans bulletin boards and blog sites supporting him.

Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions while his platoon was under German assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. He was credited with standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance.

He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why did the press secretary comment on this?

How petty.

[slim 1,525]

I read this today in the paper and couldn't believe that Senators and the like would have time to represent this old man who openly defied his HOA. I wonder if they would've taken the time to get him proper medical care if he would've needed that?

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

and another happy ending to a thread.

[Captain Oates 911]

and another happy ending to a thread.

Unless you are one of the other homeowners who's property price has just slumped as they now live in eccentric alley.

Wait for the guy's next move - a life sized replica of his tank will appear on the front lawn with fire spurting out of the barrel every hour like the volcano in las vegas

Pity that a compromise couldnt have been reached but it's all good fun for we observers who dont live there.

..and if he is 90 then it won't be for very long. Might be a good opportunity for a speculator to buy up houses in the street...hum.......