Flag Burnings In Manassas Park
By Greg L | 22 May 2008 | Manassas Park, Crime | 56 Comments
It looks like the long-term effort to encourage illegal aliens to reside in Manassas Park under the guise of encouraging “diversity” is finally paying off, according to the Police Briefs article in today’s MJM:
Manassas Park police and the Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating three reports of American flags being burned in the Blooms section of the city, according to a police news release.
The incidents took place between May 9 and 12, the news release states, and all three flags were mounted to front porches of houses.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Manassas Park Police Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330 or the Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-335-0010.
I’d imagine that arson and flag desecration aren’t quite what the Governing Board had in mind when it allowed the widescale transformation of single family residences into what are essentially small-scale apartment buildings. I’m sure hostility towards America wasn’t what the Governing Board expected when they signaled to illegal aliens that they would be protected from what they characterized as a “vigilante agenda” of asking that the law be enforced. This is what they ended up encouraging, however. If lawlessness is encouraged, even passively by failing to respond to rather obvious indications that illegal aliens are arriving in overwhelming numbers, lawlessness is what you get.
The fix for this is pretty simple, however. Manassas Park can elect a new Governing Board and Mayor in November that might actually have an interest in preserving the rule of law and restoring this troubled community. If you’re a Manassas Park resident, you better be seriously thinking about stepping up and running for office, since the largely default behavior in this city of non-engagement in civic affairs clearly isn’t delivering a government interested in fiscal responsibility, public order, or a reasonably tolerable quality of life in the city. Independent candidate filings are due by June 10th along with a petition with 125 signatures from registered voters. Candidates seeking the nomination of a political party should consult the local party committee regarding deadlines and filing requirements that apply.
Doing nothing, and letting the current Governing Body and Frank Jones continue to run this city into the ground unchallenged, only guarantees that outrages like this will continue.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed. You can also pingback or trackback from your own site.
56 Comments
Leave a Reply
Views: 1349
Loading ...
I nominate Park’d
I only hope that they have the wit to prosecute the offenders for destruction of private property, rather than for flag burning, since the Supreme Court declared criminalization of the latter to be unconstitutional.
I wonder what would happen if Mexican flags were toasted? Riots?
I wish someone had the nerve to do it. I am curious what would happen.
I was one of the homes that had our flag burned. Whoever would do such an act is a completely worthless human being. It is a good thing that I was not home when this happened. Apparently, FOX5 is reporting on this incident tonight at 6PM.
Assuming it is illegals that did this and not some misguided youth I will say this. These tactics can only go on for so long, not everyone can keep heading for the hills to escape this type of intimidation. I think they should get them on charges of property damage and any type of terrorism charges they can come up with. That is what this is. These people are terrorizing our communities. I am having second thoughts about whether or not to hang an “U.S. American flag” outside at my house in the park now. My gosh you could come home from work and your house is burnt to the ground. Thats a terrifying thought in my book, just from hanging up a flag! What a world. what a country. What an government.
And I would support Park’d. I would even volunteer to hand out campaign literature.
If the flag(s) was (were) attached to a house, I think an appropriate charge would be arson of a dwelling. This is a felony.
Oh, what do you expect. These people on the council claim to be Republicans when they think it will help them get elected but when they think it won’t they’re independents. All they care about serving is themselves and telling as many lies as necessary to stay in power. Like that time Frank Jones lied and said the city was participating in 287(G) when they weren’t (2 years ago).
“I am having second thoughts about whether or not to hang an “U.S. American flag” outside at my house in the park now.”
That is very sad and troubling. How did we ever get to this stage? Why didn’t we see it coming? Or, perhaps, why did we ignore the warning signs?
It’s like that woman from the school board who claimed that nobody could’ve predicted the housing downturn. Bwaahahah. Honey, I fully believe that you couldn’t have seen it coming, but anyone with an IQ above room temperature who paid attention to the news as opposed to vegging in front of the idiot box watching “American Idol” KNEW it was coming.
I don’t know enough about criminal law to say, “Advocator.” However, I do remember thinking about this when Texas v. Johnson was decided, and the flaw in that prosecution — and the reason why the Court was able to make its decision — was that little Joey Johnson was prosecuted for flag desecration, rather than for theft (and/or arson, as you suggest is possible) or willful destruction of private property for the flag that he stole (from a bank, if memory serves) to burn.
God forbid that these types of socialist weasels would ever burn a flag that they had purchased themselves.
And MP Resident, I had to laugh when you quoted someone who “claimed that nobody could’ve predicted the housing downturn.” Oh yeah? Why do you think Chairman Sean got out of Dodge? I said that this was the reason at the time.
MP Resident said on 22 May 2008 at 1:14 pm:
Honey, I fully believe that you couldn’t have seen it coming, but anyone with an IQ above room temperature who paid attention to the news as opposed to vegging in front of the idiot box watching “American Idol” KNEW it was coming.
Are you refering to anyone in particular or is that just a general statement?
The second article under police briefs is interesting also…. guess they couldn’t find a machette.
http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/police_briefs28/15892/
“Are you refering to anyone in particular or is that just a general statement?”
There is a specific school board member who claimed that nobody could have predicted the housing downturn at citizen’s time during the public hearing to set the tax rate, several weeks ago.
You could look at the minutes to find out who it is. It really doesn’t matter, though, as I think that sort of complacency is widespread.
I would have expected better from a school board member, however. Perhaps my expectations are too high?
It is sad and troubling. Seems to me if they wanted citizenship they would keep their noses clean and stay under the radar. But I guess they figure that it doesn’t matter. All three major presidential candidates want amnesty and the illegals will probably get amnesty no matter how they behave. They will take over this country without firing a shot. And our politicians will be the ones to blame.
By the way I saw some of “American Idol” last night and the performance with zz top was pretty cool. Although I am not a big fan of “American Idol” I like the fact that some of the music is real music and the teens learn who some good musicians are. At least better than the ones they show on MTV.
If I see someone doing this, can I shoot them or do I have to drag them into my house and then shoot them?
It was me! The flags were ‘made in China’ and I’m supporting local workers!
“the teens learn who some good musicians are. At least better than the ones they show on MTV.”
The last time I turned on MTV and saw musicians playing music, Reagan was still in office.
Trackback doesn’t work with my Blogger service, so i’ll leave you a link
http://www.pwconservative.net/2008/05/real-problem-with-illegal-immigration.html
“I wonder what would happen if Mexican flags were toasted? Riots?”.
Not sure what would happen here. And I see no good reason to find out.
However, I do have a challenge -
Go to Mexico and burn a Mexican flag.
Just make sure your last will and testament are updated first.
looks like we are restoring our community by buying in the old side of town. We are going to make one of those rooming houses into a single family home again. We looked at Blooms, but for the west side of town to survive, it needs families and homeowners, not tenants.
This could have been done by anyone. I’d say lets wait to see if the Po Po find those responsible for these crimes before blaming illegals.
Burning or defacing a Mexican flag is a “hate crime” according to LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens, I believe):
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=202157
“We looked at Blooms, but for the west side of town to survive, it needs families and homeowners, not tenants.”
It needs people who vote and pay attention to what City Council is doing. Those types of people tend to be homeowners.
Also see the case of Roy Warden, charged with arson and destroying government property for burning a Mexican flag:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1613416/posts
It would be better if people would cite court cases instead of blogs.
Burning an American flag that’s attached to someone’s property or property is illegal. Owning it and burning it - legal. Same with burning a Mexican flag. If you own it and burn it it is protected free speech. If you steal it or burn it off someone’s home, thats illegal.
Burning the American or Mexican flag would or should only be a hate crime if while doing so you have directed hate speech or if it’s done to intimidate someone. If it’s done openly and as a political expression. I don’t see anything wrong with that. Burn whatever national flag makes your political point.
I would ask that anyone here interested in burning a flag (American or Mexican) please have proper fire suppression systems or devices available. Your freedom of speech stops at my property line.
I’m getting the feeling that some posters are under the impression that I would suffer a harsher penalty under Mexican law for desecrating their flag. You’re right. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
To all-
Pat yourselves on the back if you called, e-mailed or faxed your Senators on the Feinstein amendment. We can and do make a difference! Let’s hope that we can keep this rolling through the election and keep making a difference! Good job!
I emailed, faxed and called Webb, Warner, Feinstein, Reid and McConnell starting Friday. Repeated again Mon, Tues, Wed.
Hurrah!
We can’t let our guard down. The amnesty crowd is determined.
However, this blog did give me hope:
Jon Garrido is advocating that if they can’t have it “all”, Hispanics should just sit out the election. Seems to be same logic that Menendez used to file the point of procedure to strip the Iraq bill of the AgJobs amendment. He lists his “strategy” near the end of the article.
Here’s praying for a “Hispanic rebellion” !!!
http://hispanic.cc/hispanics_have_become_the_tipping_point_leverage.htm
The big news about Manassas Park is on the front page
of today’s MJM - approval of a $1.24 tax rate - the
highest, by far, in Northern Virginia. AND, even with that,
“the schools may have to slash up to 41 full time
positions”. I wish MP well, but they have some major
challenges. (And what is the thing with park benches?
Perhaps they could sell naming rights and make a few
extra dollars - and if you went into foreclosure, you
would have the right to sleep on your bench).
If a Commonwealth’s Attorney so choosed to press charges, he could press charges for the burning of an occupied dwelling at night which is a Class 1 felony punishable by life in prison. Again, the CA would have to decide to go that route.
CitizenofManassas said on 22 May 2008 at 4:13 pm:
This could have been done by anyone. I’d say lets wait to see if the Po Po find those responsible for these crimes before blaming illegals.
Quite right. Instances such as this always make me wonder if it was done by someone who is trying to incite a reaction.
es_la_ley,
And of course OJ was framed by a completely ‘incompetent’ police force, Right!
I’d like to see someone try and climb up to my second story deck and get at my flag. Especially during Memorial Day weekend. That person would be trespassing and would be meeting Mr. Colt.
Advocator,
If the person is on my deck, but not inside can I still take him/her out or do they have to be inside?
A friend of mine who lives in Rhode Island and has a second story apartment kept coming home from travel and finding his American flag in the trash can at the bottom of the steps. His only neighbors on the second floor are Arabs. The third time he came home and found the flag in the trash can he knocked on their door and asked once again if they had seen who had thrown his flag out. They again replied that they hadn’t. He told them that this time he had coated the flag pole with bacon grease and just wanted to let them know about it because he respected their religion and wouldn’t want them to defile themselves by toughing the flag pole. He told me the guy at the door flipped out and slammed the door on his face and was ranting and raving all night long. Wonder what the water bill was that month?
Dave in PWC, if you can say that you were in fear of your life, then the answer is no, they do not have to be inside.
Dave in PWC: Glad to see you all have expanded your hatreds toward Arabs as well as Latinos. Further proof of the racism that exists on this blog!
Flag burning of our adopted country, of any American flag is wrong–we immigrants love America…far more likely that this is the teenagers you all are raising, and not the hardworking immigrants!
USMCWife said on 22 May 2008 at 5:30 pm:
I emailed, faxed and called Webb,
Webb is too busy promoting his “new” book to worry about illegal immigration. You won’t get anything positive out of him.. never once responded to correspondence. Too taken with himself, if guess.
Dave in PWC said on 22 May 2008 at 7:40 pm:
Takes more than water to get “cleansed.” When I was overseas in an arab country the Embassy got a food order in and one of the boxes broke open while being unloaded. It was a crate of bacon. All the dockhands had to go the the mullah to get cleansed.
“Flag burning of our adopted country, of any American flag is wrong–we immigrants love America…”
If that’s true, UnMasMexican, why are you and your friends so hell-bent on destroying this country??
My guess is they don’t even realize (or care) what they’re doing to this country. The thought…of what the results of their actions are…never even enters their mind.
Look at what it is they left. Now look at what they do here…it’s the same thing, eventually leading to the same results.
You can try running from your problems but they have a funny, funny way of catching up with you.
By the way UnMasMexican…you’re only an immigrant if you are here legally. I’M an immigrant and naturalized citizen. Your comments on this blog show me that you are NOTHING like me or the other true immigrants I know, or have ever known!
@ anchor baby
if it’s done to intimidate someone.
Seems pretty intimidating to me.
“Hang a flag, and we burn you!”
Kinda speaks for itself, don’t you think?
No1UKnow,
It’s too simplistic to think of burning any flag as a hate crime. What’s the motivation for it? What are the circumstances?
Burning a Mexican flag while yelling racial slurs — very likely a hate crime.
Burning a Mexican flag while talking about the failure of Congress to pass meaningful immigration laws and policies - protected 1st Amendment speech
The symbol of this country isn’t just a flag but a person excercising their right to burn that flag in protest.
If you feel ‘intimidated’ by that I’m sorry. It’s how the cookie crumbles.
Personally, I think ‘hate crimes’ are demeaning - like affirmitive action.
I didn’t get my six-figure job working for the military because I was latino. I got it because I’m good at what I do.
To Anchor Baby:
I see your point but I disagree:
You said: It’s too simplistic to think of burning any flag as a hate crime. What’s the motivation for it? What are the circumstances?
Hate is hate. We see people in the streets from other countries burning our flag as well as the flags of other countries. These are statements of hatred; expressed in a manner to offend and demean.
You said: Burning a Mexican flag while yelling racial slurs — very likely a hate crime.
What is the difference whether words or yelling were involved? You don’t have to say anything, the expression in itself is demeaning and denigrating.
You said: Burning a Mexican flag while talking about the failure of Congress to pass meaningful immigration laws and policies - protected 1st Amendment speech.
I do not recall anyone “burning a Mexican flag” to keep Congress from passing, what you term as, meaningful immigration laws and policies. Congress was petitioned, en masse, by the people via normal communication methods to halt proposed legislation giving illegals rights and possible citizenship. No one burned Mexican flags and no one kept anyone from using the 1st Amendment. The illegals lost the vote that the people believed they never had.
You said: The symbol of this country isn’t just a flag but a person excercising their right to burn that flag in protest.
If you feel ‘intimidated’ by that I’m sorry. It’s how the cookie crumbles.
You seem to encourage and approve of flag burning as a right and a means to an end. You also seem to forward that the flag is not the symbol of the country when, in fact, it is. That is why countries have flags - it is their national symbol and a sign of sovereignty. If anyone burns anothers flag is an aggressive act short of fighting. It is to encite bitterness and rage, not encourage dialogue or counsel. If one burns another’s flag, what is the response you would expect? Such as this blog, it has upset many people - as it was intended. If those exercising their 1st Amendment rights by letting others know how they feel, well, that is how the cookie crumbles. And if intimidation has to be performed in the cloak of night and burn flags on porches, that is not much intimidation - it is criminal cowardice when done in secrecy and on private property - by whomever.
You said: Personally, I think ‘hate crimes’ are demeaning - like affirmitive action.
I agree, hate is demeaning but no one can change inner feelings by acts such as flag burning, it only inflames. I do not agree with affirmative action but certainly it is not a hate crime in any way, shape or form.
You said: I didn’t get my six-figure job working for the military because I was latino. I got it because I’m good at what I do.
Your “six-figure job” has nothing to do with this issue but I guess you like to brag. I am glad you good at what you do, I hate to see taxpayers money wasted.
The fact is that if someone is setting fire to any flag while it is attached to a home, they are setting fire to the home. This is arson!
I hope the person doing this is caught soon before someong gets killed.
I was disappointed when I was tagged with gang signs. Gang graffitti is bad but it does not have the same danger as setting my house on fire. I am afriad that if I caught someone setting my home on fire I would have to use the self defense excuse at my trial.
To ANCHOR BABY:
I have to say also that there are very few people on this blog that disturb me as much as “ANCHOR BABY”. You are disgusting! It is how your “cookies crumble” that bothers me so much. You do not deserve that six figure military income. By the way, what are your work hours and days, such that you can post here during hours that other government workers are at their desks WORKING?
FLY YOUR FLAG EVERYDAY.
Anchor Babe, you and I disagree at times, but you’re respectful and deserving of consideration. As long as you’ve got opinions to voice, you’ll have me to defend your right to do so.
Check out: http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/706270
National flags are symbols of countries. They deserve respect when displayed properly. Destroying or defacing a flag is disrespectful at best and hatred at most. People who commit such acts are cowards and should be treated as such.
Advocator -
OUTSTANDING video - everyone should take a moment to watch it.
What a tear jerker, and very appropriate for this weekend.
Thanks for sharing.
@ anchor baby
As far as 1st amendment rights go, burn whatever flag you want on your own property. If I saw you burning an American flag in your front yard, shouting about amnesty rights, I’d shake my head and move on. I’d disagree, but your protest doesn’t affect me.
Now, if you’re sneaking up to my house, setting a flag on fire- even if you don’t say a word- on my property, I’ll take that as a hate crime. I see this as an intimidation ploy against Americans. No, it won’t work on all of us, but the intent seems to be there. Unless you have proof it was only a harmless prank, we’ll have to assume the worst possible intent.
And let’s not delve into the “affirmative action” bit, ok? There’s no proof either way that you didn’t get your job through AA. Of Course, the appearance of AA preference may still be there, so it’s not an area to brag about.
Burning the American flag, the symbol of our nation, on someone else’s property is indeed a hate crime. Hopefully the perpetrator will be arrested and the Commonwealth Attorney will make an example out of him/her by charging him/her with arson, desctruction of private property, and the commission of a hate crime.
Advocator-That is one freakin emotional video! I’ve got tear streaming down my eyes! If we don’t stand up NOW we’ll be sitting for a long time to come!!
I think people are taking what I wrote and seeing things that are not there. Mind you, as I’ve said before — many times — I agree that illegal immigration should be stopped. And, I agree that going onto someone’s property and burning their property is wrong and illegal. To be honest, I think we should adopt a Texas type law and allow for he use of lethal force on anyone invading your property at night.
Now, having said that. I can understand that there is a lot of emotion tied up in our nations symbol - the flag. But, regardless of the nationality of the flag you have the right to burn it in protest of something or to advance a political speech. You do NOT have the right to burn someone elses’ flag (such as a flag attached to a home) but if you goto Wal-mart and buy a Mexican/American/Isreali/insert a nation here flag and you want to burn it on your own property — that’s fine. If you burn it on public property depending on the circumstances it’s protected speech. You might not ‘like’ that (that’s how the cookie crumble comment from above) but that’s the law. Don’t like it? Change the law.
The concept of a hate crime is offensive to me. Why should we protect any one class over another? It smacks of liberalism at it’s worst. If you want to defend hate crimes, fine. That’s your right. But, to me - it doesn’t make any sense to have 1 citizen worth more than another. The anology I used is that hate crime to me is like affirmative action. It is demeaning because it means that a person needs protection because of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, whatever. If you agree with AA and hate crimes - that’s great. I don’t. We can agree to disagree on that point.
Re-read what I wrote people. I agree that burning something on someone’s property is illegal. Going as far as saying it’s a hate crime? Obviously it depends on the situation.
R/W/B, your confusing my example of burning a flag in protest as saying it’s legal, legit and constitutional to burn a flag attached to a structure in the dead of night. That’s not at all what I said.
Until the SCOTUS says otherwise, burning a flag in protest is legal. We can change that though, by proposing a constitutional ammendment to rescind the 1st Amendment.
Advocator, It must be that time again, I agree with you re Anchor Baby. Our horse-sense must be on the same wave length again.
Anchor Baby, I think you are seriously misunderstood. I thought you were perfectly clear. Sort of sounded like good old common sense American values to me. Of course, being a moderate, I probably just put the kiss of death on you.
Dolph,
Agreed. =)
If only people here understood that it’s hard making the comment that it’s OK to burn a flag as a symbol of protest when I’ve made an Oath to protect Virginia and defend the Constitution.
I once had a retired Marine ask me why I wear a pistol out in public. Looked him straight in the eyes and told him; I wear it to honor the service and sacrifice you may be called upon one day to make. We have rights in the US because people choose to fight for those rights. It would be a dishonor for me NOT to use my right to wear my sidearm.
I don’t have to ‘agree’ with your right to burn a flag (as a protest not as a matter of arson - again so people are clear of my position) but it’s my job as a citizen to defend it.
“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”
To those that don’t agree with me, I sympathize. I understand - I do - that the flag is more than just cloth to some people. And, I agree with you. However, if we are to be a free nation then even the most vile forms of speech should be protected - in the name of freedom.
To Anchor Baby:
Thanks for the clarification on some statements. That is the problem with a blog. It is hard to get your point set straight like you want at times.
I also agreed with you as you stated about 1st Amendment rights and the criminal act when someone else does it on your property. Like the illegal issue, most issues have a myraid of opinions and “fixes”. I like reasonable dialogue, even if I disagree. Most of time you can understand another persons point of view when properly expressed.
I guess the flag burning on private property is the reason for most consternation in this case, and rightfully so. Flag burning is not new, certainly. Flag burning your flag on your front porch is.
Thanks again for your contribution and opinions. I enjoy reading yours.
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=828560
It’s not just flags.
ANCHOR BABY:
My apology to you. This is a very emotional subject.
I was unfair with my blast.