The Las Vegas City Council is persecuting patriots:
The council's vote last week to order a Hummer dealership to take down a 100-foot flag pole flying the Stars and Stripes has garnered attention across the country and overseas, inundating the city with e-mails and phone calls.
Almost all the writers vehemently disagreed with the council's decision, and some declared boycotts on Las Vegas.
"No more messing around with people who order flags removed. No more Vegas for me!" wrote Terrill Groetken, a Minnesota resident. "Our family reunion will have to be held elsewhere, Reno, Laughlin or at a Indian casino somewhere."
A writer identifying himself as Art Wallace of Escondido Calif., wrote: "I just cancelled my reservations at New York-New York and I told them why. I don't want to stay in a city that will not let a business fly the USA flag. I find you all disgusting."
The city had received more than 100 e-mail messages by Tuesday afternoon and scores of phone calls, all protesting the order that would have Towbin Hummer remove the flag and flagpole within 60 days.
Some of those unhappy with the city's decision changed their minds after the city responded to their messages.
"Have the good people of Las Vegas lost their collective minds?" asked Robert Paterniti in his first e-mail. He said he and his wife were canceling a fall vacation.
But after the city wrote back with its side of the story, he responded: "See you in September."
In its response, city officials stated their patriotic pride and love for the U.S. flag. The response also pointed out that some had said Towbin Hummer was exploiting the flag for commercial purposes because the dealership had not built a memorial as promised.
Well I'll show that car dealership how to be really patriotic. I'm gonna' build a 500 foot tall flag poll!
© Jed Lewison