It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.

Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.

Thank you.

 

Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.

 

Family abused for hanging American flag upside down.

page: 1
8
<<   2  3  4 >>

log in

join
share:

posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:38 PM
link   
I searched and could not find anything on ATS about this.. and I also got this in an email at work so I do not know where to reference it too but im sure its probably on CNN or something.

In July 2007, the Kuhns, a North Carolina couple (pictured above) were terrorized by sheriff’s deputy Brian Scarborough, who broke into their house, assaulted them and then arrested the couple for the crime of flying an upside down U.S. flag.

Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputy Brian Scarborough had just returned from Iraq and according to Deborah Kuhn, was sent by his staff Sergeant from the local National Guard to “deal with” the Kuhns after a local resident complained about the flag, a fact that was later admitted on TV news. A National Guard soldier in military fatigues had also previously visited the Kuhn’s to harass them about the flag.


Even though Kuhn took the flag down, the officer immediately demanded that the couple show their ID’s and when they refused told them to put their hands behind their back and was about to arrest them before the couple shut and locked the door.
Scarborough then proceeded to kick the door in, “And the next thing we know, the glass is flying, he unlocks the deadbolt and he comes into our house after us,” Kuhn told The Alex Jones Show.

The officer then pursued Mark Kuhn through the house before intercepting him in the kitchen and putting him in a choke hold.

The officer then pulled out pepper spray to which Mark Kuhn responded, “Are you going to spray me in my house?” before Scarborough whipped out his billy club and the Kuhn’s ran out of the house into the street, pleading for help from their neighbors.

The couple were handcuffed, arrested and bundled into a squad car, to the protests of numerous neighbors who demanded to know why the Kuhns were being incarcerated, but were told to leave by police.

As is supported by the United States Flag Code as well as a similar incident in 2001, flying the flag upside down is not a mark of disrespect, and in fact is considered by many to be the highest form of patriotism. Despite this fact, the upside down flag is equated in the MIAC report with terrorist paraphernalia.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:52 PM
link   
Sorry but........

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4f35cee017b5.jpg[/atsimg]

Got any?

Flying the flag inverted is an international signal for distress, not patriotism.

If there was no distress, it is the same as yelling Fire in a crowded theater.

All my humble opinion of course.


edit on 15-12-2010 by kinda kurious because: added content



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:53 PM
link   
stories like this make my skin crawl and my blood boil. We as Americans should stand together against this sort of beha-Oh look, Hannah Montana was caught doing drugs yesterday.


America, we have a problem, its now illegal to fly a flag.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:54 PM
link   
Upside down means distress, right?

Seems to me they were plenty in distress.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:55 PM
link   
yea... it sure does seem that way ..lol



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:55 PM
link   
reply to post by machines4200
 


This brings mixed reactions.

These people should not have been assaulted...But they should show respect to the flag.

I believe in freedom of speech and expression but the American flag means a lot, to a lot of people. I personally am not into this type of dedication to pledge allegiance to a "flag" but I can respect the history behind it in some people's perspective.

I will not bash you or your country by giving my true opinion of what the American flag represents. I think it was wrong for them to hang it upside down though.

I live in Canada and have seen this as well. On Saltspring Island in British Columbia which is just north of Seattle. I was driving down one of the main roads and some person had a large Canadian flag upside down on their property. I thought it was rather odd, but was not very offended. No one else seemed to care either, being a small island with a large "hippie" population.

I also think that Canadians are blinded by their flag as well, many citizens of many countries are blinded by their total dedication to what their flag represents, not seeing past the smoke and mirrors.

I think Canada and USA should get new governmental systems in place, and replace our flags. That is just my opinion.

Long story short...the assault was way worse than the upside down flag. They do not even compare in depth of seriousness. The assault is far worse.
edit on 15-12-2010 by Corruption Exposed because: spelling



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 04:58 PM
link   
reply to post by machines4200
 


Actually, under the Flag code, article 8a., states that an upside down flag is a sign of distress, or " SOS ". No where in the code does it state its patriotic. Let's not get belligerent.

source: www.ushistory.org...
source: www.senate.gov...



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:15 PM
link   
The bottom line is that these folks were spoiling for a fight and they got one. They can't claim they didn't know what possible reaction it might get. So they have no right to complain, really, do they? Everybody got what they wanted.


This just proves the old saying that you can say or do anything you want in the world just as long as you're willing to pay the price for it.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:16 PM
link   
reply to post by Blue Shift
 


I kinda have to agree! If your gonna talk the talk, better be able to walk the walk in my eyes~



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:16 PM
link   

Originally posted by kinda kurious
If there was no distress, it is the same as yelling Fire in a crowded theater.

All my humble opinion of course.



I believe the actual quote is more along the lines of, "You can't yell fire in a crowded theater when there is no fire." Meaning harmful lies are not protected free speech, but if there is a fire, maybe you should say something. It seems to me that this country is in distress, so maybe flying the flag upside down is appropriate.

BTW, that quote is from a Supreme Court decision justifying the prosecution of World War I protestors. The idea being that their concerns about the US entry into World War I were unfounded and therefor not protected speech under the First Amendment.

Who says ATS ain't educational?



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:24 PM
link   
WEther they asked for it or not it was completly wrong to bust down their door...try to arrest them for no reason and cause this much harm emotionaly to a couple. (you cant see the picture of them but they are probably in their 50's)

Free speech is free speech.. do we have it or dont we...



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:28 PM
link   
Nice contridiction bro. "I believe in freedom of speech BUT..." But you don't really believe in it.


Originally posted by Corruption Exposed
reply to post by machines4200
 


I believe in freedom of speech and expression but



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:30 PM
link   

Originally posted by Whereweheaded
reply to post by Blue Shift
 


I kinda have to agree! If your gonna talk the talk, better be able to walk the walk in my eyes~


Darn right! People I know in North Carolina would have filled his chest with buckshot before he crossed the threshold. A couple of my dear departed uncles would have buried that deputy next to their still.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:30 PM
link   
The US Political Madness Forum has an upside down flag. Is he going to kick the door down of the US Political Madness forum next? How does one go about kicking a forum door down anyways? Thoughts?



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:32 PM
link   
If it's a sign of distress, what's wrong with it? Maybe they are in distress over the state of the nation.

So how is that insulting?

reply to post by VictorVonDoom
 



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:32 PM
link   
It boggles my mind in how far from the point some of you comment.

This does not have anything to do about how this couple choose to fly their flag. That is just the excuse used.

This is about your personal freedom to be safe and secure in your own home free of governmental intervention.

What we have here is over the top violation of the citizen’s rights by a jack-booted thug.
Violation of First Amendment, Violation of Fourth Amendment and possibly the Ninth Amendment and his neighbors un-willing to aid in the citizen’s defense.

Nazi Germany all over again.

This country is lost! Welcome to the Police State.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:36 PM
link   

Originally posted by kinda kurious

Flying the flag inverted is an international signal for distress, not patriotism.

If there was no distress, it is the same as yelling Fire in a crowded theater.

All my humble opinion of course.


edit on 15-12-2010 by kinda kurious because: added content


So what THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST IT! That deputy should be arrested for breaking and entering and assault!
edit on 15-12-2010 by hawkiye because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:40 PM
link   
damn right he should...

i guess if you have SOS any where on your home your just as screwed... i havent been able to read up on if they had filed lawsuits against them.. il search harder.



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:41 PM
link   
reply to post by v1rtu0s0
 





I believe in freedom of speech and expression but





I do not see that as a contradiction at all. Not one bit. Freedom of speech and expression is a touchy subject. How would approaching a sensitive subject with sensitivity be a contradiction?

I am sure you have some thoughts that you would like to express or speak about but know better than to do so out of good old regular logic. Most actions cause a reaction. I am not condoning revenge, I am just saying people should be careful. Because their actions may cause a reaction that may not be in their best interest.

That is not a contradiction, Bro.
edit on 15-12-2010 by Corruption Exposed because: bro

edit on 15-12-2010 by Corruption Exposed because: spelling



posted on Dec, 15 2010 @ 05:43 PM
link   
Here you go, heres your story


Activists arrested in row over protest flag, allege abuse by Buncombe deputy




The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office arrested activists Mark and Deborah Kuhn in West Asheville Wednesday morning after a complaint that the couple was desecrating an American flag. They say a deputy invaded their home and used excessive force. [The photo at right, taken by a neighbor, shows Mark on the ground, with Deborah standing by, during the arrest.] The flag was hung upside down as an act of protest and had several statements pinned to it, including a picture of President Bush with the words “Out Now” upon it and one explaining the meaning of the upside down flag, a sign of distress.

edit on 15/12/10 by woogleuk because: (no reason given)



new topics

top topics


active topics

 
8
<<   2  3  4 >>

log in

join