Editor's notebook

Published 03/15/08

DOWNTOWN FLOWERS - It would be a shame if the hanging baskets of flowers, long a fixture in downtown Annapolis, vanished from the city this summer.

Since 1999, the Annapolis Business Association has hired Homestead Gardens to hang flower baskets on Main Street, Maryland Avenue, Church Circle and other thoroughfares in the Historic District, delighting residents and visitors alike.

But the ABA has decided it can't afford the $35,000 it put into the program last year and has more urgent uses for the money. And the city, which kicked in $30,000 last year, has decided that it can ill afford to spend any more. Mayor Ellen...

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Flag Dipping response - 2008-03-17 15:43:11

Flag dipping, as you stated in your opinion piece, is indeed a violation of the Flag Code (Title 4, Chap. 1, Sec. 8 of the U.S. Code). Flag dipping not only violates Naval Regulations, but violates federal law, which specifically states that "the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. "The symbolism it represents, making the Constitution subservient to any religion or church, also offends many who place their oath of office to the Constitution above any religious beliefs which should be a private matter. Thus flag dipping epitomizes the violation of church and state separation by our military.

Vice Admiral Fowler?s decision to order a halt to this practice was ultimately correct. His remanding of this order under pressure from church goers represents a capitulation of his oath of office to the Constitution. His refusal now to attend these services is an impotent response.

The fact that fundamentalist mega-churches led by the likes of Revs. Parsley and Hagee are endorsing and standing with Presidential nominee McCain, while advocating war with Arab and Muslim nations, should give great concern to all of us who believe in Constitutional Law. Labeling such disloyalty ?cowardice? is tepid when one considers the consequences. The loyalty to the Constitution by our military flag officers should be unimpeachable.

-David Antoon
USAFA 70
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Board Member

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