Colorado man ordered to remove American flag from apartment balcony because it's "clutter" - Polidicks

[quote]A Colorado man, who happens to have the same name as one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, is fighting an order from the management at his apartment complex stating he must remove an American flag hanging from his balcony. Samuel Adams told The Greeley Tribune that his grandfather was in the Army during World War I, and his father served in the Navy. [B]So in honor of those family members and the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, Adams hung an American flag over the balcony of his apartment.[/B] It didn’t take long for the management at his apartment complex to send him a letter asking him to remove the flag. The Greeley Tribune obtained the letter which read in part, [B]“Please do not clutter with personal belongings. Balconies and patios must be maintained in a neat, clean and attractive condition.”[/B][/quote] [url]http://fox59.com/2016/06/28/man-defies-apartment-management-refuses-to-remove-american-flag-even-if-it-leads-to-eviction/[/url] Apparently the flag is neither neat, clean or attractive.

I mean this is a rule in my apartment complex in California. They donMt allow you to have anything hanging from your balcony, everything has to stay on the inside because they don't want it to ruin the asthetic of their apartment complex. They're in their every right to if you're renting.

Just because it's a flag doesn't mean it deserves special privileges in such a scenario. If it were instead just a piece of ugly brown cloth hanging over the balcony and that warranted a removal, it should apply for flags as well.

It's a dumb rule, but I don't think it's illegal. Bummer for that dude.

Another reason to not rent if you can avoid it, also to avoid HOAs as I wouldn't put it past some of those power tripping office drones to pull the same shit in an HOA 'burb,

You could hang the Mona Lisa on that balcony and they'd tell you to take it down. You can't put flags everywhere and expect them to be exempt from your landlord's rules.

How many of you would say the same thing if it was a Gadsden flag lol.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfnVFGBLWwk[/media] Look at how [i]horrible[/i] it is. He's cluttering up a balcony... with our nation's flag... less than a week away from the Fourth of July... [quote]"Sterling Heights seeks to be fair to residents by limiting displays as there could be signs, flags or decorations that may be offensive and disruptive to the community,” Manager Pamela Buchanan told The Greeley Tribune in an email. Adams says he plans to keep flying his flag even if it leads to an eviction. Adams says he’s received a lot of support from veterans and military families thanking him for standing up for the flag.[/quote] "We don't want to offend anybody". Get fucked, management. I'm glad this guy has received as much support as he has. The flag is not offensive, it's not cluttering anything up, and that's all there is to it. We're five days away from the Fourth of July; let him keep it up for now.

Everything Western is evil, racist, colonial, fucking white males nnneeehhhh~ [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shitpost" - Big Dumb American))[/highlight]

I don't see why there has to be an exemption made just because it's an american flag. Is the matter petty? Probably. But them's the rules he agreed to.

[QUOTE=Govna;50617398][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfnVFGBLWwk[/media] Look at how [i]horrible[/i] it is. He's cluttering up a balcony... with our nation's flag... less than a week away from the Fourth of July... "We don't want to offend anybody". Get fucked, management. I'm glad this guy has received as much support as he has. The flag is not offensive, it's not cluttering anything up, and that's all there is to it. We're five days away from the Fourth of July; let him keep it up for now.[/QUOTE] The guy looks like an absolute tool. The fact that he's so stubborn about this is even worse.

[QUOTE=Govna;50617398][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfnVFGBLWwk[/media] Look at how [i]horrible[/i] it is. He's cluttering up a balcony... with our nation's flag... less than a week away from the Fourth of July... "We don't want to offend anybody". Get fucked, management. I'm glad this guy has received as much support as he has. The flag is not offensive, it's not cluttering anything up, and that's all there is to it. We're five days away from the Fourth of July; let him keep it up for now.[/QUOTE] It's besides the point, dude. He signed a leasing agreement stating he would not hang anything from his balcony. He has hung something from his balcony. He went against his word, in writing. If he wanted to be able to hang anything from the balcony, he should have chose a complex that did not have such a clause in the leasing agreement.

I've always found americans' healthy obsession with their flag very cool.

[QUOTE=Aetna;50617791]It's besides the point, dude. He signed a leasing agreement stating he would not hang anything from his balcony. He has hung something from his balcony. He went against his word, in writing. If he wanted to be able to hang anything from the balcony, he should have chose a complex that did not have such a clause in the leasing agreement.[/QUOTE] The lease stated provisions against clutter, laundry, garbage... said that the area needed to be neat and clean... it never said anything about flags. It's not besides the point either. "We don't want to offend anybody" is not a valid excuse in this situation. It's the national flag. It's not cluttering anything, it's not a piece of laundry, it's not garbage that he's leaving to lay around outside, etc. He hung up our flag to celebrate the Fourth of July, he's not taking it down, he shouldn't have to take it down, and that's how simple it is. Management is in the wrong here, and everybody knows it. Their lease means jack shit. This is not a major violation, it's them literally saying in their statement that "we don't want to offend anybody", and they've got no valid justification for doing this. He's not taking it down, and more and more veterans and people living in the area are taking his side (as they rightfully should). Unless the management of this complex want to piss more people off than they already have, I strongly suggest that they don't press this matter any further and let it go.

My apartments are the same way. And, in order to not be an arrogant jackass, I tend to follow the rules of the lease. Who cares if "it's just a flag"? They signed their lease and need to respect it accordingly. I can see this type of shit being spread across Facebook as millions of nationalism-boners hang their flags in protest.

[QUOTE=Prism;50617821]I've always found americans' healthy obsession with their flag very cool.[/QUOTE] The same people who care so much about the flag are also the same users on here who do not support the draft. Which is ironic in a way.

[QUOTE=Govna;50618470] It's the national flag. It's not cluttering anything, it's not a piece of laundry, it's not garbage that he's leaving to lay around outside, etc. [/QUOTE] completely subjective

[QUOTE=Aetna;50617791]It's besides the point, dude. He signed a leasing agreement stating he would not hang anything from his balcony. He has hung something from his balcony. He went against his word, in writing. If he wanted to be able to hang anything from the balcony, he should have chose a complex that did not have such a clause in the leasing agreement.[/QUOTE] The letter they sent him: [QUOTE]Please be advised that it has come to management’s attention that you have an American flag on the balcony/patio area. Your signed Community Policies states, [B]‘The use of balconies and patios for the purpose of storage and/or laundry drying is prohibited. Breezeways are not to be used as a patio or storage. Please do not clutter with personal belongings. Balconies and patios must be maintained in a neat, clean and attractive condition. Outdoor and/or patio furniture is welcomed on your patio or balcony only. Gasoline and other hazardous materials are not to be stored in your apartment or storage area. Retain from having dead plants, boxes or garbage on balcony/patios at any time.’[/B] We appreciate your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or the office. Thank you.[/QUOTE] By their own letter, they have no grounds for this. It doesn't say anything about hanging things from your balcony.

[QUOTE=Prism;50617821]I've always found americans' healthy obsession with their flag very cool.[/QUOTE] I've always found it baffling - they hang it everywhere for no good reason, as if people regularly forget what country they're in or something and need reminding whenever they hit up the grocery store. I can understand it outside government buildings and in coastal areas like ports, but is it really necessary for people to have a clanging flag pole erected on their front lawn in central Kansas?

[QUOTE=Strike 86;50619292]I've always found it baffling - they hang it everywhere for no good reason, as if people regularly forget what country they're in or something and need reminding whenever they hit up the grocery store. I can understand it outside government buildings and in coastal areas like ports, but is it really necessary for people to have a clanging flag pole erected on their front lawn in central Kansas?[/QUOTE] It's a pride thing, people hang the flag because they are proud of the country they live in.

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;50619139]The letter they sent him: By their own letter, they have no grounds for this. It doesn't say anything about hanging things from your balcony.[/QUOTE] Excuse me but it says right here in the quote you posted [quote]Retain from having dead plants, boxes or [b]garbage[/b] on balcony/patios at any time[/quote] They are completely within their rights to disallow any political displays on their building, any national flag being exactly that.

[QUOTE=Paramud;50619390]Excuse me but it says right here in the quote you posted They are completely within their rights to disallow any political displays on their building, any national flag being exactly that.[/QUOTE] this seems like a needlessly hostile post

My apologies if you misinterpreted my post to be hostile.

[QUOTE=Paramud;50619390]Excuse me but it says right here in the quote you posted [quote]Retain from having dead plants, boxes or [B]garbage[/B] on balcony/patios at any time[/quote] They are completely within their rights to disallow any political displays on their building, any national flag being exactly that.[/QUOTE]The symbol of our country isn't garbage, please get off that high horse you're insisting on riding everywhere.

[QUOTE=Paramud;50619427]My apologies if you misinterpreted my post to be hostile.[/QUOTE] I don't have any special reverance for the flag, but yeah dude that's a hostile shitpost to get a rise out of people Like I could care less if someone burned the flag, or hangs it upside down, wears it as underwear, or changing it to suit their profession (ie Blue Line in it for cops, chicken heads instead of stars for a chiken farmer) but like your post comes off as very hostile

[QUOTE=jackteam54;50619332]It's a pride thing, people hang the flag because they are proud of the country they live in.[/QUOTE] I've got an American flag on a clanging pole in my front yard because I'm a real big fan of living here in the states. Don't see why "everyone" here has to have such a hate boner for it.

[QUOTE=Paramud;50619427]My apologies if you misinterpreted my post to be hostile.[/QUOTE] perhaps hostile is the wrong word, but it is certainly disrespectful seemingly for no reason other than to be disrespectful.

[QUOTE=Paramud;50619390]Excuse me but it says right here in the quote you posted They are completely within their rights to disallow any political displays on their building, any national flag being exactly that.[/QUOTE] Lol implying a flag is garbage. Aren't you cool? You don't need to be an American to understand the significance behind a flag. It applies to every country's flag. What you just said is pure, edgy disrespect. Congratulations bro.

[QUOTE=bdd458;50619446]I don't have any special reverance for the flag, but yeah dude that's a hostile shitpost to get a rise out of people[/QUOTE] Correct me if I'm wrong, but a shitpost would be devoid of any actual content. While I was joking about our garbage flag, I was serious about political displays. [editline]29th June 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Jim_Riley;50619455]Lol implying a flag is garbage. Aren't you cool? You don't need to be an American to understand the significance behind a flag. It applies to every country's flag. What you just said is pure, edgy disrespect. Congratulations bro.[/QUOTE] Just because it's the symbol of a country doesn't grant it immunity from a landlord's rules. [editline]oh hamburgers[/editline] Look, I agree that it's fine to be proud of your flag, and if you own your house or your landlord is alright with it it's fine to hang it on your balcony or a pole or whatever you want. But a country's flag isn't just a symbol of the country, it's a political statement, and I can completely understand why a landlord wouldn't want tenants hanging political statements on their buildings, regardless of whether or not you agree with them.

[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;50619447]I've got an American flag on a clanging pole in my front yard because I'm a real big fan of living here in the states. Don't see why "everyone" here has to have such a hate boner for it.[/QUOTE]I'd even go as far as to say most people who proudly fly/display our flag do so more out of pride in what we're supposed to be all about than what the country actually is at any point in time. When protesters burn the flag or stomp on it I'm baffled because they [I]should[/I] be proudly waving it in defiance of whatever they're fighting against, unless they truly do hate the basic concepts of basic justice and personal liberty for all [I]no matter if we fall short of that from time to time.[/I] I think a true patriot can look at the misdeeds of the past and go, "we made mistakes, let's not ever do that again or let it happen to anyone else," and admitting our faults while praising who and what we are. [QUOTE=Paramud;50619462]Correct me if I'm wrong, but a shitpost would be devoid of any actual content. While I was joking about our garbage flag, I was serious about political displays.[/QUOTE]There was no actual content, it was just a shitty remark like this shitty remark that you're trying to disguise as something meaningful. You did at least provide something without the bullshit: [QUOTE]Just because it's the symbol of a country doesn't grant it immunity from a landlord's rules.[/QUOTE]Nope, but the landlord made no mention of the rules and instead made a remark about not wishing to offend anyone so the rules truly aren't relevant here. Even besides that, the balcony seems to be quite in order otherwise and I don't think the flag as it's displayed violates the rules at all.