My friend Doug Lambert over at GraniteGrok found this interesting story in yesterday’s Citizen of Laconia. It is posted under the name Dope of the Week Award. 

The story was picked up by The Associated Press and says:

“A Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, man is suing the town over a downtown display of American flags.

The town has about 100 U.S. flags affixed to downtown utility poles as a way to show support for American troops fighting in Iraq. But Claude Roessiger claims the Bush administration's foreign policy has turned the flag into a symbol of what he calls "in-your-face, with-me-or-against-me patriotism."

In his lawsuit filed Carroll County Superior Court, Roessiger says the display is excessive, unusual and unlawful.

Town officials say they're perplexed by the argument. They note that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the flag does not promote one particular policy or philosophy.”

What is really amazing to me is that the Claude Roessiger is the Chairman of Pak 2000, which is a company that makes bags. They are located in Mirror Lake, NH on Route 109. I have also found out that one of their customers is the United States Federal Reserve. 

It makes such good business sense to tell your customer that you can’t stand them or what they stand for. I wonder if any of our elected officials know they are doing business with someone like this.

I know the argument that I am about to hear… 

We have Freedom of Speech in this country!!!

Well all I have to say is that Freedom of Speech does not protect you from accountability or criticism for WHAT YOU SAY. That is my Free Speech at work.