Area businesses receive cards in protest of flag
By J. PHILIP BLOOMER
Article appeared in the Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette on September 27, 2001
©2001 The News-Gazette
URBANA – Storefronts, porches, cars and clothing proclaim the surge of patriotism sweeping the country in the wake of the terrorist bombings.
And Sarah Kanouse doesn't like it.
The Urbana woman has been distributing cards to downtown Urbana businesses displaying the flag saying the display makes her uneasy and less likely to shop there.
Business owners say her message makes them uneasy.
"I found it extremely offensive," said Eric Schmulbach, owner of Laser's Edge, 216 W. Main St., U. Schmulbach printed and distributed 10,000 to 12,000 flag posters for free in the days after the bombings.
His business is right next door to the Independent Media Center, a center of liberal activism with which Kanouse is associated.
Kanouse, a University of Illinois graduate student, said her intent in distributing the cards wasn't to stifle people's expression of patriotism as much as to initiate a dialogue about why they feel compelled to show the flag.
"And I have had that dialogue," she said.
In conversations with proprietors in many of the 50 or so places where she has left cards, she heard an array of reasons why people show the flag. She also found resentment toward her expression of an unorthodox position.
"What's most interesting is that if you scratch the surface of this unity about what the flag means, the unity falls apart," she said.
Schmulbach, for one, sees Kanouse's actions as an attempt to dictate the terms of patriotism.
"Because she doesn't like it, I'm not supposed to fly it. That's the way it comes across and I don't buy it," he said.
"What really annoys me is that this flag represents a country that allows them to dissent, that ensures their right to dissent, and they're telling me I can't fly it or they'll boycott," Schmulbach said. "Fine. Go ahead. There are plenty more people who won't."
The card from Kanouse states the following:
"You have chosen to display the American flag at your business. There are many reasons why you may have made this choice, but your display of the flag makes me uncomfortable and less likely to frequent your business. The flag ... means many things to many people... I am not sure the meaning you intend.
"Do you mean to mourn the victims of the recent terrorist attack?
"Do you display the flag to signify an endorsement of military retaliation?
"Do you want to communicate your pride in this country?
"Do you support a symbol despised in many parts of the world?
"Do you endorse all actions taken in the name of that flag?
"Do you consider those who criticize our government un-American?
"I do not support many of the policies of our government and I feel unwelcome in places where the American flag is displayed. I'd like to discuss with you your intentions in displaying the flag."
Down the street at Brash Flower Shop, owner Taffy DeJarnette said she was upset by the card. She was in the shop when it was delivered by Kanouse last Saturday, but Kanouse was gone by the time DeJarnette realized what the card said.
"Of course she has the right to disagree, but this goes beyond that," DeJarnette said.
"I'm upset that flying the flag implies to someone that I agree with everything our government does or even that I think we should wage this all-out war."
DeJarnette said that she actually hesitated before posting the flag in what is a liberal part of town. Her mother parked outside the shop in the family car that had a bumper sticker for the Fourth Cavalry.
"My dad was in World War II. That's why it was on there. Someone scratched 'killer' on it. That's not right. You just never know around here," she said.
DeJarnette said she laid awake two nights composing responses to Kanouse's card in her head but in the end decided there was nothing she could say that would make Kanouse reconsider her actions.
Jim Page was among those who did reply. The Urbana police lieutenant sent Kanouse a three-page e-mail.
"You claim to be uncomfortable entering places of business where the American flag is being displayed. And yet, the flag represents one thing only – it represents the unity of belief in America of your right to dissent," Page said.
End of News-Gazette article. I am unable to find this article on the News-Gazette website, otherwise would have simply included a link to their website. Instead, I made sure to include a copyright attribution to the newspaper.
My Response in 2001
My Response to the above incident was to hand-deliver a letter to the same businesses.
Below is text of my letter
To: Businesses displaying the flag in Urbana, IL
From: A first-generation immigrant
Date: October 1, 2001
Re: Displaying the Flag
Dear Business Owner and Employee: Thank you for displaying the flag.
- The lady from Urbana does not like it. I love it.
- She says flying the flag makes her uncomfortable. It makes me proud.
- She wonders why you feel compelled to show the flag. I completely understand why you do… and I fly it daily.
- She is not sure what the flag means to you. You do not have to explain it. I know in my heart exactly what it means to both you and I.
- She says she won't support a symbol despised in many parts of the world. I wholeheartedly support it.
- She does not support many of the policies of our government. I support most of them, and always exercise my right to vote to affect positive change.
- She feels unwelcome in places where the American flag is displayed. I choke up there, and feel proud to be an American.
- She may not feel any gratitude to this country. I absolutely and certainly do.
- She won't patronize your business. I will be there with bells (and flags) on.
She is entitled to her opinion, but this grateful American is entitled to his opinion as well…
- President George Bush is my President.
- And the Stars and Stripes are my flag.
- And the United States is my wonderful country, and I am glad and happy to call her my own.
I thank my lucky stars to be living here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her here today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land: God bless the USA