Bradford Street Residents are Owed an Apology

By TOM DUGGAN
PAYING ATTENTION

Last week someone approached me and demanded that they tattoo an American flag on my forehead. Though this demand was unreasonable, I was afraid to object because a group of people on Main Street said I would be unpatriotic if I didn’t accept the location of the flag. We all know the flag stands for freedom and anyone would be proud to have an American flag tattooed to their forehead, right? It symbolizes everything our veterans have fought for. It means so much to so many people. So how could I object? Who could be against the flag, right? Even if its location is a severe inconvenience?

This may sound absurd, but this is really the argument presented to the Bradford Street residents who have complained about placing an American flag on a water tower in their neighborhood. They do not object because it is a flag. They are not un-American leftists who are against the power structure of our nation. They are good and decent people who have been frustrated by the lack of effort made by the town to hear their grievances.

Their concerns are about the increase in traffic and the question of whether the tower will be properly maintained. Whether those concerns are valid or not, they deserve the respect and attention by town officials to at least take them seriously. In the name of patriotism, however, their objections have been ignored by those who would make an all too easy decision of bowing to the hysteria of making this an issue about patriotism and the flag.

As the grandson of a WWII veteran who marched on Corregador and the son of a slain police officer, I would challenge anyone to find another person more patriotic than an I am. Patriotism is as much a part of my life (even prior to September 11th) as drinking water or reading the daily paper. And I find it distasteful that I have to inoculate myself against future charges of being unpatriotic or against “the flag” as a preface to my defense of the Bradford Street residents. Yet, I feel the need given the tone of this debate.

Patriotism has nothing to do with flying a flag. It has nothing to do with singing the national anthem or reciting the pledge of allegiance. Patriotism is the feeling of pride and the passion we have for what those symbols represent. It is promoting and abiding by the philosophy of capitalism, free speech, free expression and a Constitutional Republic which protects those freedoms as the rights of all men.

Patriotism is taking part in the democratic process of voting on election day. An exercise that only 9% of registered voters participated in last month. Am I saying that those who did not vote are unpatriotic? You bet I am. Much more so than the residents who pay taxes and are concerned about how their neighborhood will change by highlighting the water tower at a time when anything visible from the air may be a target for terrorists or lunatics.

Part of what makes this country so great is the philosophy of local control and that local people know what is best for their town, or on a larger scale their neighborhood. If this was as simple as patriotism or flag waving I would be the first person on the planet to advocate painting a flag on the tower. I too, have been personally affected by the sacrifices my family has made in defense of the country. I too have been personally affected by the attacks of September 11th. But it’s not about the flag. It’s about the wishes and concerns of the people who live there. Even if we disagree with their objections.

Then there is the wonderfully patriotic individual who vandalized the home of selectman Susan Haltmaier because she sided with her constituents on Bradford Street. Haltmaier not only voted on election day but she took part in the democratic process in an even more honorable manner by becoming a candidate and now serving as an elected official. In the name of defending the flag, her free speech was attacked by an act of violence. Is this what the flag is all about? Is this what patriotism means, threatening others who do not share the view or manner in which patriotism should be shown?

Those who hurl pathetic allegations against residents who only want to protect their neighborhood should be ashamed of themselves. We should be able to agree to disagree about the location of the flag without lowering ourselves to tactics used by the Nazis in WWII. That’s not patriotism, that’s fascism. In a democratic society, we work to resolve situations like this by working together, not pitting people against each other over symbolism. We are doing a grave disservice to democracy if we allow the opinions of others to be silenced in the name of defending free speech.

I love the flag as much (if not more) than anyone. I respect the veterans who served and those who are currently serving. The debt we owe them for their efforts can never be repaid by forcing others to accept our idea of how to display the love we feel for our country. The residents of Bradford Street may or may not be right about the affect this flag will have on their neighborhood. At least we should respect their views without demonizing their motives.

America is the greatest country in the world (in part) because we have a system of settling domestic disputes in a fair and democratic manner. You wouldn’t want someone to demand that you tattoo a flag on your forehead and then call you unpatriotic if you objected. But that’s what has happened here on Bradford Street. Quite frankly, I thought we were better than that. And I think the residents of Bradford Street are owed an apology.

Tom Duggan hosts the Paying Attention! Radio program on WCCM every Saturday afternoon from noon to 2 p.m. and the Paying Attention! television program on Channel 8 cable access in Andover, North Andover, Lawrence and Methuen.

Watch MetroWest Daily News managing editor Joe Dwinell's live report on WB-56 every Thursday and Friday at 7:45 a.m.

  email this story to a friend