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Elected official refuses Pledge Selectman: 'Every time I see the flag, I can picture George Bush wearing it as a toga'
A town official in a Boston suburb opposed to the war in Iraq has created a local uproar by refusing to give the Pledge of Allegiance at a recent meeting of elected officials.
Selectman Regina Burke of Hull, Mass., sat through the Pledge last week, angering some residents and fellow boardmembers.
"It's a disgrace,'' Selectman Leonard Hersch told the Patriot-Ledger of Quincy. "You don't do that when you're sitting as a selectman.''
According to the paper, Burke said during the meeting that she supports American troops in action, just not the decision by President Bush to use military force.
"Every time I see the flag, I can picture George Bush wearing it as a toga, and I don't know what it stands for anymore other than for his particular financial group and followers,'' Burke said when she announced that she would not stand for the Pledge.
Burke reportedly referred to the Bush presidency as "illegitimate," claiming Bush is using the executive office to line the pockets of "big business."
While several town officials affirmed Burke's right to free speech, they objected to her using the meeting of selectmen as a forum for her personal opinions.
"It was an improper use of her position,'' Richard Cleverly, a former member of the town's war-memorial commission told the Patriot-Ledger. "She has a right to say it, but not when she's representing the people of the town.''
"I don't approve of her decision," said Selectman Jerry McLaughlin, an Army veteran. "But I will defend hers and anyone else's right in a free society to make their own decisions and feel free from persecution.''
However McLaughlin disagreed with Burke about the meaning of the U.S. flag.
"It doesn't represent one policy or one president," he told the paper. "It represents 280 million Americans.''
Selectman Thomas Burns expressed concern that people are taking Burke's comments out of context, saying her actions were in protest of the president's policies, not to show disrespect for the sacrifices of the nation's Armed Forces.
"She's a good person, but her timing was not the best, because this is going to be misinterpreted,'' Burns told the paper. "It's an unfortunate event to come at this stage.''
As WorldNetDaily reported, the town of Fieldsboro, N.J., was the center of attention over the weekend as many waved American flags, shouted patriotic slogans and sang songs to protest the Democrat council's decision to ban yellow ribbons on municipal property there.
The decision to ban the ribbons was supported by Mayor Edward ''Buddy'' Tyler, but caused an uproar with residents who want to honor U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. Many residents have called for the mayor's resignation.
Elected official refuses Pledge Selectman: 'Every time I see the flag, I can picture George Bush wearing it as a toga'
A town official in a Boston suburb opposed to the war in Iraq has created a local uproar by refusing to give the Pledge of Allegiance at a recent meeting of elected officials.
Selectman Regina Burke of Hull, Mass., sat through the Pledge last week, angering some residents and fellow boardmembers.
"It's a disgrace,'' Selectman Leonard Hersch told the Patriot-Ledger of Quincy. "You don't do that when you're sitting as a selectman.''
According to the paper, Burke said during the meeting that she supports American troops in action, just not the decision by President Bush to use military force.
"Every time I see the flag, I can picture George Bush wearing it as a toga, and I don't know what it stands for anymore other than for his particular financial group and followers,'' Burke said when she announced that she would not stand for the Pledge.
Burke reportedly referred to the Bush presidency as "illegitimate," claiming Bush is using the executive office to line the pockets of "big business."
While several town officials affirmed Burke's right to free speech, they objected to her using the meeting of selectmen as a forum for her personal opinions.
"It was an improper use of her position,'' Richard Cleverly, a former member of the town's war-memorial commission told the Patriot-Ledger. "She has a right to say it, but not when she's representing the people of the town.''
"I don't approve of her decision," said Selectman Jerry McLaughlin, an Army veteran. "But I will defend hers and anyone else's right in a free society to make their own decisions and feel free from persecution.''
However McLaughlin disagreed with Burke about the meaning of the U.S. flag.
"It doesn't represent one policy or one president," he told the paper. "It represents 280 million Americans.''
Selectman Thomas Burns expressed concern that people are taking Burke's comments out of context, saying her actions were in protest of the president's policies, not to show disrespect for the sacrifices of the nation's Armed Forces.
"She's a good person, but her timing was not the best, because this is going to be misinterpreted,'' Burns told the paper. "It's an unfortunate event to come at this stage.''
As WorldNetDaily reported, the town of Fieldsboro, N.J., was the center of attention over the weekend as many waved American flags, shouted patriotic slogans and sang songs to protest the Democrat council's decision to ban yellow ribbons on municipal property there.
The decision to ban the ribbons was supported by Mayor Edward ''Buddy'' Tyler, but caused an uproar with residents who want to honor U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. Many residents have called for the mayor's resignation.
) to turn my personal opinion into an official pronouncement. 