WTF is wrong with America?

[odusmykal]

I live in a small town..(about 13,000) We recently lost one of our own.. A 20 year old Marine who was killed in Afghanistan.. As he returned to a neighboring cities airport, he was escorted home by a police motorcade.. Hundreds, if not thousands of members of the community lined the streets with small flags and signs to show support for his family, gratitude for his service, and respect for every U.S. soldier, past and present.. It was a proud moment for me to know my community cared so much..

But, i am ashamed of one bussiness in my town.. A few nobel citizens lined our main street with small American flags.. All was fine, except for "BANK of AMERICA." The bank manager quickly removed the flags,(3) saying it was company policy to not have any flags on their property.. The bank manager said it would offend some customers.. Not even AMERICAN FLAGS?. I could not believe it.. The name is Bank of America!! Are you kidding me?.

Today, the city named today, LANCE CPL. Christopher S. Fowlkes Day.. Every home and bussiness has their flags flying at half mast, except Bank of America.. They do not even have a flag on their pole.. Maybe i'm wrong, but this is the dumbest thing i've ever heard of..

[InTheHole]

The title should say,

"WTF is wrong with Bank of America"

[SamsNCharge99]

The title should say, "WTF is wrong with Bank of America"

[Willie Bee]

Sounds like this is old news, odus...

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090918/ARTICLES/909189982/1083/ARTICLES?Title=Bank-of-America-apologizes-for-removing-flags

[odusmykal]

Thanks for the article WB, but there is still no flag on their pole..

[pokernut9999]

Not old news at all Willie Just happened this week as he is being buried today.

I live in the area and it has pissed a lot of people off. It is not really about Bank of America but really just one stupid ass employee that will probably have a tough time showing her face around town anymore.

[pavyracer]

Nothing wrong with having plenty of flags honoring american fallen heroes. But would it have made any difference if the streets were lined up with 798 flags instead of 852?

[TexansFan]

I believe his point wasn't the amount of flags being flown but the reason why BOA wouldn't fly one.

[pokernut9999]

Nothing wrong with having plenty of flags honoring american fallen heroes. But would it have made any difference if the streets were lined up with 798 flags instead of 852?

Not about how many flags were out , but why the bank manager picked up the flags on their property twice after they were put out. It was seen as a sign of disrespect.

[odusmykal]

Very unpatriotic to say the least.. It was not about the number of flags, but more about a whole community coming togeather minus one bussiness right in the middle.. To say an american flag would offend some customers is absolutely rediculous..

[DrStale]

Freedom of speech? People and/or businesses can do what they want? Crazy talk

I'm not a big fan of patriotism anyway, as a global community patriotism is much more divisive than it is inclusive, but even if you are patriotic there are more effective ways to show your support to the country than sticking a flag out. What percentage of those "patriotic" people who put out flags dont even know who their state representative is? Real patriotism comes with knowledge and work, not a piece of cloth on a stick.

I definitely give my gratitude to the troops though.

[TexansFan]

Freedom of speech? People and/or businesses can do what they want? Crazy talk

I'm not a big fan of patriotism anyway, as a global community patriotism is much more divisive than it is inclusive, but even if you are patriotic there are more effective ways to show your support to the country than sticking a flag out. What percentage of those "patriotic" people who put out flags dont even know who their state representative is? Real patriotism comes with knowledge and work, not a piece of cloth on a stick.

I definitely give my gratitude to the troops though.

Of course people and businesses can do what they want. The point is BOA more than likely did this for business reasons, maybe not to offend any customers. This political correctness is getting ridiculous imo.

BOA probably won't put out a Christmas tree either so not to offend anyone. Give me a break.

[pavyracer]

But if the 2 flags that were removed from BoA property were placed next door to a property that allowed them wouldn't the fallen soldier be honored equally?

[CaneDawg]

i will not bank there

[pokernut9999]

But if the 2 flags that were removed from BoA property were placed next door to a property that allowed them wouldn't the fallen soldier be honored equally?

You just do not get it Pavy

[pavyracer]

i will not bank there

I don't bank there either but this is like saying lets change the french fries to freedom fries because france doesn't send troops to Iraq.

[TexansFan]

But if the 2 flags that were removed from BoA property were placed next door to a property that allowed them wouldn't the fallen soldier be honored equally?

Again, I think you're missing the point. It isn't about the number of flags flying but the reason why BOA refused to fly one. Of course, as a business, BOA has the right to make their own policies and do as they see fit.

I'm just not getting why flying a U.S. flag in an American city to honor a fallen soldier would upset a customer, which imo is what this is all about.

[pokernut9999]

Sure and if you fail to pull off the side of the road during a funeral procession it will be OK if the next car pulls over for you.

[DrStale]

Of course people and businesses can do what they want. The point is BOA more than likely did this for business reasons, maybe not to offend any customers. This political correctness is getting ridiculous imo. BOA probably won't put out a Christmas tree either so not to offend anyone. Give me a break.

I think its worse that they are singled out for not doing what everyone else is doing. Suddenly they're evil because they're not putting out American flags.

[pokernut9999]

It is not about flying a flag !!!!!

Flags were put out along the street. The bank manager pulled up the ones on their property and when someone went back and put flags down again the manager went and pulled them up a second time.

[TexansFan]

I think its worse that they are singled out for not doing what everyone else is doing. Suddenly they're evil because they're not putting out American flags.

What's the big deal? Aren't they servicing U.S. customers and receiving money from the U.S. gov't? Like I said, political correctness is getting out of control in this country.

Just my opinion...

[DrStale]

Irony: Bank exercises American freedom that this soldier died for, and is thus shunned by "patriots"

[pavyracer]

Irony: Bank exercises American freedom that this soldier died for, and is thus shunned by "patriots"

[odusmykal]

U.S. government gives them millions in bailout money to even allow them to keep their doors open, but then they shun a soldier who faught for that government.. Because they feel it may offend 0.001% of their customers? Nonsense..

[pokernut9999]

It has nothing to do with the bank , it was an employee that did not interpet the banks policy !!!

Amazing how no one in this thread has a clue what the story is even about

[teaserpleaser]

What's the big deal? Aren't they servicing U.S. customers and receiving money from the U.S. gov't? Like I said, political correctness is getting out of control in this country.

Just my opinion...

It could always be worse http://www.city-data.com/forum/illeg...replace-2.html notice the picture half way down the page thats a US post office where old glory has been replaced with the mexican flag.

[themajormt]

I am not sure what I would have done if I saw a Mexican flag hanging from my local post office. I am not passionate about the illegal debate at all but I am passionate about blatant disrespect on our own soil. I wouldve went postal I think...

[DrStale]

It has nothing to do with the bank , it was an employee that did not interpet the banks policy !!! Amazing how no one in this thread has a clue what the story is even about

*sigh* Of course Bank of America said that after the shitstorm that ensued. You blame an employee and one guy takes the fall for the entire corporation.

Also, the title of the thread is "WTF is wrong with America?" Seems pretty overblown for the thread starter do attack one guy like that.

[BestPlay2day]

I bet it's more the bank manager following the BOA policies to the letter and not using common sense. Probably took one of those bullshit diversity classes and felt this could offend a small group of people for some reason. Hope people will pull their money out of that branch and let them know why they are taking their money and business elsewhere, this is the only action that BOA would notice and care about.

[pokernut9999]

*sigh* Of course Bank of America said that after the shitstorm that ensued. You blame an employee and one guy takes the fall for the entire corporation.

Also, the title of the thread is "WTF is wrong with America?" Seems pretty overblown for the thread starter do attack one guy like that.

Like I said no one has a clue here
It was a woman not a guy.
It was not about the bank not flying a flag.

[pokernut9999]

I bet it's more the bank manager following the BOA policies to the letter and not using common sense. Probably took one of those bullshit diversity classes and felt this could offend a small group of people for some reason. Hope people will pull their money out of that branch and let them know why they are taking their money and business elsewhere, this is the only action that BOA would notice and care about.

You got it

[DrStale]

Like I said no one has a clue here It was a woman not a guy. It was not about the bank not flying a flag.

Oh ok, it was a woman, how exactly does that change anything I said? You were right about one thing, there are plenty of clueless people in this thread. If Bank of America had the balls to own up and say "yeah we did it cuz its against out policy" I'd probly open an account there for having convictions.

[reno cool]

*sigh* Of course Bank of America said that after the shitstorm that ensued. You blame an employee and one guy takes the fall for the entire corporation.

Also, the title of the thread is "WTF is wrong with America?" Seems pretty overblown for the thread starter do attack one guy like that.

yep sounds like a typical pr move. I say ban all flags. If you can't play nice you get no flags at all.