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NY: New Law Protects Flag Wearers

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited September 2002 in General Discussion
NEW LAW PROTECTS FLAG WEARERS

By KENNETH LOVETT



September 23, 2002 -- ALBANY - A new state law prohibits companies from taking action against employees showing their patriotism by displaying the American flag.
The Legislature deemed the bill necessary after Cablevision-owned News 12 on Long Island prohibited its on-air staff from wearing flag pins following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"It's silly to have to do a bill like this . . . but when you have people who take these kinds of positions, especially in a country that prides itself on freedom of expression, there's almost no choice," said Senate bill sponsor Guy Velella (R-Bronx).

"It's almost as ridiculous as not giving us the Yankees," Velella added, alluding to Cablevision's decision not to carry the YES Network.

News 12 officials argued at the time that not allowing its staff to wear the flag pins on camera was an issue of a news operation remaining objective as it covered an international story.

While disagreeing with the decision, Cablevision corporate officials did not step in to overturn it.

"We addressed that issue last fall and moved on," a Cablevision official said.

The new law makes it an unfair labor practice to discipline or dismiss an employee for displaying or wearing the American flag, "provided such display physically does not substantially or materially interfere with the employee's job duties."

A company in violation can face a fine up to $2,000.

The law also allows employees to bring civil action for damages in court.

Gov. Pataki signed the bill into law last week.

http://nypost.com/news/regionalnews/57646.htm




"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Comments

  • pikeal1pikeal1 Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November -1
    Its amazing that in a country like this we have had to go to such extremes just to allow the wearing of a damn pin.

    Is new york supposed to break off and float away too?
  • TrinityScrimshawTrinityScrimshaw Member Posts: 9,350 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's sad, but several States have had to make this law recently to protect those who wanted to show their respect & pride for our country.

    Trinity +++

    "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."(Proverbs 22:6)
  • muleymuley Member Posts: 1,583 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What do you bet that while on camera, some of these asinine, treasonous companies will try to distort a pin with one of those little blurry things that they use to keep peoples identities hidden.......also, if they are so afraid of offending some people, what of the hundreds of thousands of NORMAL AMERICANS that they offend every day by doing things like this? People that were born here, work here, die here and love this country and remember how great it use to be before this PC crap took over. To hell with the alien SOBs who come here to enjoy the fruits of this land and then immediately try to change our culture to match the cesspool from which they fled. If they are offended by our patriotism, let them go back where they came from.
    Hmmm, pardon my short temper this morning folks, but I haven't had my coffee yet.

    muley

    ****I love the smell of Hoppes #9 in the morning****
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually, I can remember in the 60s when the hippies were hassled for supposedly disrespecting the American flag by wearing it in various ways -- a shirt, a headband, whatever. In fact, that was probably about the first time they made an American flag tie, and I remember wearing mine one night and wondering if the cops would complain. At that time it was NOT considered appropriate to encorporate the American flag into clothing, except as a patch or maybe a pin.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,840 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Muley,
    Huh? Where are you getting this anti-immigrant stance from on this flag pin issue? I'm lost.......I didn't see anything about the company being ran by furriners......

    Damn those furriners......moving here for a better life! Bastidges!

    Merc (Who wonders which people on this board are 100% Native Indians, and who also thanks his great-grandparents for coming here from Ireland and Germany)





    NO! You may not have my guns! Now go crawl back into your hole!

    ****************************************

    "Tolerating things you may not necessarily like is part of being free" - Larry Flynt
  • PalantirionPalantirion Member Posts: 144 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If news is to be broadcast to other countries, it would be wise for anchormen NOT to wear American flag pins. We're none too popular out there nowadays and as wrong as other countrys' perceptions of the US might be, it doesn't help to have our news media appearing more biased than necessary.

    I'm not saying I disagree with the new law, I'm VERY glad to hear it, but in this one specific context it could do more harm than good to appear patriotic.

    www.ebsart.com
    "Live by the three 'R's: Respect, Responsibility and Residuals."
  • pikeal1pikeal1 Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November -1
    Muley...unfortunately most of the people who rally in the streets and complain about the flag being used as a symbol of freedom etc are americans.
  • muleymuley Member Posts: 1,583 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You guys are probably right in scolding me. Told you I hadn't had my coffee yet!!

    muley

    ****I love the smell of Hoppes #9 in the morning****
  • alledanalledan Member Posts: 19,541
    edited November -1
    Those freaking companies have forgotten the reason why they are allowed to operate and make money hand over fist-COURTESY OF THE RED,WHITE AND BLUE!

    IF SOME OF THOSE "COMPANIES ARE OWNED BY RAGHEADS OR THE LIKE,OR FOREIGN INVESTORS HAVE INTEREST IN THEM AND THEY DON'T LIKE OUR COUNTRY OR FLAG THEN THEY CAN TAKE A FLYING LIP LOCK ON MY #####!!!!

    PATIENCE IS : THE ABILITY TO IDLE YOUR MOTOR WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE STRIPPING YOUR GEARS..

    Edited by - alledan on 09/25/2002 23:00:07
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