<p>We'll teach you to have an <a href="http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110417/OKEMOS01/104170358/Meridian-Township-s-Zoning-Board-rules-tire-store-s-American-Flag-too-large">oversized symbol of America</a>, residents and business of Meridian Township:</p>
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<p>The township's zoning board of appeals voted 5-0 last Wednesday to reject Belle Tire's request for a variance to fly an American flag larger than the 35 square feet permitted by the township.</p>
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<p>I'm glad I bought my tires at Belle Tire. I didn't do it because they had a big flag - I did for that old-fashioned capitalist reason that they has the best price - but I'm all for business that proudly display the symbol of America.</p>
<p>This is what Haslett resident Chitra Smith &quot;thinks&quot;, and I use the term loosely:<br />
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<blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;&quot;Hyper-commercialism is trying to get its nose under the tent by wrapping itself in the flag. Not quite desecration, but truly abuse of a hallowed national symbol.&quot;<br />
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<p>You can picture the &quot;Hope and change&quot; and &quot;Coexist&quot; bumper stickers on her car, can't you?</p>
<p>I'm not sure I've ever thought that seeing a big flag at a car dealership was abuse of a national symbol. Perhaps she saw that term when she reads her Saul Alinsky book and thought it would sound good to a reporter. I wonder what other terms she uses to denigrate the crass bourgeoisie.</p>
<p>[Meridian Township assistant planner Martha ] Wyatt said Belle Tire was asked to either put up a 5 -foot by 7-foot flag, or ask for a variance from the zoning board of appeals. The township has allowed the larger flag to fly until the zoning board of appeals decided the matter last Wednesday.</p>
<p>That's big of them. In their defense, Meridian Township does have a lot of Democrats, and Democrats are usually easily offended by any sign of the American way of life, like the American flag or cars that run on gasoline or disagreeing with a president for driving the country into the ground.</p>
<p>On the bright side, at least Belle Tire is being &quot;allowed&quot; to display an American flag, unlike the 13-year old in California that put a flag on his bicycle, and was <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/calif-school-orders-boy-to-remove-american-flag-from-bike/">told by the school to remove it</a>. The flag apparently causes racial tension in California. So it could be worse - we could live in California.<br />
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