WAR: Vandals Torch 20 U.S. Flags, Car

Less than twenty-four hours after Army PFC Timothy Hines Jr. was buried, vandals removed about twenty flags from the yard of the soldier's parents-in-law, piled them beneath one of their cars and set them afire. Police doubt that the act was random and believe that the family was targeted. Neighbors, family and friends replaced the twenty flags with two hundred flags. PFC Hines left a pregnant wife and a 2 year-old-daughter.



I doubt that this was random vandalism, too. Whoever did this, knew what they were doing. Now that flag burning is protected speech, people don't burn flags without having something to say. That anyone would target the grieving family of a fallen soldier makes such an act even more egregious. Just when you think that you've seen the absolute depths of cowardice, someone takes takes cowardice to a new low. I hope they find those responsible. There really isn't a punishment severe enough for such a despicable act.

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[edit on 2005/7/25 by GradyPhilpott]

Isn't it bad enought that the soldier lost his life? But these lunatics go and disgrace him by burning flags and the car of loved ones. I honestly don't think that this is an acceptable act. The saddest thing is they probably can't be punished for much, mostly just arson and vandalism.

My condolences go out to the family of the departed soldier. I also wish the police luck in finding the vermin behind this unforgivable act.

[edit on 7/25/2005 by cyberdude78]

This is disgusting behavior. And I'm glad the flags were increased by an order of magnitude. You can't stop honor.

Y'all are talking like you want to castrate and quarter the perp!

It's not that bad of a crime, nobody got hurt. That's the important thing.

I hope they find whoever is responsible and see that justice is done. I'd say a decade in county is an acceptable punishment for vandalism, reckless endangerment, destruction of private property, causing emotional distress, arson, and creating a drain on public resources (fire dept. etc.).

Don't allow patriotism to cloud your judgement. This person was obviously acting without regard for the wellbeing of their fellow citizens, and should be punished severely, however, if it was up to some folks this criminal would be shot in the public square. I think that's a bit much.

Like I said, 10 years in lock-up will provide the idiot with plenty of time for reflection. Maybe when they get out they will be able to respect their community and their fellow citizens.

10 years? Rapists and murderers dont even get that.

Dont let emotion get you carried away, yeah it was a #ty thing to do but as crimes go, it was nothing.

It was a tacky thing to have the flags there anyway.

It was a terrible act, no question, but it sounds like there was some kind of personal grudge that someone had against the family, and not necessarily anything to do with the deceased service in Iraq.

Horrible display no matter how you look at it......the vandals acted with malicious intent and without regard for their fellow citizens.

The use of the American flag is immaterial, in my opinion. It's a hotpoint subject nowadays and it's emphasis in this case only detracts from the true crime......the dishonoring of a grieving family.

If you think about it, they were displaying the flag of the institution that caused the soldier to be killed...

Isn't that bad taste?

I'm pretty sure that's what the flag burners were thinking, if it wasn't something personal with the family.

Horrible act, the people responsible should be face at least 5 years prison time, a public apology to the family and psychiatric help.

---

Originally posted by Flyer
It was a tacky thing to have the flags there anyway.

I disagree, showing the flag of your country is a sign of your support and respect for it. At least thats how I see it.

Vorta

10 years? Rapists and murderers dont even get that.

Dont let emotion get you carried away, yeah it was a #ty thing to do but as crimes go, it was nothing.

It was a tacky thing to have the flags there anyway.

Convicted rapists and murderers should get life.

I'm not getting carried away, I think it's a responsible sentence all things considered. The asshat responsible destroyed private property by setting it on fire, and by doing so, put lives at risk. He also wasted the time and energy of the fire department, not to mention put THEIR lives at risk.

He destroyed the woman's car, which can be devastating, especially for people living on military pay.

I think ten years is reasonable, then again, I believe that if you can't conduct yourself in a civilized manner, you don't belong in society.

Originally posted by Flyer
10 years? Rapists and murderers dont even get that.

Dont let emotion get you carried away, yeah it was a #ty thing to do but as crimes go, it was nothing.

It was a tacky thing to have the flags there anyway.

Flash bulliten, Jack; rapists and murderers do get more than ten years in my neck of the woods, and they should in yours, too.

Every morning, I wake up and thank God that I am not a pukish, spineless coward such as the miserable maggot who did that.

You can see it as a stone creating a ripple in the water, or as Karma, but the slime that did that will see it come back.

TC
You got that right.

"In the private chambers of the soul, the guilty party is identified, and the accusing finger there is not legend, but consequence, not fantasy, but the truth. People pay for what they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it simply: by the lives they lead."
- James Baldwin

I think the above quote speaks volumes.

Originally posted by MemoryShock
Horrible display no matter how you look at it......the vandals acted with malicious intent and without regard for their fellow citizens.

The use of the American flag is immaterial, in my opinion. It's a hotpoint subject nowadays and it's emphasis in this case only detracts from the true crime......the dishonoring of a grieving family.

WADR, perhaps a view of this site would show exactly what the flag means...
www.bacausa.com...

Some of us still believe in the colors.

Another news flash, members of BACA (Alabama chapter) recently "escorted" a child abuse rape victim to court in Iuka MS, and the perp was sentenced to life. In no way should this merit a mere slap on the wrist after all the sacrifces that had been made!

[edit on 26-7-2005 by keybored]

8th Amendment to the Constitution - Look it up!

The punishment must fit the crime.

The ultimate sacrifice for your country should make this heinous act one of terrorism then. It was felt by ALL those who serve. Unless of course you'd rather just throw morale out the window, let the vets come back to be spit on again I guess. Hell, we might as well strip them of rank and honor upon return to protect them. Insert emphatic NO here, I still think 8th amendment or not, throw the book at the perps. This kind of thing shouldn't be encouraged.

Its so sad....

What has happened to our country?
What have they done to us that we can turn on each other like this?

I support the burning of flags but not like this.
No not like this this act was inexcusable and in my opinion is not supported under free speach in the same way that burning a cross on someone's lawn is not permitted.

This isn't protest this an act of aggression commited against a grieving family for no reason other then partisan hatred. Its people like these thugs who give the rest of us on the left a bad name.

Its not the only place: I'm a security officer in a shopping mall here in the UK. To comemorate 60th anniversary of VJ day the outside perimeter of the mall we put up 12 huge, 8 foot Union Jack Flags. One night a bunch of Asian youths went around tearing them down and tore them up.

We got them all on CCTV and gave chase to them. We reported it to the Police as a racially motivated attack. I tell ya those nasy individuals was lucky we didnt catch them because a good kicking would have followed and sod the law.

We had a lot of support from locals equally outraged at the desicration of our national flags. There is an increase in tentions between the White/ Christian population and the Asian Immigant population in the UK. Many people i spoke to do feel that we cant label all asians as trouble, but after 7/7 bombings and the other insidents many people feel than none of them can be trusted and that our Goverment made a mistake letting them settle here in the UK because they make no effort to settle.

Even our more liberal newspapers and thinkers are beginning to question UK's tolerance and muti-culture policy because its not working.

Oddly enough I knew the Wessel's when I lived and worked Cincinnati. My heart goes out to their family!

the Partisanistas have been spending so much time before, during, and after the elections building hatred and forcing division to get their power players in office, that it's no surprise the weaker minded elements turn to violence.

Now with the Media finding it can't rule the people while government is in the way, it has worked even harder to demonize the government's enforcement arm, the military. Make them someone to hate and stand back and let the sick people do your dirty wor while claiming to be "fair", and "tolerant" and uninvolved.

I'm surprised all this manufactured partisan hatred hasn't resulted in a Oswald style assasination attempt on the President.

United, we stand, divided we fall. The Media understands that, the Partisanistas understand it, the terrorists and thugs understand it. This sort of evil perpetuates the division.

And if I see another massive "toleration" campaign prominently featuring Muslims if an Islamic connection is found to this, I'm gonna puke. The same posters, after every Muslim claimed bombing. Funny they don't show up after falsified Getmo claims, eh?