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Originally posted by Bytes:

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Originally posted by arcwelder76:

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Originally posted by Bytes:
This is way beyond WTF. We have gone so far off the rails that this story is even in our universe of thought

The policy sounds reasonable to me.

Our embassies overseas promoting gay rights is a good thing. Here, it's about discrimination. In many other countries, it means standing up for the right of someone not to be imprisoned or killed for their sexual orientation.

Gay people deserve the same rights as everyone else, no more, no less. Places like Iran still exist, so this is important.

Gay people DO deserve the rights as everyone else, no question about that. How many different flags and which ones would qualify do you think our embassies should fly? The rainbow flag is just one of many minority flags. Will they all get equal time? The stars and stripes pretty much stands for them all and I don't think there is much doubt about that in any of the countries you may have in mind.

I said this policy sounds reasonable to me so.... why are you asking me?

This is fully inappropriate.

There's a few ambassadors abroad that need to be summoned to the White House to be reminded who they answer to.

God says homosexuality is a sin. Don't think I'd celebrate it. Just as I wouldn't go out and proudly proclaim that I have lied in my life. That too is a sin.

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Originally posted by mbinky:
Insubordination is not tolerated in the military, it is not tolerated in the civilian sector, why the hell is it tolerated in the executive branch?

The reason is simple. They know there will never be any consequences.

This.

We should defund any organization that blatantly disobeys policy and directives. Enough with the whole “mission critical” stuff. If the can’t follow orders for something this simple, what else are they doing on their own program?

Put me in the camp that believes the American flag is the banner that recognizes the equality of the individual, and is that which proclaims the freedoms and rights of it's citizens on all its land and territories as was bought and paid for by the sacrifice of those who died for those beliefs, rights and freedoms.

I hold no bigotry, prejudice nor ill-will to any decent and kind person who also holds such beliefs. You may do as you please, and be free to choose how to live you life, with my tolerance and support of your free will.

But to those who seek to undermine, minimize, diminish, destroy or otherwise harm those things, you are my sworn enemy, by oath, which is without repentance, nor an iota of regret.

Those who choose to supplant that flag with another, yeah, you are in that last group.

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Originally posted by az4783054:
There's a few ambassadors abroad that need to be summoned to the White House to be reminded who they answer to.

Nope. there are a couple hundred people in the ambassador core that need to be shit canned effective immediately. If that involves actually closing a few embassies temporarily until actual adults can be appointed, so be it. This is utter BS and should be stamped out asap.

They want to be treated fairly yet they don’t treat people they don’t like fairly. Let them fly their flag elsewhere
http://dlvr.it/R6JYpQ

I think everyone should be treated fairly and allowed to exercise their rights.

That said, I have two additional comments.

First, with rights come responsibilities.

Second, I believe that rights should be equal, and "special" groups should not be afforded "special rights."

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Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Put me in the camp that believes the American flag is the banner that recognizes the equality of the individual, and is that which proclaims the freedoms and rights of it's citizens

And what about those persecuted people who aren't citizens? perhaps flying this flag, in countries where homosexuals aren't free to live their lives we can show them that America supports you're right to be a human being and pursue your own happiness.

The stars and bars is the banner of America, and Americans generally speaking people around the world know what that means. The rainbow flag is an international flag. Flying it directly in the face of those who'd seek to kill people for being themselves, seems pretty American to me.

Much of the career foreign service corps "came in" during the last administration. Cyclical hiring... the prior big "push" came in during the 1970s and 1980s and few of them decided to stick around much after the post-9/11 insanity that was visited upon them. The ones that came in post-2008 to replace them have cleared the FS tenuring process and are now in positions of some responsibility.

And now, the replacements need to be cut off at the friggin' knees, with the figurative corpses of their sad careers left hanging from figurative gibbets as a reminder to other Foreign Service candidates that Foreign Service Officers EXECUTE THE FOREIGN POLICY THEY'RE FRIGGIN' TOLD TO EXECUTE. Figuratively speaking, of course, because the Table of Penalties for misconduct don't currently include "Dismembering with Public Display of the Body" as a disciplinary option.

It's all bullshit. There's simply no way that anyone can convince me that this should ever have been an issue. It's asinine, it's preposterous. The fact that we're even discussing this at all is astonishing.

I cannot state it strongly enough- this should not be an issue. Partisan activism has no place in our embassies. End of story.

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The rainbow flag is an international flag.

No, what it is, is just some made-up bullshit- nothing more than childish symbolism masquerading as a profund statement, a crayon drawing from a kindergartner who wants to express their deep sentiments about world peace.

But hey, ya know, maybe they're making some progress after all, because when I see that stupid flag, I think of assholes.

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Originally posted by parabellum:
It's all bullshit. There's simply no way that anyone can convince me that this should ever have been an issue. It's asinine, it's preposterous. The fact that we're even discussing this at all is astonishing.

I cannot state it strongly enough- this should not be an issue. Partisan activisn has no place in our embassies. End of story.

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he rainbow flag is an international flag.

No, what it is, is just some made-up bullshit- nothing more childish symbolism masquerading as aprofund statement, a crayon drawing from a kindergartner who wants to express their deep sentiments about world peace.

What's any flag but made up bullshit? there's nothing mythical or supernatural about any flag, symbols only have the power we give them. Also, I'm not so sure people being left to screw whomever they choose isn't really a partisan issue, it's a freedom issue.

I don't think about this groups rights or that groups rights. we've got to remember the most important set of rights, those reserved to the individual as a human being.

We're not going to have a discussion about this, you and I, because there's nothing to discuss. In my view, your position is utterly indefensible, and the fact that you believe that this nonsense is something to stand up for is simply astonishing to me.

We shall agree to disagree. I still can't believe this stupid shit was ever an issue. Ridiculous.

There is already a flag that represents LGBT-whatever-the-fuck people, along with everybody else in this country. It's called the Stars and Stripes. (Not Bars.)

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Originally posted by parabellum:

We shall agree to disagree. I still can't believe this stupid shit was ever an issue. Ridiculous.

I had to laugh when I saw the two preceding posts, and FenderBender's signature line.

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Originally posted by V-Tail:

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Originally posted by parabellum:

We shall agree to disagree. I still can't believe this stupid shit was ever an issue. Ridiculous.

I had to laugh when I saw the two preceding posts, and FenderBender's signature line.

Nosce te ipsum

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Originally posted by FenderBender:
What's any flag but made up bullshit?

Really? The Stars and Stripes has earned the symbolism and respect we 'should' be affording it, as up until recently, its stood for freedom and an ideal most people of the world envy and unite behind. That rainbow cloth they want to fly means virtually nothing in the overall scheme of things. The confederate flag means something to a group of Americans, so should we entertain flying it over embassies?

Only one flag represents this country and its ideals, and only that flag should fly over US embassies and government buildings.

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Originally posted by FenderBender:
What's any flag but made up bullshit?

And I guess you don't know what went into realizing our USA flag. Wow.

Check that 3rd photo: looks to me as if the rainbow flag is ABOVE Old Glory. That is a punishable offense, IMO.

flashguy