now under fire
Reminders of troops in Iraq
causing massive rift in town
Posted: November 11, 2003
5:28 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Yellow ribbons symbolizing troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan have divided a Maine town holding a Veterans Day parade for the first time in 60 years.
Local veterans in South Portland want the ribbons – which are attached to utility poles along the parade route – to stay long after the event is over. Opponents, however, contend they are a political symbol of support for President Bush, not just American troops, the Portland, Maine, Press Herald reported.
The conflict has brought in the Maine Civil Liberties Union, which contends if the ribbons are allowed, other views must be permitted as well.
City Attorney Mary Kahl agrees, arguing one of the rights the 1,000 area veterans fought to protect is free speech, the paper said.
Resident Kathy Cabana, speaking at a city meeting, said she "was offended by people saying people against yellow ribbons were not patriotic."
The debate began in August when a mother whose son is fighting in Iraq, Valorie Swiger, was told by city officials to remove yellow ribbons she tied to public buildings and utility poles around the city, the Press Herald reported.
City council members pointed out an ordinance prohibits such items from being attached to city property on the public right of way.
A group of citizens, however, who later were joined by veterans groups, lobbied to have them restored, leading to a contentious debate with city officials.
"Every one of those ribbons represents a soldier to me," said Swiger, according to the South Portland paper. "It doesn't represent a Republican. It doesn't represent a Democrat."
Now the council apparently is willing to allow the ribbons to remain after the parade, but the debate has shifted to whether other viewpoints will be allowed as well.
Attorney Kahl explained to the Press Herald the First Amendment forbids any ordinance that controls the content of what is posted on public property.
The only control the city has is over where items are posted, their size and how long they can stay up, she said.
A proposed ordinance would allow "nationally recognized symbols of support for America and Americans."
This, however, would preclude ribbons commonly used to support causes such as AIDS awareness and breast-cancer prevention.
The MCLU contends any such measure limiting what can be posted will be struck down in court. The group says it wants to ensure all points of view, including unpopular ones, can be expressed.
"We seem to have to learn this lesson again and again," said Louise Roback, the organization's executive director, according to the Press Herald.
Parade organizer Roger Sabourin, a Vietnam veteran, contends a yellow ribbon is not a cause.
"It is about service and sacrifice," he told the paper.
While the city debates the issue, the ribbons will remain on display.
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