TIGARD — Police are on the alert after red flags with swastikas have been spotted flying from utility poles along Oregon 217, on Southwest Hall Boulevard and along Oregon 99W recently. In addition, anti-Semitic fliers purporting to be from “National Socialist Workers” have been left at a couple of homes on Southwest Woodcrest Avenue. Dozens more fliers with a large black swastikas were found thrown in the street…. “At this point, we don’t have any suspects,” said Jim Wolf, Tigard police spokesman. “But officers are keeping an eye out. And we are working with residents and business owners, too.”…. The first flag was found on Feb. 26, flying from a utility pole along Oregon 217 near the 72nd Avenue exit. A red helium balloon and fishing line was used to haul the flag aloft. Similar flag-and-balloon arrangements were found Feb. 28 on Oregon 217 near the Interstate 5 junction and on Hall Boulevard near 99W.
Every morning I drive south down Hwy 217 and take the 72nd Avenue exit on my way to work, which is about 1/3 mile from the exit. You’d think I’d remember seeing something like this; it’s not every day someone graces your route to work with an airborne Nazi flag, but it would appear that the caffeine hadn’t done it’s thing yet. I probably drove right past both of the flags at 217 & 72nd Avenue and 217 & I-5, because they’re less than a half-mile from one another.
I’m not about to condone this sort of thing, but I do have to admire the creativity involved in these gestures…especially since there’s no apparent motive evident. While I’d imagine that a lot of good, God-fearing Christians Americans are fouling their diapers as they indulge themselves in paroxysms of righteous fury, this, believe it or not, is free, Constitutionally protected speech. The worst thing the perpetrator(s) could be charged with is littering…presumably once the helium leaks out of the balloon and everything hits terra firma. Yeah, I know; if I’ve said it once, I’ve probably said it a thousand times: free speech really can be offensive speech. And you know what? It doesn’t matter if you, me, or everyone and his brother are offended by this airborne endorsement of National Socialism. It’s still free speech. It may be childish, offensive, or any other adjective you might choose to attach to it, but it’s still protected by the Constitution.
One would have to think that whoever is responsible for the airborne flags probably has a brilliant future ahead of them in viral marketing, no??
