Hampshire College’s decision to temporarily remove the American flag on its campus has drawn a lot of criticism from veterans who argue that the action dishonors their service.
One two-tour Northampton vet, however, said he has burned flags before out of frustration at the government.
Jason Smith, 35, said he’s not sure if he’d do it again, but the prospect of Donald Trump taking that right away is upsetting.
“If you’re going to change things, that’s fine,” Smith said of the president-elect. “But don’t tell me how to live my life.”
Controversy that spread after a flag was found burned on the Hampshire College campus on Veterans Day morning was refueled Tuesday morning after Trump took to Twitter to talk about flag burning.
“Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag,” he tweeted. “If they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or jail!”
In interviews around Hampshire County, many scoffed at the notion, citing the issue as “settled law” since the Supreme Court twice upheld the right to burn flags as a matter of free speech.
Others appeared scared at the thought Trump would take that right away. Most veterans said they felt disrespected by the whole ordeal, with some saying they stand by the right to abuse the flag and others asserting that punishment is in order.
Informed of Trump’s declaration that flag burners should be jailed or deported as he sipped coffee in Easthampton’s Small Oven, Korean War veteran Mel Johnson said with a laugh that he was inclined to agree. But, he said, “I’m not the judge or jury.
“I think (flag burning is) very disrespectful and unpatriotic,” Johnson said.
Sasha Raikhlina-O’Toole said the potential for Trump to take freedoms away scares her, but at the same time she wonders how much of what he says is simply talk.
“How serious is Donald Trump?” she said. “Will he follow through on his Twitter rants?”
Dave Williams, a Southampton resident and a veteran, said Trump’s punishment sounds “a little extreme” but those who burn flags should have to pay restitution and do community service. For the college not to fly the flag because of one incident of “sheer stupidity” upsets him.
“That, I feel, is wrong,” he said, adding that the flag in his yard has a light shining on it at all times.
Asked if flag burners should face such serious consequences, Richard Lavalle of Easthampton said: “Why not?” Lavalle is a veteran who spent 30 years working in law enforcement, so for him “it’s very simple.”
Another veteran, however, upheld the right to burn flags without punishment.
“I believe it’s their right to burn the flag but I also believe they’re misguided in their intent,” said Nels Christenson, a Williamsburg resident and Vietnam vet. “The flag represents all of the freedoms I find to be beneficial to all of the citizens of the U.S.”
Asked about Trump’s tweet, Christenson said it was irrelevant.
“To me it’s not a political matter — it’s a feeling,” he said. “We should all feel lucky to be Americans. We don’t know how lucky we are, a lot of us.”
Leah Cohen, a Northampton resident and French immigrant, said she’s just glad to see that Americans are acting out against the incoming administration.
“It’s dangerous for the whole world,” she said of a Trump presidency. “I’m so glad you as Americans are reacting to what’s going on.”
Michael Poole of Easthampton said he’s not proud of the American flag right now, either.
“I put a pirate flag on my front flagpole because it’s a little embarrassing to me to be part of a country that let things get this far,” he said, adding that those who burn other people’s flags should pay to replace them.
As for Trump’s tweet: “He just keeps coming up with reasons to put people in jail.”
For Trump to threaten to jail or deport people for burning the flag, is “un-American,” Alec Donahue of Easthampton said.
“I disagree with their idea but if they feel strongly about it, they should be able to do it,” he said.
“It’s never gone well — the stripping of free speech. There’s a course it sets for a nation.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.