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Greensboro store flying flag upside down prompts angry complaints

Thursday, November 6, 2008

(Updated 4:06 pm)

By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO - A hardware store on West Market Street flew the American flag upside down on Wednesday.

The store manager said it was partly in response to Election Day results, but the store owner called it a "silent protest that shouldn't have been done."

Darrell Chambers, who owns Ace Hardware at 5105 W. Market St., said he was off Wednesday, and the display had been put up without his knowledge.

He said the flag display ‘‘had nothing to do with the election results."

"It's just a thing where we are just upset with the economy in general," he said, "not because of one particular politician.''

Mike Naylor, the store's manager, said employees turned the flag upsidedown in protest of the "political unrest in our country."

"Things are going crazy. The economy is not great." Naylor said.

When asked how much thought went into it being the day after Election Day and Democrat Barack Obama's presidential win, Naylor said, "Not a lot, but some. But that's not the sole reason behind it."

Later Wednesday night, Naylor said he didn't want the store to come off negatively.

"It happens to be that all of this stuff is happening at the same time. All of the things going on with the other countries and the economy," Naylor said. "It's not like we chose to have a recession. It's not a political statement at all."

According to the U.S. Flag Code, "the flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

Store employees said the flag display was for one day only, and they had received angry phone calls and one customer had cussed them out.

A customer said the flag display was in poor taste.

"To me, it's like flag burning," said Louis Money. "It's within his rights to hang it however he wants to hang it. But it's within my right not to shop there and get as many people as I know not to shop there."

A corporate spokesman for Ace Hardware did not comment Wednesday. An employee said the store is an independent franchise.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Ryan Seals

Photo Caption: Employees of the Ace Hardware on West Market Street said they flew the flag upside down over concerns of the problems the country is facing.

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histrion

November 6, 2008 - 9:14 am EST

If you want to hoist the flag upside down outside your house, fine. I think it's disrespectful, but it's your house and I can simply choose not to visit you. But to do so at a business... well, that's just dumb business. If it was done without the owner's foreknowledge or consent, the manager who did it or let it happen on his watch needs to learn not to risk what isn't his just to make a political statement -- not without risking what *is* his. Firing the guy might get that message across. If the owner *did* know about it beforehand, I have the same option I'd have if he flew it outside his house: I just won't patronize his business. These small hardware stores can't make fool moves like that given their position and the competition they face from big boxes. The folks that go to these stores go there because they're staffed by people from their neighborhoods and they feel welcome and valued. This kind of stunt puts that in serious jeopardy.

oakridgeresident

November 6, 2008 - 9:17 am EST

Make no mistake about it, this was a political statement. This is the same store that had a billboard sized Bush/Cheney banner out in front during the 2000 & 2004 elections. I certainly don't have a problem with people having different political views. However as a business man I know that my customers may have a variety of views not always the same as my own. Shame on these people. America is great no matter what party is in power. I personally have not shopped there since 2000. I will continue to drive out of my way to avoid giving my hard earned dollar to people who throw there political beliefs in your face.
Thank you News & Record for covering this story.

lowboy

November 6, 2008 - 10:13 am EST

And so it starts. Folks you need to realize that this is free speech. And just because you, personally, don't like it doesn't change that. That we've got the 1st amendment right to do this is one of the things that makes this country great.

Now was it smart? Depends on how many customers the business looses. But since this is not yelling "FIRE" in a theater, I rather think it is protected speech.

I didn't care for all the "young skulls full of mush" standing on the corner of Friendly and College yesterday afternoon waving the same old tired "Bush lied, people died" signs. But my father fought in WWII so that they would have the right to do that very thing.

The bottom line is this: Free speech is free speech......for everyone. Not just a selected few. Or the party that is in power at the time. If you want the right to voice your opinon, you have to grant that right to someone who's opinion you may not like.

histrion

November 6, 2008 - 3:33 pm EST

I'm certainly not questioning their *right* to fly the flag upside down in "distress" -- just the wisdom of doing so as a responsible businessman. And regardless of the statement they were trying to make -- which isn't entirely clear from Mr. Naylor's comments -- flying the flag upside down except as a signal of true and immediate distress is simply disrepectful. Period.

voteformccain

November 6, 2008 - 11:22 am EST

People only want freedom of speech when it is something they agree with. GET OVER IT!

snapandwhistle

November 6, 2008 - 12:12 pm EST

The peaceful transition of government is not an act that should be taken for granted. We should be greatful that our current president didn't take over the military in an effort to stay in power like in many other countries around the world. Placing the flag upside down to express "distress" is a clear sign that those at the business don't really know what true distress is. I thank God that I live in this country.

lowboy

November 6, 2008 - 12:29 pm EST

It's really sad that you hate Bush so much that you would even consider thinking such a thing.

nemrac

November 6, 2008 - 1:36 pm EST

You are kidding..right??

gerriedee

November 6, 2008 - 1:13 pm EST

Dumb and dumber!! If they seriously have a problem with the economy, why in the world would they cut their noses off to spite their faces???? Wouldn't the basic business person realize that EVERYONE'S money is GREEN no matter who their customers support? "When asked how much thought went into it being the day after Election Day and Democrat Barack Obama's presidential win, Naylor said, "Not a lot, but some. But that's not the SOLE reason behind it." That comment was ludicrous because look at the landslide victory. Duh . . . The majority was what won the election. If they think they are having a hard time because of the economy now, let the majority of their customers take their business elsewhere. Hmmm . . . forget dumb and dumber because this has got to be the DUMBEST!!!!

ray crawford

November 6, 2008 - 1:53 pm EST

This Ace hardware store is just a few blocks from my business and I am disappointed if this is actually about
the election. I have spent quite a bit of money there in the last 15 yrs so I will give them the chance to explain.
I would hope that with the economy the way it is that would not be the case.
We talk about free speech there is also competition and thats has free has it gets.