The Detroit Free Press Building!!!

RunIntoTheRain

Good lord Hank! Mature people state their opinion without belittling the opinions of others. Enough of this already.

To the OP, glad you tried to do something about the flag.

hedonist

Big Bank Hank said:

on2legs said:

Hank... why are you deliberately antagonizing people?

Your posts are rude and insulting and have no place here.

If you want a political debate follow the forum rules and take it to the moving train board. This is not the right forum.

rude and insulting hardly, only if you allow yourself to be insulted, what are we 4 years old "sticks and stones will break my bones and names will never hurt me" apparently someone missed the memo, as free thinkers which I hope we all are, you should be able to rise above it because there is far more important stuff going on in life than worrying about someone's OPINION, yes it is just my opinion (which I am entitled to, thank you) on an internet message board, but thanks so much for your concern

But this place IS about words. They have value, as much as the people and thoughts that propel them to this medium. How else do you get your opinions across here? How have you reacted to those with a different perspective than you in the past? I've seen them dismissed by you and others as "being negative".

Hmmm.

I'm not insulted, actually. I'm more flummoxed by the inability to re-think an approach to presenting a view.

Cheers again to the OP. Your intent and action are appreciated.

UnthoughtName

I was just having fun with that silly post up top, but I do get where you're coming from.

If you look at the "Detroit Free Press" as a whole (not hole), who's job is it to maintain those flags? Maybe someone in the facilities department? A flag on the top of the building in your place of business is very easy to overlook. Just thinking about where I work, I can't even visualize where on the property the flagpole is located. Maybe the person/people in facilities drive in, park underground and never see the flags during their commute every day. Once inside they're dealing with office issues and the top of the building would maybe get overlooked if there's not a problem up there (leak, broken AC, etc.)

I think you were escorted off the property because of the way you went about addressing it. If you had sent an email or called and were put in contact with someone in the proper department, the end result would have been something more productive.

Do I believe that the flag should be respected? Absolutely. As mentioned above, there have been hundreds of thousands of men and women who have fought/served to protect America and the flag symbolizes that (amongst many, many other things).

I also believe that this may have been an oversight and having someone come in off the street and start going off about disrespect and failure in the community probably wouldn't go over well in someone's place of business.

Now that something has been said, we'll see what happens. If nothing changes then that is disrespectful. But I wouldn't be throwing that at them right off the bat. It really could have been an innocent oversight.

on2legs

Hank... in the past it seems like you get some type of fulfillment out of creating turmoil and then you dramatically anounce that you are leaving the boards. You have done this multiple times.

Why not just skip the drama and make an effort to leave the politics to the pundits on tv? Stick to Pearl Jam.

hsohi

Big Bank Hank said:

hedonist said:

yeah I am not trying to be mean but as someone who spent 5 years of my life on the south side of Chicago, I know first hand that the realities of life where the reality of "each day could be your last" rings true, but at the same time, many are trying and fighting with everything they have to to work their way out so they can move to the suburbs and don't have to look over their shoulder whenever they leave their house

Each day could be your last.....has nothing to do with the south side of Chicago. Due to accidents (eg car accidents), sudden death ( eg heart attack or stroke with no previous symptoms), accidental death ( eg falling off a ladder), disease, suicide, and homicides....any day could be your last.

When do you banish yourself back to Facebook Big Bank Hank? I don't think people were begging you to come back.

Big Bank Hank

hsohi said:

Big Bank Hank said:

hedonist said:

yeah I am not trying to be mean but as someone who spent 5 years of my life on the south side of Chicago, I know first hand that the realities of life where the reality of "each day could be your last" rings true, but at the same time, many are trying and fighting with everything they have to to work their way out so they can move to the suburbs and don't have to look over their shoulder whenever they leave their house

Each day could be your last.....has nothing to do with the south side of Chicago. Due to accidents (eg car accidents), sudden death ( eg heart attack or stroke with no previous symptoms), accidental death ( eg falling off a ladder), disease, suicide, and homicides....any day could be your last.

When do you banish yourself back to Facebook Big Bank Hank? I don't think people were begging you to come back.

true, unfortunately many don't live their lives with that in mind, until they are faced to confront it, when that does happen you see what really matters

hedonist

To be fair, I've got no personal Big Bank Hank beef. Genuine welcoming from here of all different views. Maybe I'm selfish (ok, no maybe about it) in that I want and need to see, hear, understand the other side.

If in the end I don't agree, so be it. To be a ___ in the process is pointless. Guess that's the beef.

But I tried, didn't I? Goddamnit, at least I did that.

Big Bank Hank

hedonist said:

To be fair, I've got no personal Big Bank Hank beef. Genuine welcoming from here of all different views. Maybe I'm selfish (ok, no maybe about it) in that I want and need to see, hear, understand the other side.

If in the end I don't agree, so be it. To be a ____ in the process is pointless. Guess that's the beef.

But I tried, didn't I? Goddamnit, at least I did that.

yeah we just see the world differently, no big deal, with as much LSD and mushrooms I took when I was younger, really should not be surprising, not the end of the world or existence, and we think Pearl Jam fucking rules, so hey at least we have great taste in music

shecky

deadhead365 said:

Thanks for the support guys. I think it should be stressed too that this is not a poor persons dwelling. This is the Detroit Free Press building that happens to be at the foot of the starting line for the weekend's big marathon being covered by the local news. It's certainly very easy to diminish it's significance and say there's a lot of other important things to worry about. Or simply laugh it off and just say who the fuck cares? That is certainly an attitude reflected by many in this city. But I see it as a great opportunity for a proud American, a proud Detroiter to stand strong and make a change for the better. To say we deserve better and I will do something about it. It could be a small victory that inspires others.

Besides, what's wrong with having respect and honor for one's country and city?

+100,000,000

hedonist

Seeing, and how we communicate our sight, are two different things. All I hope for is a bit of grace and contemplation whether on the giving or getting end. To realize and acknowledge being off or unfair, speaks more than volumes about character.

shecky

shecky said:

deadhead365 said:

Thanks for the support guys. I think it should be stressed too that this is not a poor persons dwelling. This is the Detroit Free Press building that happens to be at the foot of the starting line for the weekend's big marathon being covered by the local news. It's certainly very easy to diminish it's significance and say there's a lot of other important things to worry about. Or simply laugh it off and just say who the fuck cares? That is certainly an attitude reflected by many in this city. But I see it as a great opportunity for a proud American, a proud Detroiter to stand strong and make a change for the better. To say we deserve better and I will do something about it. It could be a small victory that inspires others.

Besides, what's wrong with having respect and honor for one's country and city?

+100,000,000

ryph raph

shortstack said:

no one cares.

Replace the stars & stripes with a $$$ symbol.
:-&

PJfanwillneverleave1

ryph raph said:

shortstack said:

no one cares.

Replace the stars & stripes with a $$$ symbol.
:-$

I think he/she meant that no one cares about your post.

Big Bank Hank

ryph raph said:

shortstack said:

no one cares.

Replace the stars & stripes with a $$$ symbol.
:-&

that was done along time ago, why do they send our men and women over to get slaughtered and maimed and then don't want to pay their benefits? and then half our country doesn't care enough to vote and remove the evil people which rule this country and fix this shit, the middle class is getting further and further crushed each day by corporate greed, meanwhile the cost of a college degree gets more and more expensive which more and more jobs require making it harder to get out of poverty and those who do graduate end up with so much student debt, which gets harder and harder to pay off. If we didn't have any troops in the Middle East we could end all homelessness and hunger, which one would benefit our country more? I mean especially since they have demonstrated they will do everything they can to avoid paying benefits of wounded soldiers, and I have a lot of friends who are vets and that is the reality, and then they end up homeless on the streets, I would pose the question to all of you are you doing everything you can to make this country the best place it can possibly be for all who live here? or is that just not your problem to be concerned with? if the answer is not yes, then the condition of a flag should be the least of your worries, because there are people all over this nation in this country in that condition who were sent to war, and left to suffer homeless with PTSD, so yeah helping them fix their lives is way more important to me than fixing a flag, and obviously I am in the minority judging from the other comments, but that is okay I am good with that, have a nice day, and you can have the rest of this thread, sorry to take up your time

on2legs

Ok... So this guy can't be worried about fixing a flag but you can be worried about posting 27 dozen times on your Vs. 21st birthday thread?

stuckinline

People, can we turn this into something positive? Deadhead365, now that you're home, have you tried contacting the Detroit Free Press Building regarding the flag situation? PJ fans are capable of doing great things, so is there any way we, as a group, can get this flag situation resolved?

A big thank you to all of the veterans!

shecky

Thank you 'deadhead365' for your original post and also 'stuckinline' for keeping it positive.
I like your suggestion of us Pearl Jam fans doing something about this situation.
Here is some contact info for The Detroit Free Press:
phone: (313) 222-6400
email: www.freep.com
city/metro desk: city@freepress.com
editorial page: letters@freepress.com
I myself am going to email them immediately and inform them that, even way out West in San Francisco, we have heard about the deplorable and disrespectful condition of our American flags that fly above The Free Press headquarters and expect the situation to be rectified immediately.
If all of us Pearl Jam fans can make this simple sacrifice of a few moments of our time TODAY and contact The Free Press via whichever mode you prefer maybe we can get it done.
Thank you all for your time and, as it can not be said too much,
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS!

Big Bank Hank

you want to thank all the veterans you would make sure they got all their benefits and got all the help they needed and not end up homeless on the street, fixing a flag won't fix that, I swear I don't understand what's wrong with this world, no one cares about the way the veterans get treated when they come back home, but we care about the condition on an inanimate object, really this thread belongs in a different section of the board anyway, it is a real stretch to request new flags on some building in Detroit Pearl Jam related. This really belongs in An All Encompassing Trip section, but whatever, you go fixing flags, I am going to keep helping the vets that no one else can seem to be bothered with, because that is what I do, so go on judging all you want

hedonist

Jeez, Hank. Let the mods move it if they feel the need. Not to take away from the deplorable conditions and lack of basic care some vets are afforded, but I don't understand your fixation on that and your need to scold or be condescending vs something positive trying to be done about a separate (albeit somewhat attached) issue.

And to edit - most of us, I'd imagine yourself included - have no clue what the people here do to try and make a difference. Most don't boast about it.

Empty Glass

Big Bank Hank said:

you want to thank all the veterans you would make sure they got all their benefits and got all the help they needed and not end up homeless on the street, fixing a flag won't fix that, I swear I don't understand what's wrong with this world, no one cares about the way the veterans get treated when they come back home, but we care about the condition on an inanimate object, really this thread belongs in a different section of the board anyway, it is a real stretch to request new flags on some building in Detroit Pearl Jam related. This really belongs in An All Encompassing Trip section, but whatever, you go fixing flags, I am going to keep helping the vets that no one else can seem to be bothered with, because that is what I do, so go on judging all you want

What do you want, a fucking pat on the back? Are you the only person helping people? Help me out a second...stay the fuck away from your keyboard

Big Bank Hank

Empty Glass said:

Big Bank Hank said:

you want to thank all the veterans you would make sure they got all their benefits and got all the help they needed and not end up homeless on the street, fixing a flag won't fix that, I swear I don't understand what's wrong with this world, no one cares about the way the veterans get treated when they come back home, but we care about the condition on an inanimate object, really this thread belongs in a different section of the board anyway, it is a real stretch to request new flags on some building in Detroit Pearl Jam related. This really belongs in An All Encompassing Trip section, but whatever, you go fixing flags, I am going to keep helping the vets that no one else can seem to be bothered with, because that is what I do, so go on judging all you want

What do you want, a fucking pat on the back? Are you the only person helping people? Help me out a second...stay the fuck away from your keyboard

yeah I would if I actually cared what you think, thanks though for telling me what to do, it is nice to know how much you care

WhatYouTaughtMe

Yeah c'mon Hank. You can't assume all people don't do anything to help vets. That's a broad generalization. Why can't people who do help vets also care about a flag? To be honest, to me it's just a piece of fabric representative of the place I was lucky enough to be born in. I do however, respect it as a symbol that has far more meaning to a large amount of people, including a lot of veterans. Relax a little buddy. I applaud you for helping out vets in any way, but acting like you're the only one who cares is a little extreme. The five minutes it takes me to shoot an email to these people isn't going to take away from any other good work I try and do. I have numerous vets in my family from every war since Korea and I feel like I am honoring them by asking the Detroit Free Press to respect the flag.

Kat

Detroit's economic problems are going to take time to remedy. If the corporations move back to the city and pay taxes, there could be more people moving there and living there and paying taxes and also buying the Detroit Free Press and then there will be more money...and one thing they'd be buying is new flags. It's really not difficult, not rocket science...it just needs to happen. I was born in Detroit...a long time ago and it was beautiful then. It's beyond sad what has happened there now.

And all anyone had to do about this thread was flag it for us to move it to the appropriate forum. Stop sniping at each other....bad way to start the week. The thread is now in the appropriate forum.

ikiT

That flag is dogged the eff out and should be replaced just under general the rules of US flag etiquette. It's not a political symbol and it's not about the troops. It's just poor manners to fly a flag that looks that bad.

lukin2006

I would say if thats the worst thing you noticed about Detroit is a tattered flag then you really have nothing to complain about.

Big Bank Hank

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

Yeah c'mon Hank. You can't assume all people don't do anything to help vets. That's a broad generalization. Why can't people who do help vets also care about a flag? To be honest, to me it's just a piece of fabric representative of the place I was lucky enough to be born in. I do however, respect it as a symbol that has far more meaning to a large amount of people, including a lot of veterans. Relax a little buddy. I applaud you for helping out vets in any way, but acting like you're the only one who cares is a little extreme. The five minutes it takes me to shoot an email to these people isn't going to take away from any other good work I try and do. I have numerous vets in my family from every war since Korea and I feel like I am honoring them by asking the Detroit Free Press to respect the flag.

no and I know there are people doing good work, but we as a country have fallen woefully short in that area, and really that is the part that frustrates me, you judge a society not by it's richest, but by it's poorest, and right now, as a nation we can do so much better, and that means myself included, I try to do the best I can, but I know deep down inside that I can do better, but go ahead and fix the flags if that is what your soul is telling you to do and that is what is important you should do it, after all these are just my opinions, and I will always maintain that it is a persons right to do what they think is right as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, which clearly this doesn't

ikiT

I shot off an email to the VFW in Michigan, perhaps they can dispose of those flags properly.

dignin

This thread belongs nowhere.

ikiT

shecky said:

Thank you 'deadhead365' for your original post and also 'stuckinline' for keeping it positive.
I like your suggestion of us Pearl Jam fans doing something about this situation.
Here is some contact info for The Detroit Free Press:
phone: (313) 222-6400
email: www.freep.com
city/metro desk: city@freepress.com
editorial page: letters@freepress.com
I myself am going to email them immediately and inform them that, even way out West in San Francisco, we have heard about the deplorable and disrespectful condition of our American flags that fly above The Free Press headquarters and expect the situation to be rectified immediately.
If all of us Pearl Jam fans can make this simple sacrifice of a few moments of our time TODAY and contact The Free Press via whichever mode you prefer maybe we can get it done.
!

to the city desk

I know you have a newspaper to put out, but it’s come to my attention that the US Flags atop you building are in terrible condition, almost shredded. Can you forward this email to the people who can replace them or (if that’s not in the budget) at least take them down?

brianlux

I'm sure that flag in your avatar photo, deadhead365, was not intentionally shredded but when I clicked on you avatar to get a larger picture, I thought it actually looks kind of cool. It reminds me of "Ragged Glory" (old glory ripped/ragged-- NY album title) which reminds me of Neil Young which reminds me of Pearl Jam which reminds me of that shitty copy of Merkin Ball I have to return this week which reminds me of how much I totally love those songs. All of which adds up to mostly good stuff.

Besides, I have to say, to me it looks like a cool old flag- not that I'm much of a flag guy. The way it's torn reminds me of the state in which our country (the U.S.) is in these days - ripped, torn and tattered. So to me, it seems like a very appropriate flag!