Mall responds to uproar, says U.S. flags can stay on kiddie train
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Update: The Clackamas Town Center posted the following statement both on their Facebook page and on the KATU comment board in response to numerous complaints from folks who were angered over this story.
"We honor, support and respect what the United States flag represents. The actions and letter that were communicated certainly did not convey that. And for this, we apologize. We can see how many were offended. It was never the intent to offend or show any disrespect. The U.S. flag will remain displayed at the kiddie train and in other locations within the mall. We wholeheartedly support those who fight to allow us and everyone else to display the flag. Clackamas Town Center hosts and sponsors events every year that recognize and honor these and other heroes and will continue to do so."
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - A fight over the American flag is brewing at the Clackamas Town Center.
The manager of the children's train at the mall says he's being forced to remove flags that he uses to decorate the train ride.
Why? The mall told him the flags are against policy.
Thomas Phelps said he was floored when he got a letter from mall management telling him that the flags he put on the train a few weeks ago were "unapproved visuals."
That reference didn't sit too well with Phelps, who also happens to be a military veteran.
"That is dedicated to veterans and military, police, firefighters, EMTs - all those people that daily put their lives on the line for us," Phelps said. "That's what it's dedicated to. And if you're going to call that a Christmas decoration or something, then I'm sorry, I don't want to be around you. You're not in my country."
Phelps said he would understand if it was causing a problem but he said nobody has complained - not once.
And he isn't alone in his feelings. Connie Marsden, a local grandmother, told us "It's the United States. That's our flag. We should be proud of it. Not be forced to take it off a little ride for the kids."
The mall did not allow our news camera on its property but a family who took a train ride on Sunday told us they enjoyed the ride and didn't understand why the flags were a problem.
The Clackamas Town Center sent us a written response when we asked for comment. General Manager Dennis Curtis wrote in an e-mail "we honor, appreciate and respect everything the U.S. flag represents."
Still, Phelps said mall management isn't budging and he's prepared to lose his job before he takes down the flags.
"I may be fired, I may be thrown out of the mall, but I am not taking it down," he said.
Once the word got out about what was going on, folks started talking about it not only on the KATU comment board and Facebook page, but across the web. Here's a look at some of what people were saying Sunday evening:
The Clackamas Town Center's own Facebook page became a target as those upset over the flag mandate wrote the mall directly to share their feelings. And not long after our story was published online and aired in a newscast, a Boycott Clackamas Town Center Facebook page was created.
Seems to me that we have a bunch of USA haters for mall managers. Time for them to lose their jobs and migrate to a country that supports their ideals.
Regarding update:
Yea!!!
I contacted about 6 of the stores in the mall directly, even though it was a long distance call for me. I told them to contact the mall directly if they didnât want to see a severe drop in their sales, after telling them why. Only one didnât care, all the others said âThank you!"
Fancy Jack, they must have taken it down due to all the complaints they got!!!!
My daughter served one year in Iraq, and my son in law was in Iraq 3 times, Afghanistan, 4.(Both as Marines, with over 22 years of combined service to America as Marines) Even without all that, MY American Flag is an important symbol for me, and I will NOT stand by and allow it to be disrespected in MY OWN Country. At least THAT freedom still exists for us Americans.
God Bless America, land of the free. We have to keep it that way, and to those that want it otherwise, shame on you!
Do not care what the facebook clowns think, The sad part is, the folks that run KVAL do, they look to court these imbeciles as if facebook is going to give credibility to KVAL, insecure liberals are an embarrassment, as for the flag, whose property is it? this is America so they can remove the flag, do business some where else or shut up. Liberals have no concept of freedom, they are busy trying to force others to conform to their ideal, like KVAL did when it sold out the commenters and mimicked Facebook, they are an embarrassment, just like the flag whiners, facebook may be what is wrong with America, I do not patronize them, it is called freedom to choose,(without killing babies of course), it is what the flag stands for, freedom and that includes not wanting to have the American Flag on display, so choose somewhere else to shop and leave these commies alone.Â
Good for Phelps for standing up to this BS. I really hope that it doesn`t come down to his job but sometimes that`s the price of standing up. I personally can`t comprehend how any company or corporate policy would prohibit the display of our country`s flag anywhere in our country, especially in these times and with so many people risking their lives to protect what that flag stands for. Makes me wonder if people from another country might be running the mall. Shameless!!!
I am saddened that this mall would find our American flag offensive. Americans are their patrons and the ones who pay the bills. I support the train operator in his stand to defend our flag! Don't give in!
Shame shame shame. Just like politicians are afraid to lose a few votes showing a spine. The mall is afraid to lose a few sales.Over the flag that represents capitalism? Doesn't the mall itself represent capitalism? Or is it freedom they have a problem with? The other ironic thing. The mall would not lose any sales over old glory.
The ironic part... The flag was probably made in communist china.
@Ol'Ironhead From raw materials imported from the USA.
What could the possible advantage be of such a retarded policy?
Isn't this mall in America and don't we have the right to fly the flag when and where we want?
While I can really get the reasoning behind holiday decorations and such this just is over the line. With holidays there has always been a lot of diversity in this country with religious beliefs and not all religions celebrate the same holidays but it has always been the mainstream Christian religions that were celebrated in malls and stores. Well no matter where we are from we are in the United States. Our flag is a representation of OUR nation and the country we live in. If people dont like our flag then honestly they need to rethink where they are living.Â
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Honestly too I think people need to not always automatically assume that it is Muslims who are the reason for things like this or even the proliferation of holiday decorations.....there are plenty of Americans who complain a lot more then any Muslim would ever complain.
Who runs that towncenter? islamic muslims? foreigners? Get the hell out of my state and my country then.. you unpatriotic basterds
I just don't understand...we live in the United States of America and this is our flag. If people from other countries that live or are just visiting have a problem with our flag then why are they here? Every Country has a flag and is honored! Why would any business in America have a problem with the flag being shown anywhere?
SHAME on the management and CEO of Clackamas Town Center!!!
Here is the contact info for the mall:
http://www.clackamastowncenter.com/contact-us
Let them know how you feel, I just did.
@angelgabe system was down when I tried to contact them
I wish I lived in the area: I will NOT stand by and allow this to happen to the American Flag. I am going to find out all of the businesses in the Clackamas Town Center, and boycott each and every store there in my own area. Shame, shame on all of the people involved in this decision!Â
The owner of the mall has the right to make these decisions. Just as the patrons have the right to shop elsewhere. The rest of Oregon is becoming more and more like the loonies that run Eugene, isn't it?