Relevance of flag-flipping

by Archie Thomas, Corvallis

Roger DeBrito and the Florence Civic Club are to be commended for their service to Florence and the visual appeal of the 93 bike path in Florence. Individuals like Roger and the Florence Civic Club’s many projects is what defines and gives communities their unique character and value. Nothing I’m about to say is meant to detract from this reality or the hard work of Roger Debrito or Florence Civic Club.

I simply wish for everyone to consider a broader perspective regarding what is happening to federal locally laid off employees and agencies distressed within the county. Article quotes: “There was no vandalizing, but this was someone who just wanted to disrupt the peace in our community… DeBrito said he fully understands that the nation is ‘in distress’ right now.”

At present 20 to 40 Ravalli County residents have been laid off between the Rocky Mountain Labs and USFS by DOGE. Millions in annual local payroll have been cut. No money is included for Trapper Creek Job Corps in next year’s budget. Under the current Big Beautiful Bill, Medicaid cuts will affect local hospitals, millions of acres of public lands are to be sold and the deficit will increase by trillions of dollars. Where is the concern for the disruption of the unemployed? At what point should the peace of Florence residents be disrupted?

Maritime tradition and protocol mandates an upside down flag flown on board signals a ship in distress. If a ship is in distress it would be foolish to display a flag right-side up. It is not a sign of disrespect but rather desperation. The captain of the ship would be highly unlikely to be oblivious to the distress. Article quote: “Then he got a call from the county commissioners’ office, wondering why the flags were upside down.“ In this county are not the commissioners the captain?

In America, the flag represents everyone including the distressed, disrupted and the unemployed. The flag flipper should volunteer to share the work of weekly flag flipping with Roger, thus piquing the interest of the public to ask, “What is happening in and to our communities resulting from present administration’s policies and what is county government and our representatives doing about it?”