Some of you take this holiday crap a bit too far
A new parade for Old Glory
Foreign flags touch a July 4th nerve in Fremont
- Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, July 5, 2004
The Stars and Stripes flew everywhere on Sunday, but Old Glory had plenty of company in Fremont -- the flags of Italy, Qatar, Mongolia and Ireland were among 25 nations represented in a parade that's caused hurt feelings all around and raised the timeliest of questions: What does it mean to be an American?
Vice Mayor Steve Cho's proposal to include flags of other nations started innocently enough two weeks ago, but angered residents who said America's Independence Day would be diluted.
The controversy grew until a plan to have the Boy Scouts carry the foreign flags was jettisoned early last week. But the flagging flag vision was revived Friday when volunteers agreed to carry the symbols of 25 countries -- along with American flags -- along 10 blocks of Fremont Boulevard.
There were only a handful of "boos" from the crowd of about 8,000, and a police officer who accompanied the group said there no problems. But the gesture still riled some.
"This is our birthday -- not theirs,'' said Rob Murdy, 49, who's lived in Fremont 22 years. "I'm all for diversity and letting people come here and keep their traditions. But this is July Fourth, and I think the American flag doesn't need to share this day with the flag of any other country. It's just not right."
