LINKBy Greg Gerber
Editor, RV Daily Report
Camping World has launched a petition on change.org to force cities to allow the company to fly its oversized flags above its retail stores across the nation.
The action was taken in the name of patriotism.
“This is about more than just the flag. This is about our veterans, military, and the men and women that have sacrificed for this great country. They are the reason we fly the flag and they are the reason we will NOT take it down!” the petition states.
I’d have a much easier time believing it was genuine patriotism if the company’s CEO, Marcus Lemonis, didn’t urge people who agree with the current president to boycott his stores.
Camping World has found a marketing niche by flying supersized flags over almost all of its locations. They stand out. They draw attention to what’s underneath. They make it easy to find Camping World or Gander RV stores.
But, should businesses be allowed to fly flags of every conceivable size in the name of patriotism?
Camping World’s flags are big, but they could be even bigger. What is stopping them from erecting a 150-by-75-foot flag suspended between two giant poles?
Cities have zoning laws. Do communities have a right to restrict flags to a reasonable size?
I can’t imagine a community preventing a business from flying an American flag, especially since the same flag flies over every fire station, police station, city hall and government facility across the country.
It’s not like whacked out homeowner’s associations that think they can tell people not to hoist a flag on their property. I suspect cities are okay with businesses flying flags. I haven’t heard of any community prohibiting the display of an American flag by a business.
However, we seem to be delving into a weird area in which simply telling a business to reduce the size of its flag is equated to calling the firm unpatriotic — or ignoring the sacrifices made by men and women in the military.
It’s like saying, “I’m more patriotic than you because my flag is bigger than yours!”
Camping World’s petition is erroneous in that it claims cities like Statesville, N.C., are ordering the company to take down its flag when, in reality, it’s saying the community doesn’t want flags the size of apartment buildings attracting unnecessary attention to the firm hoisting the stars and stripes.
