Head of an NC State lab quits rather than lower flag to honor Jesse Helms

[mnhtnbb]

This story is on the front page of today's News Observer in Raleigh:

RALEIGH - L.F. Eason III gave up the only job he'd ever had rather than lower a flag to honor former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

Eason, a 29-year veteran of the state Department of Agriculture, instructed his staff at a small Raleigh lab not to fly the U.S. or North Carolina flags at half-staff Monday, as called for in a directive to all state agencies by Gov. Mike Easley.

When a superior ordered the lab to follow the directive, Eason decided to retire rather than pay tribute to Helms. After several hours' delay, one of Eason's employees hung the flags at half-staff.

<snip>

"Regardless of any executive proclamation, I do not want the flags at the North Carolina Standards Laboratory flown at half staff to honor Jesse Helms any time this week," Eason wrote just after midnight, according to e-mail messages released in response to a public records request.

He told his staff that he did not think it was appropriate to honor Helms because of his "doctrine of negativity, hate, and prejudice" and his opposition to civil rights bills and the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.


http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/politicians/helms/story/1135443.html


Hubby has written a letter to Mr. Eason congratulating him for his stand. I sent this e-mail to
the News Observer staff writer of the article: [e-mail]

Please pass my congratulations to L.F. Eason III for his courage in standing up for his beliefs. He is a true patriot. Former Senator Jesse Helms was an unapologetic racist, bigoted throwback to the era of Jim Crow. It is refreshing to see a registered Democrat exhibit integrity since it is sorely lacking in so much of the Democratic 'leadership'.

We'd love to know where to send a contribution to Mr. Eason's "retirement fund".

Regards,



:kick:

[lonestarnot]

1. Wow. Very few real patriots left these days!

:patriot:

[ThomWV]

9. That certainly does not make him a Patriot, but it shows he is an honerable man

Doesn't have a thing to do with love of country, but it says a lot for the man's ethics.

[mnhtnbb]

11. I disagree. The flag symbolizes social justice and equity to this man,

which are supposed to be values espoused in founding documents (even though the term 'men' didn't include African-American men)of this country. If saluting the flag is considered 'patriotic',
then refusing to lower the flag for someone who spent his whole life trying to exclude Americans
from social justice certainly is a patriotic act.

[raccoon]

2. Someone who has the courage of his convictions! Off to Greatest. nt

[Ian David]

3. He should have flown the flag at half-mast, but put a condom over the flagpole first.

In Memory of Jesse Helms, and The Condom On His House

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x79343



Daily Oklahoman flips the bird to Jesse Helms

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3572995



Just for you, Jesse Helms:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3582548

[mnhtnbb]

4. I was amazed to see it on the front page. It's been non-stop praising of Jesse Helms

in the media here since 4 July. Darth Cheney showed up yesterday for the funeral; Governor Easley
and Erskine Bowles (who was Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff) attended. Edwards did not attend (good for him). Cindy McCain was here. And of course Liddy Dole and Bob were there along with Burr. I couldn't believe that Dodd and Biden came. Have to think less of them for attending. Santorum was here, too.
It was a real who's who of a$$holes.

[Ian David]

5. Biden will go ANYWHERE there is a live microphone.

Last year, I was stuck in line at the drive-thru window at Sonic for an hour.

I found out later it was because Joe Biden was in front of me and just wouldn't stop talking into the microphone.

[mnhtnbb]

8. ROFL!

:rofl:

[mnhtnbb]

6. I just got an e-mail response from the staff writer. He will forward my e-mail

to Mr. Eason.

[MountainLaurel]

7. Good for him! n/t

[ensho]

10. kick

nt

[mnhtnbb]

12. Kick for the afternoon.

[mnhtnbb]

13. Kick again for an example of a Dem with integrity.

[exothermic]

14. Bad analogy deleted...sorry

rats

[dsc]

15. actually, unlike them, he quit instead of asking to have the laws changed

[exothermic]

16. You're right, it was a stupid comment on my part.

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