April 04, 2007

Finally, Some Flag Burners Go To Jail

Of course if the flag had not been still attached to a house, then it would not have been a crime. But I'll take what I can get.

Yale Daily News: Three Yale students, including the son of a former governor of an Afghan province, were arrested early Tuesday morning after burning an American flag attached to a home on Chapel Street.

Hyder Akbar ’07, Nikolaos Angelopoulos ’10 and Farhad Anklesaria ’10 were arrested for charges including first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree arson, breach of peace and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson, the New Haven Register reports today. The two freshmen are both foreign citizens, and Akbar is a United States citizen, though he was born in Pakistan. Akbar worked as an informal translator for U.S. forces during the invasion of Afghanistan and later published a memoir, “Come Back to Afghanistan,” based on his experiences there.

PBS's Jeffrey Brown interviewed Akbar on Feb 8th 2006

Mr. Akbar, I just want to say.... This nation gave you shelter and kept you safe. We liberated your homeland from the Taliban. We educate you, you get interviews. Now we see your other side. You repay us by burning our flag, which you are free to do provided it does not endanger anyone.

I just wanted to say..., F*ck you too Mr. Akbar!

By Howie at 12:44 PM | |