ST. JOHNS, Mich. (AP) — Owners of a Michigan bed and breakfast have removed a Norwegian flag outside of their business after being accused of promoting racism from people who think that it is a Confederate flag.
Kjersten and Greg Offenecker, owners of The Nordic Pineapple, hung the flag opposite of the American flag after they moved into the Civil War-era mansion in 2018, the Lansing State Journal reported. They took both flags down last week.
The red flag, with a blue cross superimposed on a white cross, is a nod to Kjersten Offenbecker’s grandfather, who was born in Norway. The Norwegian flag has the same colors as the Confederate flag, but the patterns and symbols are different. The Confederate flag is red with a blue “X” containing white stars.
The couple said they never would have thought anyone would mistake the Norwegian flag for something else.
“I don’t see it because I grew up with the Norwegian Flag,” Kjersten Offenbecker said. “To me, they are two distinct flags.”
Several community members have urged the couple to put the Norwegian flag back up, but the Offenbeckers say they won’t until they can figure out a way to make sure it is not mistaken for the the Confederate flag.
People have been programmed to see racism everywhere they look. When they can't find it, their brains make it up.
It's actually a good way of weeding these people out. Instead of complying with their idiotic demands, they should just be gently guided into an asylum. They could even bait these people in, like the police do to those who have outstanding warrants, telling them they've won a free boat.
My fraternity had a large dog who ran around campus and sometimes went after black people. I never saw it happen, but he regularly Cujo'd and treed black people on the roofs of cars.
Racist dog!
That dog was big and could drink a lot of beer. Nowadays, he'd be collected and put down, but then, he was quite a celebrity on campus.
Kjersten and Greg Offenecker, owners of The Nordic Pineapple, hung the flag opposite of the American flag after they moved into the Civil War-era mansion in 2018, the Lansing State Journal reported. They took both flags down last week.
The red flag, with a blue cross superimposed on a white cross, is a nod to Kjersten Offenbecker’s grandfather, who was born in Norway. The Norwegian flag has the same colors as the Confederate flag, but the patterns and symbols are different. The Confederate flag is red with a blue “X” containing white stars.
The couple said they never would have thought anyone would mistake the Norwegian flag for something else.
“I don’t see it because I grew up with the Norwegian Flag,” Kjersten Offenbecker said. “To me, they are two distinct flags.”
Several community members have urged the couple to put the Norwegian flag back up, but the Offenbeckers say they won’t until they can figure out a way to make sure it is not mistaken for the the Confederate flag.
https://apnews.com/ed0d469d2b6d81f7f468a27ce429f74f