Chas Kelley had an idea that was just too hot to handle. When the San Bernardino, California city councilman saw student protestors waving Mexican flags outside city hall as part of a protest against a tough U.S. House bill on illegal immigration, he contacted city officials and suggested that in response they drape the city's large American flag from the building.

"I thought it would be an opportunity to educate the students and make them mindful that the (American) flag represents their opportunity to assemble and protest," Kelley said. "I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to educate the students, since they were not in school learning." After he was rebuffed, Kelley forwarded e-mail exchanges between him and city staffers to the media. According to the messages, staff saw complicated logistics to the idea. They also worried the move would be taken as political and could possibly agitate protesters. On Friday at 2:22 p.m., Lori Sassoon, assistant city manager wrote, "Hi Chas - regarding your request, the consensus was that it would likely be viewed as a political statement, which might cause demonstrators to respond further."

Nineteen minutes later, Kelley wrote back..."Just a thought, when has a display for our flag been a political statement? Seems that others are free to express what they want." Sassoon responded at 2:47 p.m., "Sorry for the delay, Chas. It's been quite a week! Fred, Jim, and I agreed that it might cause an issue." Sassoon was referring to City Manager Fred Wilson and Jim Sharer, city director of facilities.

The San Bernardino City Council should vote to authorize the huge flag be put on permanent display, at least until the federal immigration reform bill is signed into law. Anyone who has a problem with a large American flag on display at their local city hall is obviously living in the wrong country.

If you live in a "Blue" city, such as Seattle, San Francisco, or Portland - or even a suburb near a "Blue" city - take a look around. Is there a U.S. flag of any size flying outside your city hall, county building, school district headquarters, and main public library?

TECHNORATI TAGS: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, CITY HALL, IMMIGRATION, STUDENT PROTESTS, AMERICAN FLAG