As militant Muslims from Indonesia to the West Bank torched and trampled the Danish flag this past week to protest political cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, Stoughton's Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz grew increasingly upset.

So in a small act of solidarity with Denmark and of support for free speech, Stankiewicz bought two Danish flags on Monday and raised one of the red-and-white banners outside the Town Hall that morning, flying it on the pole beneath the US flag.

The symbolic gesture was short-lived, as Stankiewicz lowered the flag the next afternoon after a local veteran complained that it was improper to fly the flags of two countries on one pole. He declined to release the name of the veteran.

The veteran's complaint is the only legitimate complaint regarding the raising of the Danish flag. Others, however, saw this differently.

...many people in town saw the foreign flag display as insensitive and inflammatory. Several town employees told Stankiewicz they did not agree with his decision and worried the flag could provoke violence against Town Hall in light of the attacks against Danish and other European embassies throughout the Middle East. Stankiewicz described their concerns as an ''overreaction."

The Stoughton No Place for Hate Committee, a local antidiscrimination group, plans to discuss the episode at its meeting tonight because of fears that residents might be hurt or insulted.

''There's always that chance that there will be people who are offended, and we want to guard against that," said Karon Skinner-Catrone, chairperson of the 10-person group, some of whom are town officials.

Catrone declined to give her personal views on the topic before meeting with Stankiewicz, but she said she was ''sure his intentions were good."

''I know Mark would not want to intentionally hurt the town," she said. ''I hope people don't take it the wrong way."

Others said the decision wrongly used a public forum for personal political beliefs. ''It's one thing to display your politics on your front lawn, but he represents the whole town," said a town worker who asked not to be identified because it could compromise her work situation. ''No one wants to make Stoughton look bad, but people are furious about this."

So it's not okay to possibly offend muslims? Notwithstanding the legitimate concerns of the anonymous veteran, to complain about showing solidarity with Denmark out of fear of offending muslims is exactly the point the Jyllands-Posten was making by holding the cartoon contest. There is nothing wrong with showing solidarity with Denmark, just as many nations showed solidarity with the United States after 9/11. Take for instance, the story of the FGS (Federal German Ship) Niedersachsen (F 208) rendering honors to USS Doyle (FFG 39).

On September 11th, 2003, the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks against America, in the North Sea above Scotland, while on patrol with the combined battle group of NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), FGS (Federal German Ship) Missile Frigate Niedersachsen (F208) asked to come along-side the Missile Frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39). This to render honors.

As a sign of respect naval vessels of different nations routinely render honors when they pass at sea by dipping their flag. However, in this instance, the German Frigate and her crew went above and beyond this traditional gesture of respect.

On this day, as the German Frigate pulled alongside the USS Doyle, her crew gave a hand salute and in unison removed their covers and placed them over their hearts. The Niederachsen slowed and matched speed with the Doyle, both ships paralleling each other at a distance of 100 yards. The American crew then saw the United States flag flying from the yardarm of the Niedersachsen. At that, the Doyle's crew returned the salute. As the crew of the Doyle dropped their salute Niedersachsen increased her speed and turned to resume station in the formation.

The commander of the German ship, Bernd Kuhbier, Captain of FGS Niedersachsen, explained why they did what they did. "When you are on a warship, you don't fly a foreign flag on the top mast. But we thought the occasion was suitable to do that, so that's what we did. We were proud to do so." Vice Admiral Timothy LaFleur described what it was like on the USS Doyle during the display.

From their main mast they flew our flag and they held their covers over their hearts. Needless to say, the whole crew was choked up and a few tears formed in our eyes. Both ships stayed next to each other in silence for about 5 minutes. These are the days that remind me why I joined the Navy.

In a manner of speaking, Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz was rendering honors to the Danish as a sign of solidarity. What is wrong with that? Did those on the German Frigate worry about offending muslims by showing solidarity with Americans who were attacked at the hands of radical muslims? Of course not.

There can be no shame in showing solidarity with a nation who shares our love for freedom. There is shame, however, in discarding freedom of speech.

Cross-posted at Hub Politics