POCATELLO — Flying his Nazi flag is one way Gene Martin has chosen to express his disdain for the political direction of the United States.
Martin, a 69-year-old retired veteran and U.S. Postal Service worker, said Friday he’s been rotating through his flags — depending upon his mood — since last fall.
“Basically, I’m just telling people to leave me alone,” Martin said. “Let me do my thing. I am not joining up with anybody. I’m not doing anything somebody tells me I have to do. Political statement? Oh, yeah, I guess, but nothing I am trying to push on anybody.”
Although he’s received a few comments about the red 3-by-5 Nazi flag bearing a swastika currently flying on the pole outside his Dolbeer Street home, he feels he is expressing that the policies of the U.S. government are heading toward fascism.
Martin said he has no intentions of going down the path of white supremacy by flying his Nazi flag once in a while.
“(President Barack) Obama is heading us down the tube just like Adolf Hitler did,” Martin said. “I just really think this country is going downhill thanks to our brilliant leaders back in Washington.”
Across the street, neighbor Shelly Goldade doesn’t seem bothered by the flag. She said Martin is the nicest guy on the block.
“He’s got a bunch of different flags that he rotates through,” Goldade said. “He’ll talk to anyone. He’s a good neighbor.”
Martin said he plans to replace the Nazi flag with the American flag over the weekend for the Fourth of July. Methodist pastor Craig Strobel, a facilitator with the Pocatello anti-hate group Too Great for Hate, said in his personal opinion, it is ironic that a person is flying the Nazi flag so close to a national holiday.
“It seems to me really unpatriotic,” Strobel said. “It shows rather strong disregard for the many thousands of Americans that gave their lives in the Second World War fighting that regime.”
Strobel said the Nazi flag is historically symbolic of a totalitarian political regime — not to mention the millions of people who were murdered by the Nazis.
While the U.S. Bill of Rights protects free speech, Strobel said some things are just offensive.
“I encourage people to think carefully about what it means to have the freedom to express political opinions, but to also think through, carefully, the implications of those opinions,” Strobel said.
Martin said he’s seen a lot of things change, from politics to the type of people who live near his South Pocatello home.
He said one of those changes is the push for equal minority rights.
“A good honest white guy doesn’t have a chance, because they’ve gotten up into the minorities too much, they have all the rights, the rest of us don’t have any,” Martin said. “They’re just taking them all away from us more and more all the time.”
(20) comments
It's all a huge media ploy to plot race against race....I can't believe no one ever sees that. We live in an intensely racist community and this guy doesn't surprise me one bit, and for all us quote "minorities" out there, well it's useless getting your feathers ruffled over it. Get educated and start a revolution and wake up this sleepy little town. He wouldn't be able to fly that flag for long in a southern state, I can bet on that. People hate change, and people hate a black president no matter how much they sugar coat it. I'm just proud Obama had the drive and willingness to turn an entire nation's thinking upside down, regardless of his skin color (but let's face it, a white man wouldn't have the same background) and I wouldn't expect ANY white person to give him credit. And that thing about "supporting minorities on welfare" is ridiculous...look up the numbers and I'm sure you realize you put your foot in your mouth...grow up and get with the program Pocatello, soon what you think is the majority will be the minority, and racism is only fueled by the rich to fool you into thinking where your tax money really goes.
This guy doesn't even know what fascism means. GW Bush et .al. was the closest to a fascist government we have had. And the rest of you who think Obama is heading the wrong direction are wrong. Bush dug an economic hole half way to China. If you think Obama can turn it around in two years you are nuts. Especially with a Repub congress saying No to everything just to say No.
For those of you who think the Rs stand for all that is good, you better look again. They pander to you with issues on the gays, abortion, etc, all the while shoveling money out the back door to the wealthiest of their friends. Any programs that actually benefit you, they are against. ie Social security, medicare, education, jobs Wake up folks, these are what will matter to you, not if two gay people get married!
I am the least prejudice person I know but this guy is right and this is a common discussion I hear all the time. And yes I am half white[smile]
I need to add a codicil to my earlier statement.
I don’t understand left, right, democratic, or republic, but I know just enough about history to know that often the first move of dictators is to ban citizens owning guns. And that is all I was saying there.
As for the race issue, I do believe the meaning of prejudice includes “a preconceived usually unfavorable idea,” and “intolerance or hatred of other races.” So Mr. Martin is prejudiced, even if his compliant does have merit, which I’m not convinced of. Though you’ve certainly given me a lot to think about.
"Peter" needs a lesson in forms of government. The United States was founded as a Constitutional Republic based on rule of law. The terms "far right", "far left", "right" and "left" exist only in a democracy - which is rule according to the passions, opinions and prejudices of those in power. Our Founding Fathers abhorred democracy as a form of government. Both the USSR and Germany under Hitler were democracies. Naziism, or national socialism, just as communism and fascism, are all rooted in Marxism; they are three heads of the same snake. There are very few people, in the United States today, as witnessed by some of the responses here, that truly understand the foundations of our nation. And if they did understand the foundations of our nation, they would know that Mr Martin is right in what he says about Obama; that he is also right in what he says about minorities in this country. That does not make him a racist or a white supremacist; it makes him an honorable man speaking truth.
I agree that under the First Amendment Mr. Martin has a right to free speech, but he’s only fooling himself if he thinks he’s not racist. Anyone who blames their plight in life on their race is racist, period. You’re making an excuse and blaming others when you should just get off your duff and fight harder.
That said I’d also like to comment on the person who said fascists are the far right and Democrats are the far left. Personally, I don’t get this far right or far left bit, never have, but I do know one thing — the first thing dictators like Hitler and Mussolini did to insure their dominion over their countries was to outlaw law abiding citizens owning guns. Hum, sounds like the Democrats to me!
As an American, this fellow has a right to say what he wants and to offend as many people as he wants. What puzzles me is how a legitimate news source wastes its time and ours publishing a story about this flake and his senile ideas. Is it that hard to find real news in Idaho?
oh yeah I forgot,, problem solved,, Obama will explain 900,000 more lost jobs by signing another bill extending Unemployment another 2 years, This way all the dirtbags that ride unemployment don't need to look for a job and can stay home and do nothing
I don't agree with the flag, but being a postal worker, I agree with the stupidity he is trying to bring to light.
Obama is destroying the entire country,, the middle class is done in this country, in Idaho, a postal worker is a good job. In NJ, you just get by, Why, well by the time you get taxed you have nothing,, we have to pay for all the minorites that are on Welfare, unemployment, disability, etc....
Obama has done nothing to fix this country.. Now instead of telling congress to leave the Post Office alone and pay back the 75 BILLON they overpaid, He's letting Issa and Ross try to destroy the Postal system,, and as with Congress the problem with the PO is Management, Too many idiots doing nothing, all they want to do is dismantle the PO,, well ask Obama this, if he lets them dismantle the PO. How is he going explain another 900,000 people out of work.
[beam] I was in the Navy with a guy from Idaho, Tracy Charters, you still there?
I believe everyone has a right to express their freedom of speech but Mr. Martin lost me with his "good honest white guy" line. Are you serious or just going senile? So the person you voted for didn't win, in your many years I'm sure this isn't the first time it's happened. But I do understand seeing how your an ex-postal employee and I'm glad your retired so you can devote your leisure years to thinking up stupid ideas. Mr. Martin probably hated History class. I can't believe the Journal wasted space with this article!
Whatever, You will never learn. So when the time comes that we are no longer free then you will think opps! And to also let you know, my wife was the one who left the comment , the part where you have the nerve to say "for being a TrueAmerican you sure do know how to spell" Talk about her like that and I will report you. It doesn't matter if the president is black democrat, or a white Democrat, or even a woman Democrat. They are still no good. Ever sense he has been in office our food prices, gas prices ect have gone up and more people are poor. Marriage is being destoryed . he is trying to take our gun rights away and there is proof from his own mouth saying he want's the gun owners in this counrty to be with out protection. If you don't like it here them Move to a counrty that will love to have you .
@trueamerican2000 for being a true american you sure do know how to spell. Is it ironic to fly a Nazi flag when there's an African american in the white house..I'd bet you anything if there was a white democratic male in office this guy wouldn't even have came up in the news
I am also a veteran. I, and my family, have sacrificed for this country and its people. While this individual may have the right (by law) to fly a symbol of murder and hatred it does not mean what he is doing is right. There are other ways for him to express his feelings, like the rest of us. And for those that are using this for a political platform; grow up. This is nothing more than a small man in a small town with a small mind.
@ peter. The right that you are talking about are the christain people. You demos want to distory all good in this counrty anyway. The RIGHT are trying to make this counrty the way it once was before People like you took over and made the counrty the way you want it, taking my gun rights away, taking GOD out of everything, distorying marriage (Man + Woman =real Marriage) we can't even pray in public because people like you (Demos) say its agianst Obama's law. Go figure.
Mr Martin is a true American and he has every right to fly the flag, Obama is just like Hilter. Obama and his goverment are God haters, poor people haters Gun owner haters. ect.. They tell us what we can say or do. Democtrats have been haters and criminals for years they want God taken out of everything, they want to distory the christians. Go back in history it shows what Demos are really like. This counrty has been taken over by a dictorer. If You do disagree with Mr Martin then you not a true American, you are a Obama lover I guess. Leave the guy alone. I would love to beable to shake his mans hands. GOD BLESS THE USA!!
For Immediate Release
Office of the College Democrats at Idaho State University.
Tomorrow is the 4th of July, an event marking our nation’s independence in 1776. This day is a joyous day for Americans everywhere, as we gather our friends and family and celebrate and remember the sacrifices that were made to ensure the freedoms that we enjoy today. Of the freedoms we enjoy in the Bill of Rights of 1789, ratified in 1791, among others is the Freedom of Speech.
Gene Martin of Pocatello Idaho has made a choice to exercise his right to freedom of speech. Let me be crystal clear; no member of our organization agrees with the message that Mr. Martin has chosen to express. Having said that, we also realize that all forms of speech must be protected. If freedom of speech was only protected on the basis of popularity, then our rights, and rights of those with unpopular ideas would be in constant danger and possibly silenced. At the same time Freedom of Speech, should it be found to intimidate, harass, or threaten another person, are not constitutionally protected.
Mr. Martin has chosen to disgrace the over 60 Million people who lost their lives during WW2, our Vets, and countless others who have been affected by the War, and the other hateful and hurtful messages directed at minorities in our beloved community.
On the Forth of July we thank Mr. Martin, himself a vet, for his service to our country, and for reminding us that we still enjoy a certain amount of individual liberties. However we ask Mr. Martin to consider the message he is sending to everyone else in our community and across the world. He has brought great shame to our community.
This is indicative of one of the problems of this country. Not that he's choosing to fly a Nazi flag, which I find personally offensive but with in his rights, but his total ignorance of political systems. Fascism is to the far right wing on the political spectrum, not the far left wing. As a democrat becomes farther to the extreme end of his politics, he becomes a socialist, then a communist, certainly not a Nazi. As a Republican goes farther to the extreme right wing, then he falls into the Fascist/Nazi end of right wing politics. Perhaps Mr. Martin needs to learn a little before he starts calling names. Flying a Nazi flag for Obama makes as much sense as calling Ronald Reagan a bleeding heart Communist and flying the flag of the Soviet Union in protest of Bush/Cheney policies.
"Martin said he has no intentions of going down the path of white supremacy..."
“A good honest white guy doesn’t have a chance, because they’ve gotten up into the minorities too much, they have all the rights, the rest of us don’t have any,”
Sure sounds like he's going down the path of white supremacy to me--this time by playing the victim card. I can just hear Hitler saying, prior to WWII, "A good honest non-Jew doesn't have a chance because the Jews have all the rights..." Sorry, but if you're flying a Nazi flag, you deserve to be viewed as a bigot and a racist.
I'm not an Obama fan but comparing him to Hitler is just wrong. If this guy just wants to be left alone then why talk to the media? Sounds like he is looking for attention.
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