Reader Survey: What's your reaction to the theft of a number of pride flags in Decorah?

Let's have a discussion just like people do on Facebook—but in this case, let's be polite to one another and use our first and last names!

There are plenty of questions to discuss in reaction to this week's stories about the theft of pride flags from a number of households.  Let's take them chronologically:

The pride flags went up because a Decorah resident was verbally assaulted.  If someone verbally assaulted you because you were gay, black, Hispanic, female, etc., what would be your response and why?  Would you shrug it off?  Would you file a complaint with the police?  Would you file a complaint with the Decorah Human Rights Commission?  Would you hold a rally in support of your group's rights?

Which approach do you favor—going public with what happened, telling a few friends or hoping this will pass over?

The pride flags went up at a number of houses, but later were stolen.  One person among the group of teenagers who did this has apologized to the vandalism targets and has promised to buy new flags for them.  Should he still be charged with fifth degree theft?  What about the others in the car?  Should the driver be charged?  Other passengers who did not take flags?

When teenagers are arrested and charged with a crime and the police department issues a news release, decorahnews.com posts a story about the arrest.  Occasionally we get phone calls from teenagers or parents saying, "This was just a teenaged mistake—can you erase your news story?"  We deny such requests even though we realize the publicity of their arrest will be one more result of their mistake they will have to deal with. 

There have been other examples in the past of teenagers in Decorah getting into trouble with the law as a result of doing something stupid.  Should we cut them some slack?  Or will suffering the consequences "teach them a lesson?"

Finally, was this a "Hate Crime," or wasn't it?  Do the attitudes of the people involved have any bearing on what term we use?  Or do you see things more in black and white?

Remember—any comments must include your first and last names and will be edited to keep the discussion civil.  E-mail news@decorahnews.com