Call it one of the ironies of suburban living.
Richmond's suburbs are populated largely, if not predominantly, by politically conservative people. "Property rights" is a mantra of conservatives.
And yet, some of the most restrictive residential covenants can be found in suburbia, where homeowners associations often impose the sort of restrictions you might expect of a government-designated historic district.
The rules may govern the color you can paint your home's siding, shutters and doors or the width of space between the slats in your fence. When it comes to homeowner restrictions, the state has nothing on some homeowners associations.
Which brings us to the curious case of Col. Van T. Barfoot.
Barfoot, 90 and a Medal of Honor recipient, has become a cause célèbre through his battle to defend the flagpole he added to the front yard of his home in the Sussex Square community in western Henrico County.
Barfoot was ordered by his homeowners association, through a local law firm, to remove the flag by 5 p.m. yesterday or face legal action. On Thursday, the association granted him a one-week extension.
"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," the association said in a statement.
Rallying behind Barfoot and his flagpole are legions of supporters, including U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va. Barfoot's daughter said Warner is outraged and wants to help.
Warner has known Barfoot for years, but Warner is also a politician who knows a populist issue when he sees one.
Still, I'd prefer to see the senator focus on health care, unemployment and a military stretched to the breaking point, instead of inserting himself in a neighborhood quarrel.
Look, Barfoot proved his valor and patriotism on the battlefields of Italy during World War II, and also served his country in Korea and Vietnam.
But this overheated debate is no more about patriotism than the silly political food fights over who wears an American flag pin in their lapel. The expression of patriotism too often is an exercise in narcissism.
What we have in Sussex Square is people digging in their heels beyond reason.
Granting a 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient an exception to keep his flagpole would hardly be the end of the world. Instead, the homeowners association has taken the position that rules are rules.
But it must be said that Barfoot was handed those rules when he chose his home in Sussex Square, restrictive covenants and all. That aside, think about it: How many free-standing vertical poles do you see towering above residences? Barfoot's yard is not the parking lot of a car dealership.
Barfoot could fly Old Glory to his heart's content on an angled pole attached to his house, as permitted by the homeowners association.
He should stop his fight and do so.
Contact Michael Paul Williams at (804) 649-6815 or mwilliams@timesdispatch.com.
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