Interpreting and then making quick policy decisions not only takes sound judgment but often requires common sense.

A South Carolina school administrator and a townhouse management company were recently stung by public criticism in their attempts to be too politically correct regarding the American flag.First, Aaron Fulmer, principal at Woodruff High School in Spartanburg, S.C., caused his own firestorm when he ordered four students to remove the large American flags mounted on posts in their truck beds. They had their vehicles in the school parking lot on Sept. 11 as a tribute to the victims who died in the terrorist attacks against America 13 years ago.Fulmer, who returned the flags to the students at the end of the day, claimed the rules forbid anything that creates a disturbance or draws an "unusual amount of attention." He said that while he appreciates the students' patriotism and understands why they were flying flags on 9/11, he cannot pick and choose when to enforce the rules.Outraged members of the community responded by driving in front of the school with flags flying from their vehicles. Others stood on the sidewalk waving flags.In an attempt to defuse the situation, Fulmer announced the school would have an "American Monday," encouraging students to dress in red, white and blue and bring American flags."I don't want our kids to think the school does not support our country," Fulmer said.Thankfully, officials were to meet to discuss a revision to the policy.In another school case in California, the 9th U.S. Circuit upheld the right of high school students to wear flag-themed clothing to school. Opponents had argued that it's not safe to display an American flag in an American public school, for fear of causing offense and disruption.John W. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute and author of "A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, said that the case signifies so much of what is wrong with America today, whereby the populace is indoctrinated into a politically correct mindset, starting in the schools, while those who exercise their freedoms are punished for it.A month ago, a company in suburban Columbus, Ohio, that manages townhouses stirred public criticism after ordering an 86-year-old tenant to remove the flag despite the history that a flag has hung outside her rental town home for 36 years.A lawyer for the company says the no-flags policy is a neutral one and that the policy keeps people from hanging flags or banners that might be more controversial and offensive to some.I'd like to know who the "some" are who might be offended by the American flag. Those types might be candidates for the radical Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, since we know they're actively searching for converts.By Jim Zbickeditor@tnonline.com