The Santa Fe New Mexican; Santa Fe, N.M.; Oct 15, 2001; MARISSA STONE;

(Copyright 2001 Santa Fe New Mexican)

Local patriotism a motley mix

Narendra Singh Kloty wears a red-white-and-blue turban for three reasons: To show he's not associated with the Taliban; to show his support for the United States; and to make people laugh.

Kloty, 41, an American citizen from India, wears a turban because of his Sikh religion. But when people started "throwing him the finger" as he drove in his car, Kloty said he asked his mother to send him a red, white and blue one.

"The turban represents something not American, something Middle Eastern," he said. "I'm trying to tell people, `No. this is very American. Red, white and blue.' That's what I'm trying to do without saying anything."

The turban also makes some people laugh, Kloty added. "This is the time when a little lightheartedness is needed."

Besides Kloty, New Mexicans and Americans are adorning themselves, their cars, their homes and other items with U.S. flags and colors. Many who wear patriotic T-shirts and place American flags on their cars support President Bush's war on terrorism.

Marc Silver, a native New Yorker who lives in Longmont, Colo., is "100 percent behind the president."

Silver stood next to his wife, Jane, near the Santuario de Chimayo on Saturday. Jane Silver wore a big white T-shirt with a U.S. flag that read: "United We Stand."

If it's not the T-shirt, Marc Silver said, "it's (patriotic) pins and pendants" that his wife wears.

Americans are closer after the terrorist attacks on the country, Marc Silver said. "It's sad that this had to happen to bring a spirit of patriotism," Jane Silver said.

Kenny Ortega of Vallecitos wore a T-shirt flag with an American eagle and a U.S. flag that reads: "We will not live in fear."

"We have to show anyone that messes with us that we will defend our country," the 39-year-old Ortega said Sunday afternoon. Ortega also wore a white U.S.A. cap.

Ortega stood near his brown Dodge caravan watching his 5-year-old daughter, Monae, ride her scooter around a parking lot on Cerrillos Road as he waited for his wife. On the dashboard of the Caravan rested an American flag.

Ortega's wife, Cheri, holding her 12-day-old daughter, Alea Janae, said she supports the way the president is handling the war but hates the killing of innocent Afghans.

Dennis Tiede of Chimayo said he feels the same.

Tiede, sitting on a white table beneath a huge U.S. flag, said that after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, "All of a sudden I realize I do know the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner, I do know how to sing America the Beautiful and I do know the Pledge of Allegiance."

Tiede, a 59-year-old Vietnam veteran, said that before the terrorism in this country, it had been a long time since he'd done any of those things.

Tiede, who is part owner of Leona's Restaurante in Chimayo with his wife, Leona, said the flag near him belonged to his father-in- law, who was a World War II veteran before he died.

The only person 20-year-old Nicole Lannaccone knew who flew a flag before Sept. 11, she said, was her grandfather. But she admits seeing flags waving everywhere now is questionable.

"I think it's a strange bit of propaganda," Lannaccone said.

"I agree," added 22-year-old Claire Barone, sitting next to Lannaccone and other theater students at the College of Santa Fe on Sunday.

Several students gathered on the steps and listened to each other's opinions about the war on terrorism. Four male students, who were performing in a play Sunday called The Rivals, wore black buckled shoes, white tights, English coats and cravats.

"I don't think we can really trust what the media is telling us (about the new war on terrorism)," Barone said.

"Until the history books are written," added Brent Harvey. Harvey, 23, said he is a Navy brat who supports the president.

Barone and Lannaccone said they wouldn't fly a flag.

"I think our interests are monetary," Barone said. "All of a sudden we're concerned about the horrible injustices in Afghanistan, but only after (the terrorists) attack us."

"Flags are just another way of making money," Lannaccone added.

Tim Wild, 24, said the flag-waving is sincere, but "I don't need to have a flag on my car to say thanks for the freedom and safety I've been given up to this point."

The omnipresent flags are "kind of like a blown-up patriotic thing ... that will pass," said Brett Travis, 18.

Before the terrorist attacks, Lannaccone said, "people couldn't have cared less that they were Americans."

Kloty, wearing his red, white and blue, would disagree.

When people began treating many Sikhs badly after the terrorist attacks, Kloty said his mother, Gurdeep Kaur, was worried and asked him to return to India.

"I said `no, this is my home,' Kloty said. "I'm an American citizen. My wife is here. My business is here.

"This is a great nation where I've seen so much love," he said. "There are people on this planet who cannot love their fellow man because they're fighting for their next meal."

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