Here's my offer on flag-burning!

[.Shane.]

Source...

Ok, so, rather than a predictable thread about flag burning (which the linked article shows failed an Amendment vote by 1), I'll tell you what really butters my bread.

While I'm against a flag-burning amendment, I do understand the viewpoint of those who do. That said, here's my offer:

Let's not stop at flag burning. See, at least when someone burns a flag, at least its done in protest of something which is the very excercise of what the flag stands for. So, if we're going to ironically punish someone, we might as well punish the people who really abuse and debase the flag.

Who is that? All of the following:
*wearing the flag on personal clothing, esp. underwear, bathing suits, etc...
*flag tattoos
*tattered flags on cars
*flag bumper stickers

etc...

If you truly revere it as a symbol you wouldn't treat it like a crappy trinket you bought for 10 cents at Walmart.

I'd rather burn 50 flags than watch see some sloth in a ragged old shirt w/ a flag on it.

So, if we're gonna jail someone for protesting, say, free speech limitations who burns a flag, let's also jail any idiot who has the flag tattooed on their bicep. Or that neighbor who put one on his car radio antenna and its now shredded to 60% its original size.

I want real respect for the flag, not misguided jingoism.

Jail all of 'em or none of 'em, I say.

 

[Bluemofia]

Agreed.

I'm perfectly fine with Flag burning normally, because someone has to pay for the flag, and usually the protesters buy the flag to burn it, otherwise they can be arrested for burglary or theft.

So they are basically wasting their money on burning flags.

 

[Taliesin]

Start with this one...

 

[Moss]

I actually wish they'd pass the ammendment so then the government could go waste it's time on other matters.

I mean, there's like 10 flag incidents a year...hardly worth a constitutional ammendment, but hell, why not pass it just so we can stop talking about it and using it at smoke to get the public's attention away from other issues.

 

[tomsnowman123]

I thought we were all protected by free speach and freedom of opinion, which would allow anybody to burn a flag. Honestly, what helps make this country great in people's eyes, is that you can outright disagree with what our government does. Flag burning is just a way to excercize that. I am glad for the 34 congressmen who stood up for the Constitution in this case.

 

[malclave]

I'm perfectly fine with Flag burning normally, because someone has to pay for the flag, and usually the protesters buy the flag to burn it, otherwise they can be arrested for burglary or theft.

I agree.

I think burning the flag is a detestable act, but that it is (and should be) protected speech.

Now, if any crimes are committed in relation to the flag burning (stealing and/or destroying another person's property, trespassing, whatever), I think the perpetrator should be prosecuted.

 

[Turner]

Moderator Action: .Shane., warned, language.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

Different people rever different ways. Some show their respect by making it a permanent part of their body. Some with undergarments. Okay, I don't understand those two, but if that's how a person wants to do it, I can respect that. Who am I to say that they can't rever as they feel they need to?

 

[Eukaryote]

I disagree with you about the tatoo's. What better way to show your loyalty to something than to stick it on your body?

 

[Perfection]

It's a freakin' flag, there's a bunch of serious crises in the world and we're talking about a freakin' flag.

Congress, bunch of jerks. I bet half of those people who supported it did so that people would just shut the hell up about it.

 

[De Lorimier]

Let them burn flags, let them marry each other, let them have abortions.

I know the midterms are coming, but these debates are always brought back to appeal to the electorate of some backward regions. It's getting boring.

More On-Topic: I couldn't agree more with you .Shane.
I've seen things done to flags that were a lot worse than fire.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Well perf it is the symbol of America. That's like taking a piss on the Tomb of the Unkowns.

 

[tomsnowman123]

Well perf it is the symbol of America.

As such, it falls under the protection of free speach.

 

[CaptainF]

Well perf it is the symbol of America. That's like taking a piss on the Tomb of the Unkowns.

For the true patriots, as opposed to the small minded idiots, the flag should not be tantamount to the country.

So yes, make it legal to burn ol' glory.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

For true patriots, you narrow minded fool, you do not disrespect your country, or the National Symbol of it. Why don't you go out and shoot yourself a Bald Eagle, then? Even better, why don't you paint a big red hammer and sicle on your chest and go strutting on in to the National Mall, and see how long you last.

 

[CaptainF]

For true patriots, you narrow minded fool, you do not disrespect your country, or the National Symbol of it. Why don't you go out and shoot yourself a Bald Eagle, then? Even better, why don't you paint a big red hammer and sicle on your chest and go strutting on in to the National Mall, and see how long you last.

Maybe its just the Oregonian in me, but around here in one of the more conservative areas of Oregon, people wear those Sickle and Hammer t-shirts all the time, and one of them I know personally to be a conservative.

A true american patriot should believe in the freedom which his country established. A true patriot knows that principles, not symbols, are what really matters.

If people want to burn the flag as a protest, then so be it. Chances are the flag was made in China anyway.

 

[Cuivienen]

For true patriots, you narrow minded fool, you do not disrespect your country, or the National Symbol of it. Why don't you go out and shoot yourself a Bald Eagle, then? Even better, why don't you paint a big red hammer and sicle on your chest and go strutting on in to the National Mall, and see how long you last.

The flag is not the country, and conflating the two only reduces the value of the country to jingoism. I would hope that we mean more than some ugly red and white stripes and a smattering of stars.

 

[tomsnowman123]

The flag is not the country, and conflating the two only reduces the value of the country to jingoism. I would hope that we mean more than some ugly red and white stripes and a smattering of stars.

Unfortunately, GOP members of Congress don't thnk so, and are placing way too much importance on a flag, just a flag, that doesn't mean a whole lot.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Maybe its just the Oregonian in me, but around here in one of the more conservative areas of Oregon, people wear those Sickle and Hammer t-shirts all the time, and one of them I know personally to be a conservative.

A true american patriot should believe in the freedom which his country established. A true patriot knows that principles, not symbols, are what really matters.
.

That's right, because I'm a fake American. That's why I will go out there and fight for the right for you to stand there and claim that you have the right to desacrate a sacred thing like the flag. For shame. Perhaps you can afford to think like that in high school history class, but in the real world pal, we have morals. I'm sorry that you don't have the national pride to understand something like that, and that you don't have the wisdom to realize that you don't know it.

 

[RedWolf]

That's right, because I'm a fake American. That's why I will go out there and fight for the right for you to stand there and claim that you have the right to desacrate a sacred thing like the flag. For shame. Perhaps you can afford to think like that in high school history class, but in the real world pal, we have morals. I'm sorry that you don't have the national pride to understand something like that, and that you don't have the wisdom to realize that you don't know it.

That was an entire paragraph of meaningless jingoism. Can you really hear yourself?

What does a piece of cloth have to do with morals? Particularly if you still believe in your country anyway. It is only a FLAG.

By the way - those who have stood and fought for their country did indeed fight for our freedom - and true freedom does not include only the things that YOU agree with.

 

[CaptainF]

That's right, because I'm a fake American. That's why I will go out there and fight for the right for you to stand there and claim that you have the right to desacrate a sacred thing like the flag. For shame. Perhaps you can afford to think like that in high school history class, but in the real world pal, we have morals. I'm sorry that you don't have the national pride to understand something like that, and that you don't have the wisdom to realize that you don't know it.

Ahem, if you will get off of your sanctimonious steed...

...what makes a flag sacred? Is it the twinkly stars? The blood red stripes? Or is it just the American flag that is sacred?

You probably wouldn't give a crap if someone burned a Saudi/Iraqi/Afghani/Chinese flag. Its just a symbol. Is the propaganda symbol known as Uncle Sam sacred too? I would hope that the United states doesn't consider a propaganda item sacred.

And if you declare that you fight for my right to burn the flag, are you implying that because you fight for my right to burn it, that I simultaneously do not deserve the right to burn it because i'm too lazy to fight for it?

Besides, as far as I can tell you aren't even in the military or any such organization.