Flag Burning Amendment

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
21

A large part of me supports this amendment.

I came to America at age 7 and was taught the pledge of allegiance to the flag from grades 1-3. The star bangled banner holds a special meaning to many immigrants. Two close elderly Asian friends recently passed the exam and received their citizenship. Their exuberance was wonderful to watch.

I believe Sinead O’ Connor burned a flag in her concerts and I felt someone slashed into me. So my reasons for supporting this amendment is not rational or logical but purely emotional and a deep feeling for my homeland. I’m not able to separate the symbol from my country like some can but I can understand all the reasons though.

22

The Army burns flags when they become old.

23

[quote]paul bunyan wrote:
The Army burns flags when they become old. [/quote]

Ok reason #2

I forgot About that one.

Good reason though.

24

[quote]paul bunyan wrote:
The Army burns flags when they become old. [/quote]

Right, so it’s only okay if there’s good intension behind it, so maybe we should make it illegal to show any bad behavior about the US.

Maybe make the any statement similar to “I don’t like the US” illegal.

Next amendment: One can only say or demonstrate good things about the US or be thrown into our incredibly crowded jail system without parole.

Who’s with me here?

25

[quote]SWR-1222D wrote:
paul bunyan wrote:
The Army burns flags when they become old.

Right, so it’s only okay if there’s good intension behind it, so maybe we should make it illegal to show any bad behavior about the US.[/quote]

There is no good intension behind it when the military burns a flag. It is only done when the flag is unservisable and unfit to be flown on a flag pole. I mean would you want some tattered, faded flag flying over head or would you rather have a flag that is in good shape and not faded.

Goku

26

[quote]Goku_SS4 wrote:
SWR-1222D wrote:
paul bunyan wrote:
The Army burns flags when they become old.

Right, so it’s only okay if there’s good intension behind it, so maybe we should make it illegal to show any bad behavior about the US.

There is no good intension behind it when the military burns a flag. It is only done when the flag is unservisable and unfit to be flown on a flag pole. I mean would you want some tattered, faded flag flying over head or would you rather have a flag that is in good shape and not faded.

Goku[/quote]

I would want a nice bright, clean flag, but that’s not my point. I’m sure in their twisted minds, the people burning flags think they have good intension behind doing it as well, and they think it’s actually doing some good, idiotic as they may be, it shouldn’t be illegal to do anything that doesn’t physically harm anyone else.

Freedom is about EVERYONE being free. Not just those who you (in general) agree with.

As dissrespectfull as it is, it shouldn’t be illegal.

It’s dissrespectful to have someone roll their eyes, shake their head or ignore someone, or give a dirty look too, but I see that almost everytime I go to a public place, and usually by the people at a company who have the most interaction with their customers, but that’s another issue all together.

27

[quote]Goku_SS4 wrote:

Burning the flag to show that you dont like the way things are going in this country is the wrong route to go in my book. You have the right to protest all you want. So find something else to burn to prove your point.

Goku[/quote]

Like the Federal Building in OKC? What a stupid comment.

I used to be of the opinion that if somebody burned the flag in my presence that they’d be in for an ass whoopin too. What I’ve learned over the years is that it’s just a flag. Sure it symbolizes our freedom and values, but it’s still only a symbol. People burn the flag: (1) to get a reaction, because they know it will, and (2) because they believe that the values our country once stood for are falling by the wayside.

To resort to violence because somebody offends your sensibilities is a pretty un-evolved reaction. They have the same right to express their opinions as you do, even if they aren’t the same. Maybe if you actually had a conversation with the person about the reasoning behind their actions, you both might learn something.

28

Two things:

  1. As everyone else is basically saying, it comes back to the old Voltaire line, “I disagree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

  2. More importantly, and don’t take this the wrong way, when did the flag become so weak that we had to protect it? The Stars and Stripes has flown proudly, in many incarnations, for over two centuries, and endured far worse abuses than burning or desecration by overprivileged pacifists. Aside from the very real free speech issues, I see a flag burning amendment in some ways as almost a sign of weakness, that we can’t let the flag stand up to attack, even from the worst kind of people. We should almost be proud that the American flag stands for ideas so powerful that people want to burn it. As I think Mark Steyn has pointed out, you don’t see the Maple Leaf getting burned or trampled too often.

29

I served 4 years in the Corps to protect your right to burn the flag. If I see you do it I’ll kick your teeth in. It’s a disrespect to ANYONE who has fought for the country. Love it or leave it. Write a letter. Don’t burn the flag.

DD

30

[quote]Devil0351Dog wrote:
I served 4 years in the Corps to protect your right to burn the flag. If I see you do it I’ll kick your teeth in. It’s a disrespect to ANYONE who has fought for the country. Love it or leave it. Write a letter. Don’t burn the flag.

DD[/quote]

-Like I said, un-evolved.

Did you really just say that you would die to give somebody the right to do it, but if they do it you’ll kick their teeth in?
You risked YOUR life fighting for something YOU don’t even believe in? Why? Was it the commercials?

-Love it or leave it?
Freedom of speech for those you agree with right? Or, do they just have to express it in a WAY you approve of?

31

[quote]AZMojo wrote:
Goku_SS4 wrote:

Burning the flag to show that you dont like the way things are going in this country is the wrong route to go in my book. You have the right to protest all you want. So find something else to burn to prove your point.

Goku

Like the Federal Building in OKC? What a stupid comment.[/quote]

Why burn a flag. So the country isnt liveing up to what you think it should. Why not make a poster of good ol GW and burn it if you dont like the way things are going. That is what is meant by find something else to burn. Dont read so much into it. Your over analyzing it.[quote]

I used to be of the opinion that if somebody burned the flag in my presence that they’d be in for an ass whoopin too. What I’ve learned over the years is that it’s just a flag. Sure it symbolizes our freedom and values, but it’s still only a symbol. People burn the flag: (1) to get a reaction, because they know it will, and (2) because they believe that the values our country once stood for are falling by the wayside.

To resort to violence because somebody offends your sensibilities is a pretty un-evolved reaction. They have the same right to express their opinions as you do, even if they aren’t the same. Maybe if you actually had a conversation with the person about the reasoning behind their actions, you both might learn something.[/quote]

I never said i would go over and kick the shit out of anybody. I said I would do what I could to stop it. I understand that it left a wide gap to be interprited as going over and kicking the shit out of someone. But, that was not my point. And yes they do have the right to protest about what ever they want. Even if I dont agree with them. I have no proplem with that.

Now as far as talking to them about why they are burning a flag. I dont think they will change my mind and make it ok in my book to burn one. Just like I wont change there mind. The only thing that would be learned is what he or she was protesting about. And again I would bring up the poster of good ol GW and say why not burn that.

Goku

32

Nothing at all wrong at all with what DevilDog wrote. I don’t belive burning the flag should be made illegal. It is a right to “speak” freely. But I as well would “de-evolve” into an Ass-Kicking Mutha F—er if the burning took place in my presence. Call me a caveman or whatever your more sophisticated intellect can muster… I’d still dive in “swingin” and let the chips fall where they may.

And just know that it’s people like D-Dog and I that would come to the defense of any true victim even at our own peril. However, let the flag-burner gets what ever he/she deserves.

33

Burning our flag is not what the Founding Fathers would consider freedom of speech.

34

[quote]SWR-1222D wrote:
Goku_SS4 wrote:
SWR-1222D wrote:
paul bunyan wrote:
The Army burns flags when they become old.

Right, so it’s only okay if there’s good intension behind it, so maybe we should make it illegal to show any bad behavior about the US.

There is no good intension behind it when the military burns a flag. It is only done when the flag is unservisable and unfit to be flown on a flag pole. I mean would you want some tattered, faded flag flying over head or would you rather have a flag that is in good shape and not faded.

Goku

I would want a nice bright, clean flag, but that’s not my point. I’m sure in their twisted minds, the people burning flags think they have good intension behind doing it as well, and they think it’s actually doing some good, idiotic as they may be, it shouldn’t be illegal to do anything that doesn’t physically harm anyone else.

Freedom is about EVERYONE being free. Not just those who you (in general) agree with.

As dissrespectfull as it is, it shouldn’t be illegal.

It’s dissrespectful to have someone roll their eyes, shake their head or ignore someone, or give a dirty look too, but I see that almost everytime I go to a public place, and usually by the people at a company who have the most interaction with their customers, but that’s another issue all together. [/quote]

Yes everyone is free not just the ones in general that I agree with. And they have the right to protest all they want about what ever they want. I have no problem with that. I may not agree with what it is. But, I will not look down on you for what you are protesting.

I understand your point about being disrespectful to someone at work or in public. But, they arent doing anything like burning a symbol of there country. If someone disrespects me then I can deal with that. I can approch it how ever I see fit.

But, if someone disrespects our country then who is going to handle that. The gov will handle it.

I mean I will handle who ever is being disrespectful to me and they will handle who ever is disrespecful to the country. So they want to make an amemdment to make it illegal to burn a flag. What is the diff in that and me handleing someone being disrespectful to me. They are just handleing it how they see fit. I mean hell just put it to a vote. I mean that is what we are all about anyway. Right?

Goku

35

[quote]derek wrote:
Nothing at all wrong at all with what DevilDog wrote. I don’t belive burning the flag should be made illegal. It is a right to “speak” freely. But I as well would “de-evolve” into an Ass-Kicking Mutha F—er if the burning took place in my presence. Call me a caveman or whatever your more sophisticated intellect can muster… I’d still dive in “swingin” and let the chips fall where they may.

And just know that it’s people like D-Dog and I that would come to the defense of any true victim even at our own peril. However, let the flag-burner gets what ever he/she deserves.[/quote]

Now I dont think you are a de-evoled cave man. But, I dont think my first reaction would be to kick the shit out of them. Now dont get me wrong if it came to that and that is what it took to stop it then by all means I have a hot molten can of Whoop Ass for the flag burner that wants to talk shit.

Im on the fence on this issue.

I mean it is a right that I have faught for and protected.

But, it is a symbol of our country that I feal should be protected.

But, I feel it is wrong to burn the flag.

Goku

36

I wonder about this part of the equation… Maybe a new way to look at this.

OK, let’s give protesters (man, I hate that word) the ability or the RIGHT to do as they may with the flag ie; burn it in “protest”. But give ME the right to DEFEND my countries’ flag from BEING burned in the first place.

Where is it stated that I have to sit around and allow Old Glory to be burned? Just as I’d defend the weak and defenseless from an attacker, I’d defend my flag. And I’d use whatever force nessesary to do so.

No false bravado.
No talking shit.
Matter of fact.

37

[quote]derek wrote:
Where is it stated that I have to sit around and allow Old Glory to be burned? Just as I’d defend the weak and defenseless from an attacker, I’d defend my flag. And I’d use whatever force nessesary to do so.

No false bravado.
No talking shit.
Matter of fact.[/quote]

What a hero!!

-By whatever means nessesary(sic!)? So you’d kill somebody over 12 square ft. of nylon? That may be the stupidest thing I’ve heard today. Matter of fact.

-Flags aren’t people. They’re cloth. They don’t want or need you to come to their defense.

38

[quote]AZMojo wrote:

What a hero!!

-By whatever means nessesary(sic!)? So you’d kill somebody over 12 square ft. of nylon? That may be the stupidest thing I’ve heard today. Matter of fact.

-Flags aren’t people. They’re cloth. They don’t want or need you to come to their defense.

[/quote]

39

[quote]derek wrote:
Where is it stated that I have to sit around and allow Old Glory to be burned? Just as I’d defend the weak and defenseless from an attacker, I’d defend my flag. And I’d use whatever force nessesary to do so.

No false bravado.
No talking shit.
Matter of fact.[/quote]

What a guy!!! Me and my flatmates had a good laugh reading this, thank you !

40

Ignore that last messed up post… Ooops

 AZ, I'm not trying to be a hero, but thanks for the compliment and thank you for picking up on my spelling error... YOU are the true hero here!

And I never said anyone would have to die. I figure "any means" may include removing the flag from danger, maybe a quick shove to persuade the maggot, I mean "protester" to cease his action. Or even a discussion on the futility of symbolic protests.

 But I will decide who and what needs defending. thanks for the input just the same.