Author Topic: Is this a joke? (Read 1850 times)

Chairboy · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2005, 11:52:28 AM »

Wait, you're not joking? You actually propose to remove the citizenship of people who burn the flag?

Wow. Well, I think you have made my case better then I could have on my own. I appreciate the help.

Raider179 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:06:50 PM »

How did yall go from dave chappelle becoming a muslim to flag burning? lmao

rpm · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:10:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Raider179
How did yall go from dave chappelle becoming a muslim to flag burning? lmao

Where's Holden when you need him?

Curval · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:13:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Raider179
How did yall go from dave chappelle becoming a muslim to flag burning? lmao

errr...that would be my fault.

I have seen pictures of a number of protestors in Afganistan and elsewhere in the Musilm world burning American flags recently. Nothing new about that I suppose...but it doesn't seem to be a problem for those guys to deface something as sacred to Americans as their flag as a way to protest the "alledged" defacing of their Koran.

This was my way of bringing it up.

VOR · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:16:26 PM »

It would be terribly silly to die for someone's right to burn a flag and I for one would not be willing to do it. While I don't condone flag burning, I won't try to stop some putz from doing it but I won't defend some kind of artistic interpretation of free speech with my life.

Say what you have to say, but then get off the street and stop blocking traffic with all your hoopla and interpretive dance.

J_A_B · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:18:40 PM »

"Wait, you're not joking? You actually propose to remove the citizenship of people who burn the flag? "

THAT was a joke, based on the irony of the very action of flag-burning. People who burn the flag profess through that action their hatred of this country and everything it stands for--yet they immediately hide behind the freedoms of this country when somebody else questions their actions. That's pretty cowardly, no? It would be more logical--and, indeed, a stronger statement--if the flag burners would NOT try to use "but Americans have freedom of speech" as a justification for their actions. Hence my "it should revoke their citizenship" joke.

The fact that "pure" freedom of speech does not and never has existed is NOT a joke.

Also not joking--I do not feel flag burning should be consitutionally protected. In my opinion it should count as a felony, but not have jail time (the difficulties in finding a job/etc with a felony on your record would be enough of a punishment).

J_A_B

Pooh21 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:25:40 PM »

comedy with a semtex vest!

Americans have a right to burn the flag, just the same as I have the right to call them jackarses. But they still have the right, plus its amusing when they accidentally light themselves on fire.(granted most who I have seen pull that neat trick off have been foreigners, who in my opinion dont have a right to burn an American flag)

Chairboy · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2005, 12:36:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by J_A_B
[BI do not feel flag burning should be consitutionally protected. In my opinion it should count as a felony, but not have jail time
J_A_B [/B]

Are you familiar with the phrase 'chilling effect' as it pertains to free speech?

You describe a policy that would be at home in Soviet Russia.

Dissent is patriotic. If you want to bust 'em for "burning without a permit" or some sort of nuisance statute for blocking traffic, the laws in their current form allow it. If, on the other hand, you want to suppress someone from stating an opinion, then your actions are clearly un-american. A founding ideal of our country is that the right to make a statement of opinion is protected. If you want to 'fight back' against the people who choose to burn the flag, then stage a counter demonstration that brings glory to our flag and the great nation it stands for.

john9001 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 31, 2005, 01:00:38 PM »

you can burn a flag but you can't polute the air.

cop:: sir you have the right to burn a flag, but you are under arrest for air polution.

(you can't even burn leaves or trash in a city)

J_A_B · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2005, 01:13:34 PM »

If I wanted to "suppress" anyone I would advocate for them to be thrown in jail for a few decades, or sent to the gulag as your Soviet example may have done.

No, instead I feel a strong stigma is in order. It's a stigma that, mind you, the protestors who truly stand by their convictions would likely wear as a badge of honor.

J_A_B

Chairboy · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2005, 01:19:55 PM »

J_A_B, you use this word 'suppress', but I do not think it means what you think it means. Your 'stigma' argument is a perfect definition of suppressing their speech.

J_A_B · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2005, 01:37:32 PM »

We look at it from different angles. You appear to consider the act of flag burning asa protected part of a person's "speech". I do not.

We have this disagreement on a BBS, great example. We're both entitled to our opinions. If you were to track me down and break my legs, that would constitute an escalation of that disagreement beyond what the law protects. I view flag burning as a similar escalation. When a peaceful protest demonstration turns into a hateful orgy of flag-burning anti-americanism, it SHOULD be broken up and the participants SHOULD have that as a permanent stain on their criminal records.

It's illegal for the KKK to burn a cross in the local black man's front yard--in fact it's a hate crime. Physically, it's harmless, but it's very powerful in a symbolic sense. Do you feel that should be legal? Burning our flag is (or, more correctly, should be) a hate crime against ALL of America.

J_A_B

Airhead · « **Reply #27 on:** May 31, 2005, 02:40:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
Mmmmmm according to your explanation, Curval, some christian americans posting on this board take jokes about burning US flags or bibles in a very "islamistic" way...

Post a link big mouth- show us a thread where it's been advocated we jail flag and bible burners.

Man some of you Euros jump on every friggin thread and try to paint Americans in as negative light as you possibly can.

Now either back your big anti American mouth up with a link or admit you're full of crap.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #28 on:** May 31, 2005, 02:47:49 PM »

Aren't you supposed to burn the flag if it touches the ground or is all worn and tattered?
-SW

Sandman · « **Reply #29 on:** May 31, 2005, 02:53:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Aren't you supposed to burn the flag if it touches the ground or is all worn and tattered?
-SW

Bingo.

Burning the flag is the proper way to dispose of it. Now, if you burn it as part of a disposal process, than that's okay. But if you burn it as an act of defiance or protest, you're a scumbag.

Gee... anyone still wondering why the Supreme Court considers this to be a 1st Amendment issue?