Flag Desecration.....should it be outlawed?

[Airhead]

Your meaning that if someone came up to your child and showed them pics of beheaded, dismembered bodies covered in flies that your only recourse is to grab your child and leave. Although your child is part of the future of our country, he/she is not the symbol of our country. Symbolism is important enough in this country that the Bald Eagle is protected... by law.

LOL, the Bald Eagle is protected cause it's a raptor, and ALL raptors are protected. It's not protected because it's a "symbol." Cheeesh man.   And the only time I've heard of protesters showing people pictures of bloody lumps of flesh is at anti abortion protests. Avoid visiting Planned Parenthood with your kids and you should be OK.

[john9001]

if you burn leaves it's air pollution, if you burn the flag it's freedom of speech.  ?????

[Holden McGroin]

if you burn leaves it's air pollution, if you burn the flag it's freedom of speech.  ?????

If you burn a flag, you could get a ticket for burning something, or violating an antipollution ordinance, you just cannot get arrested for desecration.

If you went up to a nativity scene in front of the Baptist church and burned it you would be arrested for arson and vandalism, not blasphemy.

[Airhead]

If you burn a flag, you could get a ticket for burning something, or violating an antipollution ordinance, you just cannot get arrested for desecration.

If you went up to a nativity scene in front of the Baptist church and burned it you would be arrested for arson and vandalism, not blasphemy.

What if the Baby Jeebus was wrapped in an American flag?

[lazs2]

I have no problem with burning a flag.. I would have no problem (if I were on the jury) in letting the guy off who beat the crap out of the flag burner tho.   

He was simply asking for it.  He has the right to do it.. he should also take responsibility for the actions it causes.

For instance.. there is no law against someone telling yu what a potato your mom is and going into a lengthy description...  might even be a well meaning (to him) christian type.. it is free speech.. more speech than burning something but.. he should expect someone might beat the crap out of him.

lazs

[Charon]

I'll just rip off Holden's response on this one:

The flag is a political symbol.

Burning a political symbol is a means of political expression.

Freedom of expression = freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is protected by the constitution.

Therefore burning the flag is protected by the constitution.

As I recall, my enlistment oath said nothing about the flag. It focused on that Constitution thingy. I personally appreciate the differences that set us apart for the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Iran, etc. To get all Goodwin's law lets throw in the old "Blood and Iron" and to give Uncle Joe his due, the Hammer and Sickle. I wonder if there are any Chinese that might like to burn a flag over Tibet... Oops, don't want that bullet in the head I guess or perhaps a kind and gentle couple of years in a reeducation camp.

Trash the bill of rights and that flag is just a piece of cloth to me, of no more value than the sheet on my bed.

Charon

[dmf]

I'll just rip off Holden's response on this one:

As I recall, my enlistment oath said nothing about the flag. It focused on that Constitution thingy. I personally appreciate the differences that set us apart for the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Iran, etc. To get all Goodwin's law lets throw in the old "Blood and Iron" and to give Uncle Joe his due, the Hammer and Sickle. I wonder if there are any Chinese that might like to burn a flag over Tibet... Oops, don't want that bullet in the head I guess or perhaps a kind and gentle couple of years in a reeducation camp.

Trash the bill of rights and that flag is just a piece of cloth to me, of no more value than the sheet on my bed.

Charon

"Trash the bill of rights and that flag is just a piece of cloth to me, of no more value than the sheet on my bed."

yea I feel sooo much safer knowing that your protecting me and my country, just remember that its the bill of rights, that gives you the right to that free speech to say you have no problem burning the Bill of rights, and the flag in the first place.

Maybe you should consider undoing your oath to the United States, and moving to a third world country.

[Maverick]

DMF,

I think you missed something in Charon's post there. He was not dissing the flag at all. What he was saying is that the constitution and the BoR are the thing that the country is formed upon, not the flag. If you remove the constitution and the rights we are guaranteed because of it, we are no longer the nation that was started 200+ years ago, we would be another banana republic. We would not have the right to claim a symbol of freedom in that situation.

His statement about the oath of office is the same as it is for the President on down. You do not swear to uphold and defend the flag, you swear to uphold and defend the constitution. The constitution is the basis of the government not the cloth waving above the building.

[dmf]

And if you remove the flag, you remove the symbol of our country, maybe he can live without a symbol, but theres the other 98% of us that feel pride when he see the flag and get killing mad when we see it dissed.

[Chairboy]

My nation can't be threatened by a hippy with matches.  You seem convinced that our country is quite a bit weaker, DMF, and I don't understand why.

[dmf]

Don't accuse me of saying America is weak, I said we feel PRIDE when we see the flag and get KILLING MAD when we see it dissed. the only weakness in this world is our enemies. Enemies of the United States, both foreign and domestic. I may not be military but I'll fight to the death for my child, my country, and my freedom.

[Sandman]

I said we feel PRIDE when we see the flag and get KILLING MAD when we see it dissed.

Which if acted upon makes you a domestic enemy of the Constitution.

 

[twoandup]

If I may. you (the USA) saved my country of residence from Japanese invasion, you freed my european family from occupation. Whilst decades have passed and some things you do have flown in the face of popular opinion I understand there are many thousands of the sons of your country who have fought and died under your flag in foreign lands. Don't think for 1 minute that other world citizens remain emotionally unaffected by the sight of a USA flag on fire. Unfortunately freedom of expression is a 2 edged sword and your constitution is able to be manipulated for ends not seen on it's formation. I think in Australia it is against the law to burn the flag in public as it is in France, but we can't buy hand guns.
My point is the USA is advanced democracy, unfortunately some sections of the population haven't quite gathered that. Respect dictates that ones national symbol is sacred. You may have a right to do something, but a responsibility not to.

[AWMac]

I have no problem with burning a flag.. I would have no problem (if I were on the jury) in letting the guy off who beat the crap out of the flag burner tho.   

He was simply asking for it.  He has the right to do it.. he should also take responsibility for the actions it causes.

For instance.. there is no law against someone telling yu what a potato your mom is and going into a lengthy description...  might even be a well meaning (to him) christian type.. it is free speech.. more speech than burning something but.. he should expect someone might beat the crap out of him.

lazs

Free Speech goes Hand in Hand with Responsibility of what you say and Respect in the terms that you say it.

Seems like some Kalifornian Libruls like anything Free.

I LMAO at you Lazs everytime you post.

Mac

[aenigma]

...On the other hand, I feel that flag burning should also be a defense to assaulting the person doing the burning.

Amen to that!