Well, burning a flag is traditionally the proper way to dispose of an old and battered US flag. It just has to be done with respect and ceremony. As for using it in protest, I look at it as I would look at book burning. Disgraceful, but I'm not going to jail you for it if you obey the proper safety codes.
Theres a thread about this somewhere in EM&J. Criminalize burning a piece of colored cloth. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Morons.
Just my thoughts: "It's the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It's the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It's the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It's the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trail. And it's the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, whose coffin is draped in the flag, that allows the protester to burn the flag." I'm a veteran. And it's not just a piece of colored cloth to me!
Those that burn flags are as bad as those that complain about burning flags Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! It's just symbolism on both sides, petty perceptions.
And these are just mine "It's the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press." Tell that to the reporters in Russia and South Africa and South America and ....., who paid the ultimate price. It's the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. Tell that to the writers languishing behind bars. It's the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate. Tell that to the students of Kent State It's the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trail. I'm not going to discuss lawyers, there might be children nearby. And it's the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves the flag, whose coffin is draped in the flag, that allows the protester to burn the flag." Does he serve the flag, the country, its President, or its people? They are not the same, and the only part that matters are its people. (Don't make a liberal Scot start quoting the Gettysburgh address.) "I'm a veteran. And it's not just a piece of colored cloth to me!" Nor should it be, so understand the emotions, and the sense of disenfranchisement, that would cause a citizen to burn it.
I doubt the soldiers fight with the purpose of preserving a piece of colored cloth in mind. I believe a great many, if not all, fight first for personal reasons (whether it be emotional, moral, religious and so on..), and then on the outside, claim it for country. Even then, notice they fight for the motherland and not a piece of colored cloth. Such a sentiment is akin to saying Spanish conquistadores explored America with their country's flag in mind. Inelegant generalization it is; you assume what you are trying to prove and smother soldiers under the same blanket.
Are they still fighting for it when those ideals the flag represents (after all, objectively it is just a piece of cloth that represents certain values) are no longer relevent or even worse, when the current emporer has re-defined those original values?
I have no problem whatsoever with flag burning, as long as the flags are all you're burning... and, I suppose, as long as it's the flag of your own country. I mean, I wouldn't loose sleep over it or anything, but if an American were to be burning a British flag or something I wouldn't like it (or the other way around) but if an American is burning an American flag then it's fine. This is much like an issue that once cropped up on NationStates... I voted that it was okay, but a friend of mine voted against it... when we were discussing it he said "It's my flag, and I don't want them burning it." I told him "No, it's their flag." and I hold to that.
It seems that my views on flag-burning are similar to those of most people in this thread. I say that as long as no one is harmed and no buildings catch on fire, let them burn the thing.
its your right to an opinion, but the military is here to protect the Constitution, the Country & its people. we are not the cause of any liberty, we are its protectors, the front line & the last wall there's lots of rights & privileges with being born here, even the right of being a dumb bunny 50's something, ex-Air Force
Air Force, Army and retired DoD civilian here. And you're right, Randolfo. Even stupidity is a protected right preserved by a lot of KIA's in a lot of wars. The only flag I'd burn is the UN blue banner.
I think it is fine from a political side, but ! from a spiritual side, if you are shouting "Be with Satan" or "Die people die!" then is most definately an immoral action and should be stopped by the law ! So yes I think it should be illegalised, but only because of the actions of flag burning can incite the negative burners into a more negative spiritual influence upon the future generations. I think if you are caught doing from a less negative more political point of view you should get a warning of the influential consequences. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
That's at most bothersome. And besides, by that logic, it should be equally illegal to shout, "Be with God!", and, "Repent, ye sinners, repent!".
Flags are abstract symbols of real things. Destroying the symbol of something is an expression of a desire to destroy the real thing it stands for. I don't think flag burning rises to the level of shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre, or passing a constitutional amendment making it illegal. But be ready to defend yourself if you burn my country's flag around me. Oh yes, I would still burn the blue UN rag. It's come to stand for ineptitude and corruption, and nothing else.
well when the flag comes to represent something new and less admirable than liberty and truth by misguided self righteous leaders then what is wrong with burning it to make a strong point. afterall, the flag can just as easily be exploited by those same misguided leaders. i think exploiting the flag is far worse than burning the flag.
The Simpson's parody of "I'm just a Bill" has a good take on the subject of how to handle flag burning. I quote: " These dawgone hippies, have got too much freedom. I want to make it legal for policemen to beat them!"
It's your right to do so... So long as its only a political statement. If it crosses the line into a message about violence towards the government, then it might be illegal. However, if htat line isn't crossed, you should be fine.
This cartoon sums up my opinion of flag burning. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
