Flags and tempers flare during (flag burning) 'experiment'

[Robb]

Source: GJ Sentinel

FRUITA, Colo. -- Almost as quickly as the American flag was consumed with flame, the tempers of downtown denizens flared.

No sooner had Fruita Monument High School students Jordan Lister, 17, and Kenny Coles, 18, torched Old Glory outside the Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street than a handful of passersby accosted the teens.

Lister, who said the flag burning was part of an experiment for his psychology class, said at least two people rushed across the street from Dolce Vita and questioned their patriotism.

“One said his friend got shot in the back in Iraq,” Lister said, describing the most intense post-experiment argument.

Read more: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/04/05/4_5_1a_flag_burning.html

[soothsayer]

1. It's good that people love the USA, but confusing the symbol for the

symbolized is a problem.

[Chemical Bill]

2. How long before O'Liely says...

that rabid anti-Americans burned a flag in Colorado?

Bill

[Javaman]

3. Love this line from the story...

"“It was very disrespectful,” Holzer said, shaking her head. “It makes us feel bad. I don’t know if they even understood the impact they had caused.”"

impact? what impact? They were burning a symbol. I'm always amused when a person tells me that so and so died for that flag. They get doubly pissed when I say, "no, they died for our country, the flag is merely a symbol."

"Holzer’s husband, Vernon, added that although flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of speech, that did not make flag burning socially acceptable."

not socially acceptable...hmmm like those socially unacceptable anti-war protesters or those socially unacceptable people trying have a trail by jury or all of us who are socially unacceptable Americans who have had habeas corpus suspended, socially unacceptable like that?

People are just so kooky.

[MissMillie]

19. so and so died

for our right to burn the flag

I'd much rather the symbol be burned than the right that the symbol represents.

[azureblue]

4. Get a 48 state flag

Burn it, and see how they define "US Flag".....
I think I recall some cop arresting a protester for burning flag type bunting- the type that has maybe a dozen stripes & a few stars. Idiot..

[yellowcanine]

6. Most people who get arrested for flag burning are charged under some kind or public nuisance

statute rather than for flag burning. In that case it makes no difference if it is a real flag or not - could even be a mickey mouse beach towel for that matter - it is the act of setting a fire in a public space that they get you on.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Yeah, but if they'd set fire to a mickey mouse towel...

would they get charged with anything? I doubt it. It's really about the flag.

[yellowcanine]

5. Heh, Look at this comment by an uncle of one of the students. I don't think he "gets it."

By David Wilson uncle of Kenny Coles

Apr 5, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

Young man (boy) you may think Burning of the American Flag and the other flags was just a class project, it is not! The American Flag represents the FREEDOM we have ( even YOU ) in this great land of ours. Maybe you should take U.S HISTORY instead of psychology class. If you think the United States of America is so EVIL and burning of flags is/was socialy acceptable,and worth a grade for a class project I will buy you a ONEWAY ticket to IRAN. You boys wanted reactions from people, you will get them, good or bad, live with it! Kenny you need to understand just because you want to do things or just because it is not against the law, IT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT! You have disrespected/shamed your family and the American people. You should do some soul searching and apologize.

By Uncle of Kenny Coles

Apr 5, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

Young men (boys) you may think it was just a class project, it is not. The American Flag


Hey David - the point was to do something socially UNACCEPTABLE and record the reactions. I am sure your nephew was happy to have your reaction, though. Probably helped him get an A on the project. Way to go, supporting your nephew's education like that! And it is you who should apologize, for being such a stick in the mud.

[VegasWolf]

7. Them young men need a Bible Class, right quick like. Get 'r done. nt

[yellowcanine]

8. That uncle needs someone to pull the cushion out of his asshole. It is keeping oxygen from getting

to his brain.

[adigal]

9. Freepers take flag burning so seriously

because it is the only part of the US they really like. They hate the Constitution and its freedoms. But love a piece of nylon, probably made in China.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

10. Is questioning one's patriotism supposed to be an insult?

I'd love having my patriotism questioned thoroughly and on a regular basis. To me, it means I'm doing something right. Especially when you use "their" definition of patriotism. True patriotism is dissent, working for change and a better world for everyone, even against popular opinion and social conventions. In this vane, burning a flag can be a whole hell of a lot more patriotic than waving one.

[scavenger]

17. I agree

The flag to me is nothing more then a symbol representing federal control of the states. Nothing more. I don't own one and even if I did I wouldn't burn it, I would use it as a door mat which is exactly how the federal government uses the people.

[Journeyman]

11. 'If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag, wash it.' -- Norman Thomas

n/t

[hedgehog]

12. So they deliberately set out to be provocative, and they provoked people.

For their next experiment:

They will get 15 prominent facial piercings, dye their hair bright fuchsia and arrange it into spikes, pint their lips and eyes coal black, wear a leather skirt with combat boots and proceed to stomp around asking people what they're staring at.

[piedmont]

13. They exercised their 1st amendment right. Passers-by exercised theirs. That's how it works.

[yellowcanine]

15. Actually I think a car dealership flying ten + giant flags shows more disrespect to the flag than

someone burning it.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

20. Lol, so true

Nothing inspires patriotism like seeing your flag waving majestically over a giant inflated gorilla gone crazy for low book savings.

[0rganism]

16. the students should have video taped their experiment

this is documentary-worthy material.

[baldguy]

18. United States Code: Title 4; Chapter 1; Section 8; Paragraph K

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

http://www.legion.org/?section=our_flag&subsection=flag_code&content=flag_code