On Flag Burning

[RebelSansCause]

DISCLAIMER: Before I pose my question I would like to make something completely and totally CRYSTAL CLEAR so as not to get flamed. I support the right to burn the American Flag and view said burning as speech protected under the 1st Amendment. Furthermore, I consider any amendment passed by Congress that would make said aforementioned flag burning illegal an infringement on our civil liberties. END DISCLAIMER

Now, with that said, I pose to all of you a scenario followed by a question. You are planning a protest against the Iraq War, and it is to be a big protest, one that is highly visible and covered by the MSM and witnessed by many spectators. One of the organizers of the protest puts forth the idea of burning an American flag. you alone have sole veto power over this action. Do you burn the flag? By doing so, do you discredit the movement? Do you even believe it should be legal to burn the flag? (i.e. do you support a flag burning amendment)

My friend and I got in an argument about this just the other day. I put forth the idea that the burning of the flag would be the way for me to express the fact that I love this country and I am horrified at what it has become. He said that since most "average" people who witnessed the action will just believe that I hate America it would be a bad move on principle. Besides that, he believe the flag to be a symbol of this country, one that is sacred and should not be burnt (other than to dispose of it since that is actually the legal way that one is supposed to rid oneself of an American flag). I believe that the flag is a symbol of this country, and that in times of distress, burning it should send a most excellent message to the establishment. Whose opinions do you agree with?

Please give me some serious discussion here, I believe in the burning of the flag on principle but should it not be done because of how it will be perceived?

EDIT: forgot the word "burning"

[annabanana]

1. Just because something is legitimate

doesn't mean it is politic.

The discussion would devolve around the act, the issues would be left in the dust.

on edit: OF COURSE it is legal and it cannot really be made illegal under our Constitution without abrogating the freedom of speech amendment. Doesn't make it smart.

[RebelSansCause]

2. so it should not be done because

the culture moves against it?

[annabanana]

4. I would seriously take into account what the purpose of the

event, the big public event is. It comes down to a matter of "choosing your arguement".

[Guaranteed]

13. Well said. nt

[Vincardog]

3. I think that burning the flag in protest brings the wrong type of attention. Fly it up side down

instead. The only point of burning the flag is to get attention. If it gets enough and the right kind of attention go for it.

The corporate controlled newz will not in my opinion help you spread your statement.

[annabanana]

5. An admirable alternative, under the circumstances.. . n/t

[RebelSansCause]

6. where does the stigma of burning

originate from exactly? i do not really understand it.

[Vincardog]

9. The 'stigma' comes from the VietNam era. The "dirty hippies" were burning flags

in protest of the corrupt war of aggression in VN.
The rabid radical Reich has in its' preference for symbol over substance has been using Flag Burning as shorthand for "Dirty Hippie Communist" in its' appeal to the nominally thinking true believers.

[RebelSansCause]

10. *sigh* why must we always conform to their rules

but they must never even give a thought to ours? how did we let them take all of the power for themselves?

[Vincardog]

11. because "they" control the MONEY? We allow them to control us because they control

the Money. Some one said "It can't buy everything but what it can't buy I don't want."

[RebelSansCause]

12. they do not want thoughts? ideas? feelings?

passions? the things that make us human? what are we without these things? nothing, nothing more than an animal, a puffed up higher functioning animal. one who can only see zeroes. *sigh* humanity. maybe you are not inherently good after all.

[Vincardog]

15. "They" only want POWER. No higher functioning that a fighting fish or a lizard.

That is what is so maddening in trying to rally people to oppose them. The people do not want to believe that the opposition is so very low and vile.

[RebelSansCause]

17. i see, whenever i tell my mother about the offenses committed by *, she says

"honey, that's impossible, he is the PRESIDENT, he would never try and intentionally harm america or lie to the people, i certainly do not like him but the idea that he would actively TRY and harm us is ridiculous." (keep in mind my mom grew up in the 1970s as a hippy type wannabe and has voted Dem for life. she would NEVER vote repuke, she just does not believe any person in higher office wants to harm the country)

yes, i certainly understand your point.

[ChazII]

16. I don't know about "their rules"

but people were not happy when folks burned the flag of Mexico here in Phoenix. I think, and this is just my hunch, that burning any flag is a sign of disrespect in some peoples opinion.

[RebelSansCause]

18. are you talking about immigration protests? i am

pretty sure that the non-Mexican people were pissed off that a Mexican flag was being flown in the US. ignorant racists. unless you are talking about the Mexicans being pissed off?

[ChazII]

19. Both.

The even I m speaking about happened at a local high school. A high school student started to burn the flag of Mexico, that a Hispanic student had raised over the US flag.

[treestar]

7. I agree it should not be illegal, but probably is not a good idea

It plays right into the right's hands, too, since it's not the flag we have the problem with, it's the way they are using it. Burning it as much as says it now represents just them.

Flying it upside down is a better idea.

[Journeyman]

8. Norman Thomas gave the best answer for this. . .

"If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag; wash it."

[Guaranteed]

14. Heh. Nice. nt

[Rosemary2205]

20. I think protest flag burning is counterproductive.

IMHO your friend is right in that most Americans view flag burning as a message of hating America AND Americans. I don't agree that the flag is "sacred" but I think most "average" Americans do view it as sacred. I am very much an advocate for keeping burning a flag legal - but IMHO doing so in front of a camera is incredibly stupid.

[RebelSansCause]

22. then what is the purpose? if you *can* do something

but because of society are essentially unable to, then you do not have that right at all IMO.

[frogmarch]

21. Flag burners look like horses asses

and do injustice to their causes. But burning the flag shouldn't be illegal.