I just burned a flag

[cali]

No. I didn't really. I just wanted to outrage lurking freepers. I have this funky beautiful old flag and I can't bring myself to burn it, but I do feel like burning a flag. It seems to me inevitable that a constitutional amendment banning the desecration of the flag will pass, something I believe is a terrible encroachment on free speech. A minor thing perhaps, but one more indication that all this patriotism on steroids is leading towards Nationalism and as a wise man once said:

"Nationalism is a state of mind in which a man hates
another country, more than he loves his own.""

[JHB]

1. Burn a Confederate flag

Direct the anger where it belongs.

[Dzimbowicz]

9. I am from South Carolina

and I will be willing to supply you with all the confederate flags you would like; that is if you are going to burn them. And, may I provide the matches?

[MazeRat7]

2. I liked Pat Schroeder's (sp) comment last night on Bill Maher

The way to solve the flag burning problem is not to pass a constitutional amendment, but rather to pass a law requiring all flags be made of non-flammable material. *grin.


MZr7

[Cassandra]

4. I've read recently...

don't burn the flag, wash it in protest.

[htuttle]

6. I've heard that one around here

Wash it to try to get the bloodstains out.

[puddycat]

3. Here is the irony about the freeptards' dislike of burning flags

The prescribed method of disposing of a flag is burning, yet to exercise one's first amendment by burning it is disliked with passion by the right-wing nuts. At the same time, the right-wing nuts pretend to love private property rights, but they want to restrict what you can do with your own property--the flag.

I feel dizzy. Trying to analyzie the freetard's mindset is too much!

At any rate, the day that they make burning flags a crime is when we need to have a mass flag-burning in D.C.

[Cassandra]

12. Absolutely...

I was taught in civics class that the way you dispose of an old flag is to burn it in a reverential manner. So I guess we're talking about thought crimes, not flag burning.

[idiosyncratic]

5. I understand the feeling . . .

Over the past couple of years, I've never felt so unpatriotic.

After 9/11, like a lot of people, I displayed a little flag in the back window of my car.

Well, I took it out of that window many months ago.

With * in office, I don't feel as if this is my country anymore. :cry:

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

10. When Bush talks about America ...

I really don't feel included in that America at all .

[puddycat]

16. I love my country dearly, only problem is that it doesn't exist anymore

[Cleita]

7. Okay let's make a new flag.

Take the old swastika one. Put a drawing of Bush's face in the white circle with the swastika over it. Then burn away. Leave Old Glory alone.

[jdj]

8. that's funny. we ought to get together as a group and post threads

to "call" all the lurking freeps.

[flygal]

11. It's NOT this country I hate - it's *!

[treeleaves]

13. NEVER PROHIBIT DESECRATION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG

The push to amend the constitution to prohibit desecration of the American Flag scares me about as much as any proposed legislation or amendment. The freedom to express one's viewpoints is fundamental to our system of democracy. We must allow people the freedom to criticize the very system that guarantees this freedom. And because the Flag is the most recognized symbol of our democracy, we can NEVER put restrictions on our citizen's ability to incorporate the Flag in a symbolic protest of our government, including a protest that involves burning the Flag. (Of course, there can certainly be laws against burning things in public, but such laws are passed for reasons other than restricting speech, such as safety concerns, and would be content neutral)

We allow Flag desecration because we have such strong faith in our democracy and the ultimate will of the people that we don't fear political expression, no matter how angry. I doubt that I would EVER be inclined to burn an American flag. But I don't get angry by Flag burning because I know that the SUBSTANCE of our democracy can NEVER be destroyed by burning its SYMBOLS. And in fact, our democracy is strong BECAUSE we allow symbolic criticism.

What does that say about us as a people if we ever begin to fear Flag burners? It says that we no longer trust the First Amendment. Amending the Constitution to prohibit Flag desecration is the first step toward muzzling the right to criticize the decisions of our government. Our Country was BASED in large part on this very right, and we can NEVER let it be taken from us.

[puddycat]

17. good post. Flag burning doesn't upset me. Burning the constitution does

[goddess40]

14. Display it upside down

as a sign of distress - mine is upside down in my front yard and it looks like it will be for at least 4 years.

[Morning Dew]

15. Mine has been upside down since Wednesday.

and if my * supporting neighbor opens his shades, he has to look right at it while he watches tv.

[goddess40]

19. I like it - thanks

I'm also going to get one of those stupid flag lapel pins the fake newscasters all were and put it on my jacket - winter is coming so I'll have to wear it everywhere I go.

[AuntPatsy]

18. I find it a bit ironic that they have trouble with the thought of burning

a flag, yet have no such compulsions towards revulsions of burning a cross....

whatever...