My Take on the whole flag burning thing

[DvilleDem]

I know that images of protestors burning the American Flag are troubling to a lot of people, I know because I’m one of them. I don’t like to see Ol’ Glory being put to the torch any more than Rush Limbaugh does but here’s the thing: I agree with those who say that the American Flag is a symbol of freedom for the entire world but with that said what’s more important, the symbol or the freedom being symbolized?

I think those who spend their time and resources to protect that symbol are well-intentioned but in their zeal to protect the symbol, they tread upon the freedom they say are trying to uphold. By introducing anti-flag burning legislation, these folks are throwing a very large baby, out, with a very small amount of bathwater. In other words, to me, being an American means being tolerant of some things we find distasteful, so that all that we honor and cherish can forever endure.

[napi21]

1. The Pubs are just trying to rally their base again! Get the vote on the

ballot in all States to drag out the voters!!!!

I don't like to see the flag burned in anger either, but I also can't see ammending the Constitution to ban it either!

I keep hearing that there have been a WHOPPING "5" incidents of flag burning in the US in the last FIVE YEARS!!!!!! Does that sound like a BIG problem to you???? Naw, me either.

Hell, even here in Ga. it sure doesn't seem to be a HOT ISSUE!

Looks to me like desperation!!!!!

[RoseMead]

4. I don't mind seeing the flag burned

anymore than I mind seeing it on someone's ass. :shrug:

It's a symbol, and beyond that it's a piece of cloth. If the ideals it symbolizes don't exist anymore, then you can burn a whole truckload of flags and it won't mean a thing.

Desperation, you are exactly right.

[Montauk6]

2. MY take of the whole flag burning thing

Heading into elections, the country's a mess... DISTRACT DISTRACT DISTRACT!

[babylonsister]

3. Not well-intentioned at all. They don't want to talk about the REAL

issues Americans are confronted with and have to eventually address (one would hope). This is just a time-waster.
Question: when was the last time you saw anyone burning an American flag?
I rest my case.

[rjhill2]

5. I totally agree with you

If there's one thing I can't understand about my country, it the tendency for people to ban things on the sole basis that it's offensive. I, too, get very upset at the sight of people burning my country's flag. Trust me, I saw it in a movie and I wanted to reach into the TV and strangle the people there. But more important than the flag, I believe in the VALUES embodied in that flag, most important of them being free speech. If that is in the form of a political protester burning a flag, so be it; it's protected by the Constitution (sorry, I forgot, the Constitution really isn't all that important these days). I believe that free speech is almost absolute. Political speech that is seen as offensive, but does not cause any kind of physical harm or threat to anyone else, I believe, is protected.

One other thing: I cannot believe that between the disaster in Iraq, the faltering economy, diplomatic tensions, and sky-high gas prices that flag-burining can be at the top of the Congressional agenda. It is yet another message to the American people that the Congress has failed them. Remember to vote in the fall, it's critical!!

[Master Mahon]

6. I think the 'symbol' is just that, symbolic

as far our 'freedoms', they are mostly symbolic too!
The 'freedoms' we supposedly enjoy are mostly mythical. Especially today.
The average man has little to say about what goes on in this country.
Yes, we can go out and buy what we want, when we want, or travel where we want, as long as we HAVE THE MONEY and aren't on any 'no fly list'.
When it comes down to day to day life and 'freedoms', there are MANY countries that have what we do and more. They get better educations, have better health care, have lower infant mortality rates, have lower poverty rates, etc., etc..
Don't get me wrong, we have a lot here in the US, AS LONG AS YOU CAN PAY FOR IT, and that 'lot' is quite dependant on your race, sex, religion, and country of national origin.