Tangent from a comment in the 2016 election thread, seemed worthy of its own thread. Unlike gturner, you are worth actually engaging on this topic. So, what is your issue with flag burning? I see it as the ultimate celebration of free speech. We care so much about that freedom that it even extends to destroying the symbol of said freedom. I'm not a fan of actually doing it, mainly because it upsets a lot of people, but I whole heartedly support the concept. Thoughts, @Federal Farmer?
I'm much more concerned with the way that the Republicans have been positively shitting on the flag for the past 30 years, then I am about a bunch of dinosaur communist types burning one. America first indeed.
It is absurd that a country that hails it's almost unqualified free speech, enshrined in law in the First Amendment, and a country that was built on holding the power of the executive and the rich to account, nonetheless also once made it law that burning a piece of cloth is somehow an unpatriotic and criminal act. It baffles me that people still hold onto the idea of desecration even now. A true patriot should celebrate the burning of a flag, because while they themselves may not wish to burn the flag, a true patriot would recognise that the exercising of the freedoms that the flag stands for is far more important than the pattern on the cloth. I entirely agree with the OP.
Just to clarify, it's not actually illegal to burn the flag, despite the efforts of the folks MarkB mentions. Such laws are unconstitutional, which is why the effort is always to amend the Constitution. Mostly such efforts are grand standing, but the thought process behind using such attacks on speech to generate anger and therefore collect votes is a very cynical manipulation, and it always pisses me off.
I know, and my post recognises as much. But it used to be years ago, which I think is why there is still controversy.
It's about as much as the Brits care about the Union Flag, I guess. It seems that every other blanket, throw pillow, or cufflink at Marks & Spencer has a Union Flag on it.
Protecting flags is asking people to essentially believe in sacred magical objects, and if I wanted to play that game, I'd be a fucking Catholic.
Personally I prefer to burn the bible. It is often the actual target of my protest. It works much better than the flag, and now that the dollars store sells them it is cheaper.
Caring about a country and caring about a flag are NOT the same thing. And where did I even mention this country? My point is all flags are meaningless, not "The British flag is comparatively meaningless"... Spot the difference law man. Anyone who cares about a badly designed piece of cloth that is likely to look different in a 100 years anyway is a complete idiot.
No, you said, like we are somehow this great big exception to the world. We are not, and I highlighted that. Learn to read, you smug fucknozzle.
Americans do seem to care too much about flags. At least when it comes to burning them. Burning an American flag seems to be a symbol of... errm something.....
True, but there may be some legal issues with that. Actually spending the dollar gives you full ownership, and completely ruins the idea that you are trying to destroy all copies of the book because in a capitalist country you are really promoting more printings. The look on a Christian's face when you explain that to them after they accuse you of being a book burning fascist is like gold. Oh, and for a dollar that look is just awesome. I have a new idea for next fourth of July. I am going to make smoked Jesus burgers and dogs. They will be cooked perfectly over a grill full of bibles and wood chips. I will probably throw in a few Koreans just for that ethnic flavor. Omg the spell checker did that I swear.
I'm on the same page for the most part. I support their right to do it, I just think it's disrespectful. Also, my meme remains. If they hate America so much, I'll gladly show them the door. I find it funny that these people seem to hate America so much, yet they choose to remain here. They are lucky they live in a country that tolerates this type of behavior. If they love communism so much, maybe they should move to an actual communist country where they'd likely be arrested for such actions.
You think? Tell you what, go to Southwark or Hackney, or Elephant & Castle and publicly burn the Union Flag. Video and post the results of that here. When you get out of the hospital, that is.
Its only disrespectful if you consider it to be so. If you stopped thinking this way then the next time someone burnt a flag you wouldn't take it as a mark of disrespect. What makes you think burning a flag equals hating a country? Maybe people disagree with a small part of what a country stands for, like, I dunno, people who put meaning into decorated cloth recangles uhhhhhhhh What the fuck has communism got to do with anything, who mentioned that? Oh and by the way, the legality of flag burning is down to how authoritarian that country is, not how communist it is...
Self-congratulatory bullshit. A flag is not a "symbol of freedom". It's a symbol of nationality, and it is just more nationalist rhetoric to equate the two. Flag burning may offend some, and is usually pointless, but fuck you if you think you have a right to prevent it.
Every freedom has limits. And those limits don't just come into play when someone faces physical or mental harm.
Sorry, Rick, but the flag is certainly a nationalistic symbol, but it also symbolizes the values informing that nationalism. Americans value free speech, or at least make that claim.
