BF2S Forums Flag burning

DesertFox- wrote:

Symbolism---burning a flag is protected by the First Amendment as "speech plus" or symbolic speech. The goal of those who burn a flag is to portray a message, usually something in opposition to that symbol they destroy. What I find odd when my fellow citizens do this, is that one message present is "I don't like having the right to do this."

imortal wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Lowing I have two questions for you...

1. Would you be happier if it was against the law to burn the flag?

I'll post the second when you respond to this one.

I am not Lowing, of course, but I will swing at answering it myself.  I think they should have the right to burn the flag if they want, but I reserve the right to despise them for doing so.

"I do not believe in what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire

Turquoise wrote:

I support the freedom to burn flags, but I would also agree with what others have said about the hypocrisy of such a move.

c14u53w172 wrote:

have you ever asked yourself where these arabs are getting all those american/british/danish/german etc. flags from? they're obviously not fabricated in the arab countries. a friend of mine told me, that one single person imports all the western flags that then are being burned by furious arabs in the streets and that this guy has earned a lot of money by selling the flags.

FEOS wrote:

Braddock wrote:

DesertFox- wrote:

The flag is a symbol (duh). Destroying that symbol is the paramount to destroying all it stands for. God damn it though, because I can't legally stop it no matter how much I oppose the action (by individuals of this country, could care less anywhere else).

No it's not DesertFox, it's tantamount to burning a piece of cloth...that's it and that's all. It's offensive and could be regarded as being in bad taste but that's about it. Do you know how effective such an action is at destroying all the things the flag stands for? It's so effective that if you ignore it the action may as well never have taken place at all.

Braddock you are missing the point that those who are burning the flag are not just "burning a piece of cloth". They are burning what they (and just about every other American) view as a symbol of what America stands for. They are, symbolically, burning America. The ironic fact that it is the very ideals that the American flag symbolizes that protects their right to burn it is often lost on those who would burn it.

To ignore the symbolism inherent in a specific "piece of cloth" or a "piece of wood" or a "piece of stone" is too convenient and not at all realistic.

FEOS wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Would you prefer a law that says you are not allowed to burn the flag?

Not at all. I despise the act and those who perform it, but I gave an oath to defend with my life their right to do so.

And I meant it.

imortal wrote:

Braddock wrote:

FEOS wrote:

Not at all. I despise the act and those who perform it, but I gave an oath to defend with my life their right to do so.

And I meant it.

That's how I feel too about flag burning too and seen as there will always be idiots who might do it it's better to not even dignify them with your attention. Think of it this way, every time you see an idiot burning an American flag it is a victory for the very freedom that flag represents. It renders the idiots burning of the flag to be ironically pointless.

Yes, but do not claim to be 'patriotic' and 'love america' when you burn the most visible symbol of the nation, which in itself, symbolic of destroying the very things the flag and, by extension, the nation stands for.

People from countries outside of the US burning the flag; no problem.  I get irritated at seeing it, but not a blinding rage.  When I see americans burning the symbol of their own freedom, I get rather more upset.

But I still believe they have the right to do it.  Of course, I also believe that suicide should be a right as well.  You can not fix stupid by passing a law.

Last edited by Pubic (2008-04-13 17:32:05)

imortal wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Lowing I have two questions for you...

1. Would you be happier if it was against the law to burn the flag?

I'll post the second when you respond to this one.

I am not Lowing, of course, but I will swing at answering it myself.  I think they should have the right to burn the flag if they want, but I reserve the right to despise them for doing so.

"I do not believe in what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire

jaymz9350 wrote:

imortal wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Lowing I have two questions for you...

1. Would you be happier if it was against the law to burn the flag?

I'll post the second when you respond to this one.

I am not Lowing, of course, but I will swing at answering it myself.  I think they should have the right to burn the flag if they want, but I reserve the right to despise them for doing so.

"I do not believe in what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire

exactly.  no matter how much you hate it, it falls under the protections that make this country what it is.  and on a side note if i remember correctly the proper way to dispose of a worn flag is to burn it. (i know different context)

ghettoperson wrote:

So basically what this topic comes down to that everyone is arguing about, is that everyone (except for possible Lowing, who hasn't posted again) agrees with each other.

/thread