copernicus

Oh, I agree. Displays of violence against someone who flips you the finger or calls your mother a whore are also irrational. Nevertheless, I am not surprised that people react that way. It strikes me as singularly stupid to expect people to sympathize with a cause that goes out of its way to burn a symbol that they respect.

I may be wrong, but flag burning was an old practice when it was picked up by Vietnam protesters. The burning of draft cards may have been invented during the Vietnam war, but it had little to do with the Buddhist tactic of self-immolation. Self-immolation may have shocked Americans, but it didn't insult them. Similarly, Gandhi's tactic of having his followers line up to be beaten had shock value without conveying a message of hatred.

It wasn't just any piece of cloth, and not everyone thought that it was a smart tactic to burn flags or spit on returning soldiers.

Harpy

I'm pretty sure I read in a Kurt Von Goght book that America is the only country that refuses to dip it's flag as other countrys do as a gesture of courtesy to another country such as during the opening ceremonies of Olympic Games.

Sounds rather arrogant is this true?

VonEvilstein

Ummm, slightly off topic here... but, aside from this burning debate, how do you Americans feel about pledging your allegiance to a piece of cloth? This always struck me being weird.

I got thinking about this during the whole "under God" episode last year, and trying to imagine how I would have reacted, had my family moved to the US, not Holland.
I would not have been able o even recite this opening line, because it makes no sense to me.

Please note, this is an honest enquiry, from someone seeking an answer, not a flamefest.

On the flag burning issue, I never understood why it's such a big deal in the US. I I burned a Dutch flag here, people might mind the smell a bit, but that's probably all.
Mind you, here we regard patriotism as a dangerous and undesirable thing... we've seen what happens when it gets out of hand.

Godless Dave

Nah, they'd claim to revere it without actually reading the whole thing, and twist its words to support their own agenda. Like they do with the Bible now.

Melkor

Good gravy, I hope it doesn't!!! I've been known to say the same thing, and the interesting point is, I don't ever remember taking an oath that contradicts that, nor do I remember ever being summarily released from that oath once I was discharged.

I still consider it my duty to do my best to protect the Constitution of the United States. It's fortunate that I respected that document (or, more importantly, the freedoms that it recognizes and the limitations it places on government) well before I ever took such an oath, but I still take it very seriously.

Which is why I do everything in my power to be a "squeaky wheel" when it comes to stopping the advance of a tyrannical government.

I'm sure my congressman knows me by name by now, and I am fairly sure he doesn't like me.

fanny666

I relish the irony of oil men who don't want a symbol for the country trashed but are eager to trash the actual country.

abe smith

MELCOR, m' man: your post has dealt once for all w/ the rock-solid of the matter; and (i rest my case.... to put it stupidest).
Thank you, Guy. Beautifully put. I will not trivialize my praise w/ junkie logos...

John Hancock

I'd prefer not to see the United States Flag burned. I also am willing to die to defend the rights of those who may do so. The only flag I own is hung upside down.

Martin Buber

Ultron

I respectfully disagree. Where are we given such a right to burn anything we want? The First Amendment literally applies to speech.

"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech"

Let's take a look at that word using definitions from www.dictionary.com

speech The faculty or act of speaking. The faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words. Something spoken; an utterance. Vocal communication; conversation. A formal spoken communication delivered to an audience. Communication by word of mouth. Something spoken

Burning flags is as protected Constitutionally as burning crosses or burning firewood.

Ultron

Sometimes a flag is just a flag.