Is burning the flag a crime?? - Page 2

I know it is supposedly Constitutional and everything but thats just how I feel about it.

Why do you feel that way?

Think about it, why would you burn it? What would make you do that? What would be your reason for doing that?

Edit: I simply do not agree with that form of protest.

I think that the context should be taken into account. It is like the church. The priest asked us in church would you deny God to save your skin? hell yea! but would I accept to die so that others could live, hell yea! If you burn the American flag because you hate the USA, well then go to another country and stay there. If you burn the American flag as symbolic protest against the USA goverment because they are disecrating the very values that founded this great nation, then I cannot say don't. I love the flag as any Alipacer that uses it to grace its avatar but I love freedom of speech even more. Also, if someone can buy edible underwear with the American flag or work the tube in an American flag bikini, then burning the flag is the least offensible thing we can do.

I think that most of the time that it's used as a form of protest, it's misused. However, that doesn't mean that it can't be used for good reasons. I haven't done it, but I think that I could do it, hypothetically. The flag is a symbol, and it stands for not only America as a whole, encompassing everything that it means, but also separately for the its history and what it was founded on, and for its present incarnation. If I were to burn the American flag, I would do so to send one of the following messages:

1. You have turned your back on the values that this nation was founded on: reason, liberty, justice, etc. You may get angry when you see me burning this flag, but you are looking in the mirror, because it is what you do with your policies and words every day.

2. I disagree very strongly with the direction in which this nation is headed, or with the point at which this nation has arrived. America means something to me, and with your policies you are destroying it.

Both of those statements are actually very related. In any case, I think that burning the flag is one of the more extreme forms of protest and should be used as a last resort, but it can be used both intelligently and patriotically. Burning the flag as a way to say, "I hate America!" is, I think, stupid, at least on the behalf of most of the people living here, but that isn't the only message that it can communicate.

The flag is one of the strongest symbols in this country, and symbols evoke a lot of emotion and hold a lot of power. That's why I think that it should be done sparely, but that in some harsh means are necessary as a wake up call. It may work, it may not, but it communicates the point.

And you still didn't answer my question, dammit.

I hate you for typing faster than me.

I will proceed to dissect your response.

First of all, why don't we just throw out religion if we are going to deny God to save our skin, like you said? That means you really do not really believe in those teachings.

The ONLY point I agree with you on is the one I bolded. But that would also mean you would plan to leave shortly. Any other reason to burn the flag should result in automatic deportation. Enemies of this nation burn the flag to express hatred toward America. Just because people can do it does not mean that they should to it. What if someone on the street walked up to your kids, nephews, etc. and started cussing? They are entitled to freedom of speech after all. I'm sure you wouldn't want that. A persons right to free speech ends when it interferes with the rights of other people. When you recited the Pledge of Allegiance in school, what were you pledging allegiance to? Right.

I pledge allegiance to the FLAG...

AND (in other words ALSO to) to the republic for which it stands....

What are the caskets of fallen American soldiers wrapped in when they are brought home? Why?

I have a feeling this is going to turn into a 12 page thread...

BTW: The girl working the pole in a flag bikini does not sound bad...

No but it's really unpatriotic.

Lol I think death is when you're truly free! I would never deny God to save my own skin though. It's so cool to be called a "martyr" if you die for your beliefs. Anyway, life is not that great anyway so why try to save it if faced with a horrendous situation.

On the contrary. It can be very patriotic.