Flag Burners Beware!!

[Jamo]

Cutting some fine hairs there, boy.

Let's go back to the dollar bill you own...should you be able to walk out on Wall Street and burn a pile of dollar bills?

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Jamo

..should you be able to walk out on Wall Street and burn a pile of dollar bills?

not a fair question, cuz I think we all have done that recently.

[VRM]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Cutting some fine hairs there, boy.

Let's go back to the dollar bill you own...should you be able to walk out on Wall Street and burn a pile of dollar bills?

Jamo,
No fine hairs there at all - you simply picked a poor example.

I like CWs response, but my answer is yes. They are mine, I should be allowed to do what I want with them. However, should I deface one and try to spend it then the person I am giving it to should have the right to refuse it.

There is nothing about the United States that I consider 100% sacred, and the Founding Fathers bear this out by including the right to bear arms in our Constitution and the statement about it being our right and duty to throw off government should it not meet our needs.

Our flag, currency, Uncle Sam, and Constitution represent our government more than any other particular item.

I consider the burning/desecration of flags or currency to be like the Boston Tea Party, except that you are using your own private property as the form of protest. We hardly ever see the Constitution being burned in effigy - I think this is perhaps because the people doing the burning/defacing do not have a problem with what our government should be, but rather what it currently is.

Steve

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by VRM

Jamo,
No fine hairs there at all - you simply picked a poor example.

I like CWs response, but my answer is yes. They are mine, I should be allowed to do what I want with them. However, should I deface one and try to spend it then the person I am giving it to should have the right to refuse it.

There is nothing about the United States that I consider 100% sacred, and the Founding Fathers bear this out by including the right to bear arms in our Constitution and the statement about it being our right and duty to throw off government should it not meet our needs.

Our flag, currency, Uncle Sam, and Constitution represent our government more than any other particular item.

I consider the burning/desecration of flags or currency to be like the Boston Tea Party, except that you are using your own private property as the form of protest. We hardly ever see the Constitution being burned in effigy - I think this is perhaps because the people doing the burning/defacing do not have a problem with what our government should be, but rather what it currently is.

Steve

Steve...my example was just fine for folks that stay on point. I'm sure if you bought your own crucifix or bible or koran...you'd feel pretty damn good about yourself for burning them as well.

Dumping some merchant's tea over the side is a bit different than burning the Union Jack.

Nevermind...some folks just don't get it.

[VRM]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Steve...my example was just fine for folks that stay on point. I'm sure if you bought your own crucifix or bible or koran...you'd feel pretty damn good about yourself for burning them as well.

Dumping some merchant's tea over the side is a bit different than burning the Union Jack.

Nevermind...some folks just don't get it.

HAha!!
If you really think that the Union Jack was not burned during the Revolutionary War then you need to visit some of the original 13 colonies and do some homework. You would find that many of the folks who were involved in the tea party wanted to do a LOT worse to the British government than burn flags or make salty seaweed tea.

The tea party was done as a statement to get attention - which it did. Read some British accounts of it - it was viewed as an insult against King George - and probably equal to or worse than burning a flag.

As for burning religious stuff - I have better things to do.

Oh, Nevermind...Californians and Revolutionary war history just don't mix I guess.

[RAZOR]

Originally Posted by VRM

Jamo,
No fine hairs there at all - you simply picked a poor example.

I like CWs response, but my answer is yes. They are mine, I should be allowed to do what I want with them. However, should I deface one and try to spend it then the person I am giving it to should have the right to refuse it.

There is nothing about the United States that I consider 100% sacred, and the Founding Fathers bear this out by including the right to bear arms in our Constitution and the statement about it being our right and duty to throw off government should it not meet our needs.

Our flag, currency, Uncle Sam, and Constitution represent our government more than any other particular item.

I consider the burning/desecration of flags or currency to be like the Boston Tea Party, except that you are using your own private property as the form of protest. We hardly ever see the Constitution being burned in effigy - I think this is perhaps because the people doing the burning/defacing do not have a problem with what our government should be, but rather what it currently is.

Steve

I would argue that the flag represents our nation more than our government, a nation that through its history has time and time again shown nobleness in its efforts to keep people free. I know this is not accepted in the liberal ranks along with American Exceptionalism. But it does no harm in a free society to show honor and respect for that which symbolizes our values and to protect that symbol from desecration.
And it is not our right to through government when not meeting our needs but it is, when it does not protect our rights.