Flag Burning
 

Ok, so in the Immigration thread, we got onto the topic of flag burning.

Now, I see the flag as a symbol of the country, and thus, by burning it, you are trying to disrespect our country.

And, of course, I'm sure there are people that disagree with me.

So, what are your opinions on flag burning? Personally, I find it almost amusing, much like selective book burning (y'know, where preachers gathered the Harry Potter books, and burned them. Mass book burnings are bad!). Useless in the long run, and the only thing you're going to do is get some redneck's dander up, and then he'll come after you with a shotgun.

Yeah.

Edit: Oh, a page you might want to read.

I think they do it exactly because people get riled up when they see the flag burning. It's provocation(sp?) and almost all people get caught by it.

The flag is the symbol of America, and more often than not when someone is burning a flag it symbolizes they want to destroy America, which is why it's seen in the Middle East and such in riots against the US.

Of course, sometimes people just do it to make a statement. Which is kind of stupid.

But it's not without motivation--or ideally it isn't. Obviously doing an act like this in vain isn't unholy, but rather intellectually unsound. I'd advise against it.

But if there is a meaning, I can't say it's all that bad. one would have to be very selective when choosing to commit to the act, as you are effectively damning the country itself--but not necessarily its people. I think in the face of the Iraq War I could see use for flag-burning.

Then again, even in that situation, because of what it entails (not even in how people respond, the inadvertent statement you are making by doing it) would honestly make me use it sparingly. It would really take the public opinion coupled with the government to even make me consider the idea of damning a country like that. With the US it's tempting, but even then...it's quite the violent ritual, which inevitably stirs up the wrong kind of controversy and often zero progress.

The idea that it is universally disrespectful as if it always lacks a point is a tad reactioanry, I think. But ultimately, I guess my conclusion is of apathy. I care, but on both sides of the issue, so I almost view it as a useless act, but not because it's "disrespectful."

I'm curious, is the flag a big deal over in america? Over here it's just a thing you see next to the scores in football. I might have waved a little paper one when I was 10 and the queen came to visit. And that's pretty much it.
But I hear it's different over there. How much?
Anyway, back on topic. Flag burning's pretty much like bullying. They do it becuase it means something to you. Ignore it, and it's not really an issue to much. It's just generaly what the mob's message is. And you should be more worried that there IS a mob.

Steel, America has a set of laws about the flag:

http://www.wi.net/flag.html

I point you there.

Look at it this way: A flag is a symbol, but it is also just a piece of cloth. If you respect the country and the ideals for which the country stands, you should be willing to look beyond the piece of cloth and see that what it symbolizes is far more important.

There's been another wave of anti-flag-burning stuff lately. The Supreme Court has ruled that flag burning is a constitutionally sanctioned form of speech. I'm sure that every one of you has protested the PATRIOT act at least once, so I don't see how this is any different.

Personally I don't see why anyone would deliberately want to burn a flag if they didn't want to take a swing at the flags country.

Even if it's allowed it's pretty stupid, unless you want someone to get angry.
And for a partiotic nation like the U.S. flag burning sure gets them riled up, if nothing else.

I, for one, like the idea of respecting the flag. But, I still think that having all those rules for flag-care is a little silly. As the Mage of Muffins stated, you have to look beyond the cloth and see that the country is more important.

I mean, the law about the flag not touching anything under it, and it being in the position of power (above, to the right of, ect.) in comparison to other flags seems just a little egotistical to me.

But, that's just me.

See, that's what gets me about this. People don't understand that it's possible to burn a flag without hating the country. We're given the freedom of expression by the blood of the people who've died for it, so not using it is criminal as far as I'm concerned.