Why Flag-Burning Bodes Ill for OWS [View all]

[Nuclear Unicorn]

Flag-burning is an attention-getting stunt. Those who burn flags admit as much and those who see the flag-burnings dismiss it as such. It is a stunt that is doomed to failure IF its presumed purpose is to call attention to larger injustices. If it's just a stunt then social justice is doomed because it is a stunt that antagonizes the audience whose attention it presumes to get.

Don't believe me? Look at DU.

DU is a place where people who seek a clearer, broader agenda for social justice come together. We share the same goal but the method has left us sharply divided. I'd wager money and expect a Romney-like return on my investment that conservatives are absolutely united against flag-burning. They debate whether or not their disgust should be codified but they are united against flag burning as disrespectful. But who cares what they think, right? I'll extend that wager to moderates as well. Yeah, they're the eternal fence-sitters and their idea of mass transportation is jumping on each new band wagon as it passes by but for the most part they hold America as an ideal in high regard and attacks on its symbols pushes them away.

So if an act leaves 2 of the 3 main factions decidedly against you and the third faction, your own, is bitterly divided its fair to say that while you may have a right to burn a flag or engage is some other similar silliness at the end of the day its a losing strategy. Permitted is not always the same as practical.

Which is ironic because the people engaging in these off-putting antics complain no one is listening to them. When people see you burning the flag they respect make no mistake: they heard you -- they also happen to think you're a jerk and they're not going to stick around to hear the rest of what you have to say.

The other evidence proving this is a losing strategy is the fact those defending flag burning feel the need to defend it. After the tiresome pleas that it was really agents provacateur are mocked into their duly deserved waste bin we're treated to "It's the larger message!" defenses. If your soundbite needs defending you failed. Just ask Rick "I meant bla-ar-a-rurmpf" Santorum. Flag-burning and cop car defecating images flash across Facebook faster than the MSM and blogs can report. Guess what? Those people don't frequent DU or OWS forums. There will be no "greater message" accompanying the image, only what the poster assigns as a caption which will tend towards, "Dirty hippies hate America." The "dirty hippies hate America" meme has already been ingrained, now OWS is providing the imagery of its own accord but then acts defensive about it.

After that fails those who enjoy flag-burning resort to "You hate OWS! Why do you hate OWS?" One can all but hear the word "traitor" echo in the distance though it was unspoken. The "You're either with us or with the terrorist" mentality is best left to slow-witted wannabe cowboys. It's as if we have to pledge allegiance to the flag burners.

That's just stupid.

Sorry to be so harsh but when did flag burning become the new oath of fealty? I'm more interested in social justice, civil rights, income equality, civil liberties, a society that cares for its own etc. Flag-burners seem to not care if their antics damage that effort they just want to burn flags and have people respond favorably. That's not a statement, it's a tantrum that no longer wants to mend the underlying offense, only offend others to compensate for the fact it too feels offended. People prone to tantrums should never be trusted with the destructive power that is government and I believe the independents, moderates, middle-roaders, fence-sitters, undecideds innately sense this as well.