General Discussion

Uncle Joe

(65,157 posts)

78. It's a testament to the strength of our democratic republic that allows it to be legal.

Sat Jul 11, 2015, 09:10 PM

Jul 2015

The inherent value and substantive power of the First Amendment over the flag is on supreme exhibit when that happens.

Weaker nations couldn't do it.

Personally I've never burned the U.S. Flag and don't intend on doing so, while I may disagree with a flag burner, I feel more empowered when they do it for their own conscientious protest.

If they're doing it just for superficial, malicious reasons I refuse to grant them the power of enraging me over the destruction of a symbol, I view the act as being their internal problem, and not mine.

Thanks for the thread, kentuck.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

87 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

What do you think of people that burn the American flag? [View all] kentuck Jul 2015 OP

I think it is disgusting but they have the right to do it. hrmjustin Jul 2015 #1

I take good care of the flag I have. cwydro Jul 2015 #2

I'm not a fan of it...but yes it is free speech... Wounded Bear Jul 2015 #3

I think they better be careful. Burning polyester HURTS if it gets on your skin n/t Scootaloo Jul 2015 #4

Burning the flag of a failed racist nation is not the same as burning the flag of a successful democratic nation. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #5

Some folks might disagree with that statement.. kentuck Jul 2015 #9

As long as those folks who disagree are half a world away and not American citizens...who cares? Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #12

I think you have encapsulated your persona in a single sentence tkmorris Jul 2015 #46

Burning either is protected by the First Amendment. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2015 #21

It's a piece of cloth. I don't care. roody Jul 2015 #6

I think they're assholes who have every right to be assholes. NaturalHigh Jul 2015 #7

I'm not a big fan of it personally but... CincyDem Jul 2015 #8

That can be an expensive hobby. MineralMan Jul 2015 #10

If it is part of a protest, I support that act. Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #11

I think they are desperate for attention. bluedigger Jul 2015 #13

^^ Ditto ^^ lamp_shade Jul 2015 #16

I always hope pictures of the burning end up on the internet and get tagged to their names forever. tritsofme Jul 2015 #14

i really don't care fizzgig Jul 2015 #15

Maybe they feel a chill? graegoyle Jul 2015 #17

It is no more egregious than when the Malraiders Jul 2015 #18

Thank you. Back in the day the flag burners were not looking for attention which has been jwirr Jul 2015 #45

We let Joey Johnson crash at our student housing co-op when his case was before the Supreme Court. Comrade Grumpy Jul 2015 #19

Meh, flags are symbols, and as Carlin said, "I leave symbols to the simple minded" randys1 Jul 2015 #20

+1 nt Live and Learn Jul 2015 #29

Or did he say "symbol minded"? krispos42 Jul 2015 #58

I don't care or think nothing of it as burning fabrics JonLP24 Jul 2015 #22

Free expression, don't care in the least LittleBlue Jul 2015 #23

Eh, doesn't bother me a bit. Ino Jul 2015 #24

I consider it a piss-poor way of making a statement Cirque du So-What Jul 2015 #25

I think they are @ssholes Snow Leopard Jul 2015 #26

isn't that the proper way to dispose of a worn out flag? hollysmom Jul 2015 #27

Beat me to it sir pball Jul 2015 #53

It is their right Marrah_G Jul 2015 #28

"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world Maedhros Jul 2015 #30

Perfect. HERVEPA Jul 2015 #33

If nothing is fire (other than the flag) Facility Inspector Jul 2015 #31

About the same as I think about those wearing the flag as Downwinder Jul 2015 #32

They have no imagination. nt valerief Jul 2015 #34

free country, peple can burn crosses too. i don't run with either crowd, though nt arely staircase Jul 2015 #35

I think that the religious significance people attach to the flag is weird and creepy (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #36

It's a fine example of idolatry. Mariana Jul 2015 #47

+ a zillion truebluegreen Jul 2015 #51

Me too. CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #65

+1 Marr Jul 2015 #70

Excellent point! backscatter712 Jul 2015 #83

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2015 #86

People can burn their property if they wish. Mariana Jul 2015 #37

Not someone I would include in my social circle... Spatened Jul 2015 #38

They have a right. I think they are most often foolish though. BillZBubb Jul 2015 #39

Yes, yes, and of very little importance I_Like_Hammers Jul 2015 #40

welcome to du niyad Jul 2015 #42

idolatry is the word that comes to mind when reading the hysteria attached to these pieces niyad Jul 2015 #41

I have trouble with people who drive while using cellphones jberryhill Jul 2015 #43

Seems like it can be a rather patriotic thing to do depending on the circumstances LostOne4Ever Jul 2015 #44

I wonder what they are angry about. Warren Stupidity Jul 2015 #48

That. During the VN war and the protests for Civil Rights, politicians procon Jul 2015 #81

It's their right to do so and it doesn't bother me a bit. City Lights Jul 2015 #49

I think it's usually an example of political cognitive dissonance... JHB Jul 2015 #50

Glad to be in a country that doesn't punish those that do express their feelings. BlueJazz Jul 2015 #52

I hate seeing it but will defend you right to so with every fiber of my being. nt msanthrope Jul 2015 #54

I put them in the same category as people who prefer a confederate flag to our own. Quackers Jul 2015 #55

I think they're wasting money. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2015 #56

Go for it. BKH70041 Jul 2015 #57

They should wash it with soap and scrub-brushes. . . DinahMoeHum Jul 2015 #59

�Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people�s minds Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2015 #60

Beat me to it. backscatter712 Jul 2015 #82

Patriots All! TheSarcastinator Jul 2015 #61

It's a far less efficient fuel than charcoal Action_Patrol Jul 2015 #62

Doesn't bother me one bit. Iggo Jul 2015 #63

Most people who burn the US flag are following accepted protocol for the retirement of a flag Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #64

We used to yell at people who wanted to do it in the 60s Warpy Jul 2015 #66

My mom's religions when I was a kid... hunter Jul 2015 #67

oy ... olddots Jul 2015 #68

I have no opinion of the act on its own. It depends on how and why it's being done. Marr Jul 2015 #69

If they bought it, they can do what they wish. DawgHouse Jul 2015 #71

Couldn't care less. hifiguy Jul 2015 #72

I think it is a fine form of protest. Arugula Latte Jul 2015 #73

Yes, people have the right to do it, if it's their flag and they're not, say, violating fire codes. Warren DeMontague Jul 2015 #74

I'm with Molly Ivins on this Electric Monk Jul 2015 #75

I do not personally like it, but I do defend the right to do it. Yo_Mama Jul 2015 #76

I don't like flag burning, but it doesn't rise to the level of ilegality Algernon Moncrieff Jul 2015 #77

It's a testament to the strength of our democratic republic that allows it to be legal. Uncle Joe Jul 2015 #78

Yes it clearly is a matter of free expression treestar Jul 2015 #79

I would never burn a flag. 840high Jul 2015 #80

Of course, people have right to do it, sadoldgirl Jul 2015 #84

They are dicks. They have the right to be. Throd Jul 2015 #85

I think that it's misguided Dorian Gray Jul 2015 #87