Republicans tend to respect the flag as a symbol, and they have absolutely no respect for the principles that symbol embodies, such as free speech and the right to protest.

Amp I thought you were smarter than Henry Hyde.

"spitting on the people that have fought for that country and stood up for your beliefs"?

dude, we were killing them and throwing them the fuck out of that country. A little spit was the least of their worries, and at that point, truly moot.

What never fails to amaze me is how people of your thinking seem to never see the stupidity in fighting for the right to burn the very fucking symbol that represents your right to protest the thing that's giving those rights to begin with. It's fucking ludicrous.

Typical hippie mindset.

But again.... do whatever you want man.... go burn your flags. In fact, if you really wanna make a statement, go to Sturgis in August and stand in the middle of the street and burn your flag.

I don't want to burn flags. I want to have the RIGHT to burn flags if I choose to do so.

I also want to have the right to burn a picture of Ronald Reagan if I choose to do so. I want to have the right to say my government is wrong. I want to have the right to read books that the government doesn't like.

There is NO DIFFERENCE between outlawing the burning of a piece of cloth because of it's symbolic content and outlawing a book because of it's symbolic content (1984). It's a very small step from making desecrating a flag illegal to making public dissent illegal. oh but OF COURSE only us hippies have anything to fear right? THe government would NEVER do anything to bother right thinking mericans such as yourself. (Patriot Act, Tips, those are all aimed at hippies and muslims, they'd NEVER tap anyone else's phone)

There's no difference between banning flag-burning for it's disrespectful nature and throwing Rage Against the Machine in jail for their disrepectful music. It's a slippery slope, if you give them an inch they'll take a mile.

what never fails to amaze me is how people of YOUR mindset never seem to see the stupidity in outlawing burning a FUCKING SYMBOL. It's a rag, a piece of fucking cloth. What counts are the principles that flag embodies - the right to complain against your government, the right to FREE SPEECH, the right to protest and to elect your chosen representatives. Outlawing the burning of the flag is a far greater desecration of that flag than burning it.

Great... not only do I have to agree with Mr. Fiction, but also dig. The world is ending...

I don't even know who you are except you run a links list and you post a lot. Agreeing with me more might be a good idea for you.

so burn a few.... I'm sure if you warm yourself by a nice fireplace fueled with US flags at your home, the flag burning police are not going to come and cart you off. The problems start when the hippie crackheads feel they need to make some sort of "statement" by standing on the White House lawn burning flags to show how stupid they are.

but hey.... you're free to burn away in the comfort of your own home... I'm reasonably sure you won't be arrested.

After all, that's what you said you wanted right? You want to be able to burn one of you so choose....? Well burn away....

oh wait.... that's no good because then no one will SEE you burning it. That's the whole point isn't it.... to be SEEN burning it in your act of defiance and disrespect. Burning it at home doesn't help.... you want the right to burn it in Times Square.

your point is noted.... but not everything is a slippery slope. People are too damn paranoid.

when it comes to governmental power, EVERYTHING is a slippery slope. Any law on the books can be used against you.

Ever hear of the forfeiture laws?

the only thing you can count on besides death and taxes is that any power you give the govt will be abused.

50

stars that is mawfuckers!

okay dig.... let's spin this in the other direction for a moment.

Let's suppose the law came down today: Flag burning is now perfectly legal and even encouraged.

So.... now what? You just got what you wanted, so now what? Now we get to see hordes of homeless piss pants degenerates burning flags on courthouse steps in protest of their disfunctionality because "society didn't give them any breaks"?

Maybe the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature a float of burning flags this year?

Get a speeding ticket, protest it outside the courthouse by burning the flag?

Maybe the next presidential campaign will go on a round robin nationwide flag burning tour to bolster the idea of free speech.

Burn one at your next Parent/Teacher conference in defiance of their preformed corporate tools.

Didn't like the movie? Burn a flag outside the theatre.


Please explain to me how granting the right to burn a flag helps anyone. What great purpose is it serving? Give me an example that ISN'T as stupid as the one's I've just given.... tell me when would be an opportune time to whip out my flag and lighter.

It gets worse. I'm with you guys on this one too.

Um. Until the Constitutional Amendment is passed, flag burning is allowed. You don't exactly see thousands of flag burnings a day.

The reason they need an Ammendment, by the way, is because the Supreme Court, the ultimate guardians of the Constitution, already said that flag burning is protected by the first amendment. Another amendment would be needed to overturn that aspect of the First.

what about Flag spray painting? Burning is too cliche.... I wanna innovate... is flag spray painting still cool? How about flag bronzing? Can I bronze a flag?

You can bronze it, but if you melt it down afterwards, you'll go to jail with the evil pot smokers!

cool..... how about flag oragami? Can I make a flag swan out on the White House lawn?

I served under that "SYMBOL" for 12 years. I was willing to kill or die while serving under that "SYMBOL" and came close to doing so. I will not allow anyone to desecrate that "SYMBOL" in my presence without my doing every thing in my power to stop it. I am still willing to kill or die for that "SYMBOL".

well shit.... what the hell are you guys waiting for??! Start burning! Hell, I'm gonna get me a case of them meaningless rags today and burn the whole works over at the nearest church tonight... (so I can protest religion at the same time) The voice of idiocy MUST be heard!

iF YOUR BURNING A FLAG.. NO MATTER WHOSE IT IS.. YOUR MAKING A STATEMENT. fORTUNATELY WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO SO.

AT THE RATE BUSH IS TAKING IT.. WHOEVER PUTS US DOWN WILL HAVE THEIR COUNTRY FUCKED UP.

I just wonder if you would defend as aggressively someone burning a cross

the funny part of all this is, sure... go ahead... you wanna burn the flag so damn bad, you can.... you won't go to prison. There ya go... free speech at it's finest hour.

But you'll never be able to legislate away the ass beatings you're likely to get from people whenever you torch one.

:)

oh fuck off you sweaty dirtbag, I served too and I even managed not to get run over by someone in my own platoon. Until you get that backbrace off I wouldn't get too damn threatening with anyone.

the difference is that I served to protect our country and our freedom. You apparently served to protect a piece of cloth sold wholesale @ a dozen for 5.00

This is true, but I'll take an asswhipping over a jail cell anyday ;)

Danny boy...the flag is a "SYMBOL" of our country and our freedom...Mom, apple pie, and the American way...it is not a symbol of government. Hmm...served in the NG just like the other Danny boy...a weekend REMF.

Idiots fight for symbols and honor, smart ones fight for tangible causes... people, children, freedom, world peace...

You seem to be a very emotionally immature individual, like those who join radical muslim groups, fighting for symbols and honor while leaving their brain at the door.

Baseball sucks!

please officer, dont through me in jail!!

Just because someone thinks the right to burn a flag should be preserved, doesn't mean they want to run around burning flags all day.

Flag burners are idiots, who don't realize how lucky they have it...but America's always given idiots rights they don't understand or appreciate.

The ability to burn your own flag is one incredibly visible (as well as useless and imbecilic) action that seperates the US from places like Iraq under Hussein and other similar dictators. It's not the most important, or the most useful, but it is definitely a visible sign of freedom which those types of countries lack.

Let the retards burn their flags if they want.

who can get to the whitehouse lawn these days?..it's blocked by cement barriers, men armed with sniper rifles and pistols and protected by missile batteries :ak47: