Posted on May 5, 2016
Do you agree that the first amendment protects the right to desecrate the American flag?
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Constitution
Politics
Morals
Freedom
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 45
I hate seeing it, but at least it reminds me we live in a free country.
You probably can't burn the North Korean flag in North Korea. That's not something we need to copy from them.
You probably can't burn the North Korean flag in North Korea. That's not something we need to copy from them.
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The Greatest Play In Baseball - Rick Monday Saves U.S. Flag
On April 25, 1976 at Dodger Stadium, Rick Monday of the Chicago Cubs, grabbed and secured the American flag from two individuals as they were attempting to b...
I agree in so much as to their right burn it doesn't affect my right to stop them from doing so!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo
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SSgt (Join to see)
Rick Monday. I love that video! If he did nothing else in his entire MLB career, that would have been enough.
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CPT Jack Durish
That's a damn fine way of looking at it: If they have the freedom to burn the flag I have the freedom to extinguish the flames.
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Flag burning doesn't bother me in the least. Because no rights or principles actually reside in that cloth symbol. And the values and rights that are represented are those found in the constituiton. And one of the most important rights in the constitution is the right to openly express political opinion without government reprecussions. So when I see a flag burning, I see someone exercising the rights that make this country great. Maybe they are doing it because they don't believe in the "America- love it or leave it" but rather in the "America-love it and change it" when they feel the country is doing something wrong.
Take this website as an example. Even though it is full of active duty military and veterans, there are many many posts that say the country is fucked up, the president is fucked up,the government is fucked up, etc etc and it needs to change. Well why is it OK for those people to express that disdain for the government by publically saying those things, but not by burning a flag? Maybe they are burning it because they believe that the government is violating the principles that the flag represents and want to call attention to it.
So count me as the cynical one. I am not impressed by all the military and former military who say they want to kick someones ass for burning the flag. Unless we are also going to kick everyones ass who talks negatively about our government as well. If it ever becomes "antiAmerican" to criticize the government, we are in a world of hurt. And it would mean we have an awful lot of antiAmerican people posting on this site.
Isn't it odd that so many people shake their heads and wag their fingers and say they just can't understand why certain muslims get upset if someone burns a Koran or depicts Mohammed in political cartoons ? They say it's only freedom of speech and they shouldn't get upset about it. Yet they say they will attack and do bodily harm to someone burning the US flag and want the government to throw them in jail for it. Hmmmm...
Take this website as an example. Even though it is full of active duty military and veterans, there are many many posts that say the country is fucked up, the president is fucked up,the government is fucked up, etc etc and it needs to change. Well why is it OK for those people to express that disdain for the government by publically saying those things, but not by burning a flag? Maybe they are burning it because they believe that the government is violating the principles that the flag represents and want to call attention to it.
So count me as the cynical one. I am not impressed by all the military and former military who say they want to kick someones ass for burning the flag. Unless we are also going to kick everyones ass who talks negatively about our government as well. If it ever becomes "antiAmerican" to criticize the government, we are in a world of hurt. And it would mean we have an awful lot of antiAmerican people posting on this site.
Isn't it odd that so many people shake their heads and wag their fingers and say they just can't understand why certain muslims get upset if someone burns a Koran or depicts Mohammed in political cartoons ? They say it's only freedom of speech and they shouldn't get upset about it. Yet they say they will attack and do bodily harm to someone burning the US flag and want the government to throw them in jail for it. Hmmmm...
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CPT Jack Durish
At first I was inclined to correct you inasmuch as I thought you meant to say "woe be unto he..." But, on further reflection, there is a sense to your comment "Whoa be he..." and I kind of like it better.
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LTC Stephan Porter
I agree with the last half.
Just to be clear, you are saying that the 1st Ammend doesn’t allow for flag burning?
Just to be clear, you are saying that the 1st Ammend doesn’t allow for flag burning?
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Yes...it's been to court and upheld (Texas v Johnson, 1989). People can do what they want to our flag.
NOTE: I do not agree with it, BUT, it's on of the rights we fight for and protect.
NOTE: I do not agree with it, BUT, it's on of the rights we fight for and protect.
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Stepping on the American flag at UCLA
Protesters step on the American flag at UCLA while a student who was walking by forces them off.
I think anywhere this takes place it should be challenged. Such people that want to make a point move out of the country and stop paying taxes. If I see it I'm likely to cause a stink like this guy. I will make my voice heard as well - freedom of speech is a two way street.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxVf0YsGFZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxVf0YsGFZ8
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There wouldn't be a need to desecrate the flag if it were respected. Not respecting something is protected speech according to the courts. So yes we can feel bad about it but consider how proud you are and how much you respect the flag. You're in a much better place than those oxygen thieves.
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(Protections of) Freedoms don't cover things we like.
They cover the things others despise. They cover the things that "someone" in society is going to find offensive. That someone is going to hate. That someone is going to want to stop. That someone is going to want to pass a law to keep you from doing.
They are the slippery slope argument.
Of course, no one should desecrate the Flag. The Flag is a living symbol of our Nation. our Nation is great. Probably the greatest that has ever been.
Unfortunately, it is also a symbol of our Government. And our Government is the opposite of that. America is great... The US Government is bureaucracy, and it is inefficient, ineffective, and untrustworthy... and it is represented by the Flag. I can see why people might get a little irate at the confusion. To them, they don't know the NATION. They only know the GOVERNMENT.
And the Government is why we have those (Protections of) Freedoms. The Framers didn't trust it either.
They cover the things others despise. They cover the things that "someone" in society is going to find offensive. That someone is going to hate. That someone is going to want to stop. That someone is going to want to pass a law to keep you from doing.
They are the slippery slope argument.
Of course, no one should desecrate the Flag. The Flag is a living symbol of our Nation. our Nation is great. Probably the greatest that has ever been.
Unfortunately, it is also a symbol of our Government. And our Government is the opposite of that. America is great... The US Government is bureaucracy, and it is inefficient, ineffective, and untrustworthy... and it is represented by the Flag. I can see why people might get a little irate at the confusion. To them, they don't know the NATION. They only know the GOVERNMENT.
And the Government is why we have those (Protections of) Freedoms. The Framers didn't trust it either.
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I was born under IT I fought under IT I will be buried under IT. The law may say you can desecrate IT but I will always honor IT my Flag my Country
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SFC Wade W.
So very well said, SGT Roncari!!! I find it very disappointing that so many people born as citizens of this nation, have no respect for her. They can't look beyond our corrupt government to see the great experiment that our founding fathers started. They are also attempting to put today's norms and morals on people and governments from over 250 years ago.
I think that we need to emphasize that more. Our nation was not alone in having slavery. In fact, most, if not all nations, had slavery. It was the norm. And whether the slavery of all of those countries were based on race, ethnicity, or country of origin, it didn't matter. Many nations had slaves of their own race and nationality. Take GB as an example.
Some people volunteered to be slaves just so they could get to the US, the Chinese of the early 19th century are an example. There were others that were willing to give up 5 years or more for the chance to be a citizen of our great nation.
I really do wish we could find a way to expose the generations that have gone to school in the 21st century to these truths. So many of them believe that only people from the African continent were enslaved, and now we are somehow enslaving the Latin peoples by not allowing them to enter our country without proper vetting. How can these young people that are supposed to be smarter than the generations they are replacing be so dumb about these matters?
I think that we need to emphasize that more. Our nation was not alone in having slavery. In fact, most, if not all nations, had slavery. It was the norm. And whether the slavery of all of those countries were based on race, ethnicity, or country of origin, it didn't matter. Many nations had slaves of their own race and nationality. Take GB as an example.
Some people volunteered to be slaves just so they could get to the US, the Chinese of the early 19th century are an example. There were others that were willing to give up 5 years or more for the chance to be a citizen of our great nation.
I really do wish we could find a way to expose the generations that have gone to school in the 21st century to these truths. So many of them believe that only people from the African continent were enslaved, and now we are somehow enslaving the Latin peoples by not allowing them to enter our country without proper vetting. How can these young people that are supposed to be smarter than the generations they are replacing be so dumb about these matters?
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SGT Philip Roncari
Thank you for your response and the well thought out and explained historical precedents,sadly I fear it’s too late for our current generation to appreciate our Country,I see it constantly, even within my own family and friends,I do take heart at least that we that wore the uniform and took the Oath have NOT lost our love of Country or Flag.
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