How do we tolerate this without a confrontation of sorts?

2015-05-01T10:46:24-04:00

This new challenge might have my blood boiling to a new high. If this happens in your area, how do you respond? I would like to think I would not resort to a confrontation of sorts, but I don't know...this would test my limits. Thoughts?

And let me clarify that I understand that some police officers are going above and beyond the wrong way, but come on...the people that riots have been in 'support' of, haven't exactly been model citizens, and this just makes people look bad.

https://www.facebook.com/foxandfriends/videos/ [login to see] 47280/

Fox & Friends | Facebook

A sick new 'challenge' is going viral, urging people to disrespect and stomp on the American flag. Give us your reaction.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 10:49 AM

2015-05-01T10:49:38-04:00

This is disgraceful. I don't think I could avoid a confrontation but I would try my best. If people are going to this degree where will we end up that is my question.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 1 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-05-01T11:04:57-04:00

These riots are pointless and senseless and our only attracting more negative attention to the ethnic and civil groups behind the protests instead of helping to resolve the issues. "Justice" for a white LEO shooting an ethnic suspect is not automatically "the white guy is guilty" verdict - that's revenge. Yes in some of the cases it is pretty clear cut that the LEO crossed the line big time but they have yet to release a report on how this gentleman in Baltimore died and what caused the spinal injuries. Then to add insult to injury a suspect in the same van adds, from all accounts, false testimony as to what happened in the van. Just dump another gallon of gas on already smoldering fire, why don't you.

It's difficult at best to not want to bestow on this idiot a .50 caliber a$$hole in the middle of her forehead. But if the veteran community begets violence to counter this stuff, we'll be the next targets of these people's anger and aggression. IMHO it's a no win scenario, you will always have people that are not satisfied with their social situation and take their frustrations out on the rest of society. I'd venture to say that we've all been there, feeling the system was against us and powerless to do much but watch our blood pressure rise, but most of us don't try to claim their 15 minutes by disgracing themselves.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 1 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-05-01T11:05:18-04:00

Looks like Fox Entertainment rose to the bait, again.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-05-01T11:13:33-04:00

I know this might be unpopular, but the 1st Amendment (as confirmed in the Supreme Court decision in the case of Texas v. Johnson 491 U.S. 397 in 1989) protects flag desecration as protected freedom of speech/expression. Our duty as Soldiers is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and therefore we can do nothing to interfere - an we must actually defend this citizen's right to express herself in this manner. As distasteful as this may be for most all of us (myself included), we can never let our personal feelings interfere with our sacred duty to fulfill the oath that we have sworn.

So how do you tolerate this without resorting to violence? You must remember your oath and do your duty. Easier said than done, but I believe that is the right answer. As a private citizen, you can also present the counter-point to this person's argument. Go to their protest with a flag of your own. Make it a big one, wave it proudly and tell them that although it is their right to desecrate the flag, you fought to defend that flag and their right to treat it that way. And then tell them that they will NEVER burn your flag that you hold and that you will display and defend it proudly until your dying day.

Response by SGT James Elphick made May 1 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-05-01T11:29:52-04:00

I'm going to go a different direction than most people here. While I find this highly disrespectful and disgusting (I would probably punch someone's face if I actually came across this) I think we need to pay attention to all these things that are happening. It is far too easy to marginalize these actions and see them as instances of ignorance or whatever. The truth is though there are many angry people in this country who feel their country and society have failed them and they are acting out. We did the same thing with the Occupy Movement. As a society we labeled them and judged them but few people took the time to think about why they might be angry and why they might be protesting.

If people think that stomping on the flag is the only way they are going to get attention (even if they aren't sure why they want it) then maybe we should try to listen before we shut them down. If people think that they have to riot in order to effect change, then we should definitely be listening to them because riots lead to uprisings which lead to insurrections and before you know it we are fighting ourselves simply because we were too stubborn to listen or work together on our problems.

So maybe before we judge all these people as low-life scum (which they might still be) we should find out why they are angry and try to have a dialogue.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 11:33 AM

2015-05-01T11:33:43-04:00

I would have a very difficult time not putting my foot up their @sses

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 1 at 2015 12:07 PM

2015-05-01T12:07:00-04:00

If you have to resort to violence every time you disagree with something, you're probably part of the systemic issue that's causing these protests to begin with...

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made May 1 at 2015 12:29 PM

2015-05-01T12:29:33-04:00

I replied to a similar post earlier, and I try to be efficient, so...

"We don't swear to protect the flag. We don't swear to protect the government. We swear to protect the Constitution. We swear to support and the defend the right of every person to exercise their right to free speech. Protest against the government (inclduing through desecration of the flag) is, without question, the right of the people. At the end of the day, the flag is just cloth, it is a SYMBOL of the freedom we serve to protect and defend. While she may descecrate the cloth flag, she is exercising her rights to free speech - and her right to free speech is what we defend - not a flag. I'm not willing to lay down my life from a flag - I'm willing to lay down my life for the freedoms that the flag symbolizes.

It may not look right or feel right and it may hurt your feelings, but you have to accept that THIS is EXACTLY what we need to be defending the right to do.

Voltaire said something to the affect of, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." That is our job. That is our mission. And the fact that this person CAN do this freely and without being dragged about by the government or arrested by the police means that, for now, we are doing our job."