Posted on May 4, 2015
What is your opinion on the STOMP the U.S. Flag challenge that is going around?
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This is a humiliating challenge that someone who calls themself an Amercan came up with. I know that there is a challenge going around for people to stomp on the American Flag as an exercise of there freedom of speech. I promise that if you exercise your right to stomp on my countries flag to exercise your rights well then I will exercise my right to whoop your ass as a defense to my Countries liberties. Sorry for cursing. Enough said.
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United States
Constitution
1st Amendment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 43
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Sorry, free speech is great but some sacred things should be protected. I am afraid I would have to unlock the 52 year old can of whoop ass on these people or be physically restrained. It's not an intellectual process for me.
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I've no problem with it. Never in all of recorded human history has anything good ever come from elevating a person, nation etc... above criticism. The day you must blindly worship your nation is the day it's time to flee. That's how atrocities get blind eyes turned to them...
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SSG (Join to see)
I guess natioanl pride is dead, we justify and allow the US flag to be desecrated. Because of social media and the our morale compass being broke, we have losted way.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Pride needs to be justified. In a nation where it's citizens feel so disenfranchised that they need to express themselves in this fashion, perhaps it's time to exchange ego for thoughtfulness..
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You are right it is humiliating, and we have all had friends, family, and comrades that have died, or injured protecting what that beautiful flag represents. One of the thing that the flag represents is freedom of speech/assembly. Sure they are ignorant to the fact of our personal losses and often times the losses of others. That being said I would like to see the people explain their actions, I think more and more this is a "state" issue, not an American issue per say. If they are upset with the way their communities/cities/states have handled issues (Baltimore, Fergusson, et al) why not stomp their state's flag instead of old glory? Why not find a better more "civil" way to demonstrate your dis-satisfaction of your governing bodies? I feel like many of these people don't do their due diligence to educate themselves on what they are doing, but go along with the crowd who hasn't educated themselves on the situation (at least not completely). This "challenge" isn't worth the confrontation, as we know how quickly it could escalate and the potential for injury or death because of someone's ignorance should be avoided. It kills me to see this challenge but we are a free people and our youth( even adults) will likely look back and cringe at their actions and have to live with their decisions. And in this time and age those foolish enough to do this and post to social media will likely get the wrath of legions of keyboard warriors and veteran groups. Like they say what comes around, goes around and hopefully those stupid enough to follow blindly on this will one day be on the other side of it. just my .02
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SSgt (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) Prior to my Military experience I opposed the draft/mandatory service. The more I see on how our country is acting and where it appears to be headed, and my experiences in the Air Force (mostly positive) I believe military service should have some sort of mandatory requirement. This would open more eyes to what is going on abroad, its effects on how policy is created and why the leadership of the country does some of the things they do. I think it would also create a more integrity driven, honor oriented society. I have no ideas on how that could be accomplished but I do agree that there are many things that need fixed.
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1SG (Join to see)
Sorta on the same track but maybe the option go to college or join the military for the first four years after high school.
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SSgt (Join to see)
And like anything else we need strong good leadership across the board from the local mayors to state governors, and our elected leaders in congress and the White House. I feel like all the larger leadership roles are to focused on re-elections and politics and not as much as leading. There are many good leaders but there isn't a sure way to continue to develop people for these roles, whereas the military had a foundation to help people grow and evolve into leaders whether it may be a character trait or not. I just don't see that where in many cases I think it has higher risk/reward as far as leading a community/city or the country
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SPC Kevin Schober
I do not think the joining college option would be a good solution because that would cause extreme unrest within the poor communities. I like the idea of mandatory service of 2 years military OR 2 years at a Government appointed job that benefits the Country on a whole IE: Government run factory or Garbage man etc. etc. College should not be a way out . Either way you serve a commitment to this Country for 2 years. The cost of freedom is not always free.
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It's completely legal and protected "free speech." I still think they're misguided assholes for behaving this way though.
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I appreciate all that have commented and posted there views and voted it up. This is very near to my heart as a Soldier and American. I see alot of good points in all comments.
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Notice no one in the oval office or congress is coming out and asking people to please refrain from these overt acts - oh yeah that would be asking someone to stop exercising their their constitutional rights and we can't do that, especially with an election coming up...
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What I don't under stand in the recent VSU case is how this is not being prosecuted as Georgia has a law that makes this illegal. It goes further to protect the state flag as well as the Confederate States flag. According to this website some 47 other states have state laws for such acts. Seems like the states needs to force this issue and start charging people. Just because the Fed isn't going to stop it doesn't mean the states can't. I say challenge the Supreme Court ruling in forcing them in defining the difference what is speech and what is action. Exercising my right to free speech in saying I'm going to rob a bank is not the same right in actually robbing the bank. This can be applied the same way I feel in such cases.
The State of Georgia prohibits anyone from mutilating, defacing, defiling, or abusing contemptuously the U.S. flag, the Georgia state flag or the flag of the Confederate States of America. The law also forbids the use of such flags for advertising or publicity purposes. [Ga. Code Ann. Sec. 50-3-8 and 50-3-9]
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/state-flag-protection-laws
The State of Georgia prohibits anyone from mutilating, defacing, defiling, or abusing contemptuously the U.S. flag, the Georgia state flag or the flag of the Confederate States of America. The law also forbids the use of such flags for advertising or publicity purposes. [Ga. Code Ann. Sec. 50-3-8 and 50-3-9]
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/state-flag-protection-laws
State flag-protection laws | First Amendment Center – news, commentary, analysis on free speech,...
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has twice invalidated state flag laws, 47 states still have on the books laws, many modeled after the Uniform Flag Law of 1917, that prohibit the desecration of the flag or its use for advertising and publicity purposes.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Unfortunately state law would get trumped by 1A much as I too would like to see these MFs go down.
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SPC David S.
Yes sir, yet there are exceptions to free speech in the United States as defined and recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). One such limitation is the "Fighting words and offensive speech" within this there is this bit. Fighting words, as defined by the Court, is speech that 'tend[s] to incite an immediate breach of the peace' would this not qualify.
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PFC Jacob Brunette
iF THIS WERE TO INCITE A RIOT, THEN YES IT WOULD COUNT, HOWEVER. THE PARTY THAT PHYSICALLY THROUGH THE FIRST PUNCH OR ACTUALLY BROKE THE PEACE WOULD BE THE ONE AT FAULT. SO WITHOUT CAUSING THEM TO DO PHYSICAL HARM TO AN ACTUAL HUMAN WE CANT STOP THEM LEGALLY. HOWEVER. IT IS WITHIN OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST THEIR PROTEST AND IF OUR PROTEST WAS TO SOMEHOW SURROUND THEIR PROTEST AND CUT OFF ALL SUPPLY IN OR OUT WITH OUT CAUSING ANY HARM THEN SO BE IT. WE WOULD BE WITHIN OUR RIGHTS TO DO SO. WE CAN BLOCK AND HOLD WHATEVER WE WANT FOR AS LONG AS WE WANT AS LONG AS IT CAUSES NO HARM TO ANYONE PHYSICALLY. THERE IS A MENTAL STATUTE BUT IF THEY PLAY THAT GAME WE CAN TO.
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SPC David S.
So what if I were to walk up and act like I was going to walk on it but instead then lay on top of the flag and then another lay next to me and so on until the flag was surrounded by a good number of people. No punches or violent act. If you're going to walk on the flag then you're going to walk on me before that happens approach. As soon as they touch you or step on you file a case.
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All I can say is you're welcome. If it wasn't for us they would not be able to enjoy the freedom they have to express themselves in this manner. We fought to defend this countries freedoms and to turn away tierney whenever it came our way. Although this is just a flag, it is the most recognizable symbol that the world over knows. I do not agree with their actions because I truly believe that stomping on the American Flag is stomping on all those who fought to defend it and most of all stomping on the 1,000s of Soldiers, Sailos, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who died defending it.
It is a federal crime to kill or even have a feather of a Bald Eagle in your possession. Why not make it a federal crime for this?
It is a federal crime to kill or even have a feather of a Bald Eagle in your possession. Why not make it a federal crime for this?
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Please do something to people who do such a horrible act to this country.Our Military fight for our freedom and that flag represents that fight for our Freedom.Please charge these people a $1000 everytime they do such a thing.3 times makes jail for 30 to 60 days.We have to show these ignorant people who have no respect for a;ll the lives lost for Fighting for our Freedom.This flag that I am proud to display should be shielded somehow.As soon as possible.They are stomping on the flag on facebook.Stop it NOW
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