Here is something all flag burners should consider "before" they burn OUR flag. Maybe they should move to Baghdad so they can wave burn someone else's flag. I'd stick these all over my trucks!
I understand your feelings completely, Mike. However, as the Law stands right now, it is your Right, as an American citizen, to burn an American Flag that you own. I do not think it should be illegal to burn the flag, I just don't think you should want to. In this country, I feel that many flag-burners are simply over-zealous people who don't really understand issues before they act- they are idealistic and choose to view US policy in terms of only black and white. It's not wrong for the US to protect the US's own interests. Flag burners should expect un-fair treatment. The trouble is, one of the things I beleive strongly in is that if ONE Right is cheapened or taken away, all the rest of my Rights suffer. I think as an American, I should defend ALL Rights provided by my Country. So unfortunately, I stand behind the Right for US citizens to burn their own American Flag. If someone where to pull one off of a public building, or his neighbor's flagpole, however, and then burn it, and I'd be the first to crack the guy one on the nose.
Illegal...no, but I think I should have the right to show my displeasure by crushing the flag burners skull with the remaining flag pole. If they burn the flag around me, they better wear a helmet....... While I don't always agree with our governments policies, the flag represents the people that fought and died for it. I place flag burners right up there with people that vandalize cemetaries. WHile you do see vandalism around here once in a while, I have yet to see any flag burning around here.........I guess most people around here are pretty level headed. Sorry this turned into a speech.....I just liked the tail gate sticker. And I am damn proud to be American. Mike
Mike- anytime a bunch of Americans get together and discuss appreciation for their country, it's a Good Thing:TU:
Yes and no. When a Flag is decommisioned and burned, there is supposed to be a particular ceremony. I don't think the average flag owner can be expected to do all that just because he tripped and dropped his Flag. You can burn it if it's dropped and it's your OWN Flag and you feel it should be, because that's your Right, but it's not the 'official' way to dispose of your desecrated Flag.
I believe the proper tradition is to kiss the flag when it touches the ground. I don't beleive burning a flag should be illegal but- Personally someone burning a flag is like them saying bad things about my mother, it's a direct insult really. My grandfather didn't take shrapnel and see almost the whole crew on his ship die defending the flag so some punks could burn it. My direct ancestors fought in the revolution for that flag. I'm usually a very non-violent person, and in fact, I've never been in a fight, but if I saw someone burning a flag, I'd beat the hell out of 'em. ------------------- I walked through a county courthouse square, On a park bench an old man was sitting there. I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down." He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town." I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit, And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it. He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down. "Is this the first time you've been to our little town?" I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag, But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag." "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there When Washington took it across the Delaware. And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key Sat watching it writing 'Oh Say Can You See'. And it got a bad rip in New Orleans With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams." "And it almost fell at the Alamo Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though. She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill. There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg, And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag." "On Flanders Field in World War I She got a big hole from a Bertha gun. She turned blood red in World War II She hung limp and low a time or two. She was in Korea and Vietnam. She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam." "She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, And now they've about quit waving her back here at home. In her own good land she's been abused -- She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused." "And the government for which she stands Is scandalized throughout the land. And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin, But she's in good shape for the shape she's in. 'Cause she's been through the fire before And I believe she can take a whole lot more." "So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night. We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right. On second thought I DO like to brag, 'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag." --Johnny Cash
Mike, Please feel free to invite me to help you with flag burners.The mood I've been in lately (and my size too) should help dissuade them.I would like to personally discuss their freedom in the alley just to make sure they understand all of the constitution.I absolutely like the pic and would like to put it in as my avatar!I am also a proud american and would defend our country too. Pat:TU: P.S GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I'd love to get a magnet like that for the back of my truck, or at least a BIG bumper sticker. Who did that for you? Phil
Flag code OK, you guys got me wondering, so I dug out my official Scout Handbook (8th edition, 1st printing, copyright 1972) and on page 102, it doesn't say anything about burning it if it's dropped ( I also always thought this was true, to be done in a CORRECT MANNER). Further down the page it also says.... "If the flag gets dirty, clean it. If torn, repair it. When beyond repair it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."
That photo was from a parade in California I think. Those would be cool to have as a magnetic sign! Mike
all right! another "beat up the nerdy protester" rant! here is a little info for you. most of the people i know who are pro-peace would gladly give their lives for their idealogy, love of god, and their country if they believed it nessesary. to equate them with anarchests, people who are at war with us, or people who just plain want to cause trouble is wrong. what is more dispicable, the person who burns the american flag to protest the wrongs that they believe are being promoted in the name of all citizens of the united states, or the brown noser lacky who turns and looks away when he sees those same wrongs? remember, adolf hitler made it to power because most of the german population didn't want to seem unpatriotic, joseph mccarthy managed to ruin a lot of innocent people's lives because nobody wanted to seem unpatriotic, and the civil war, spanish/american war, and the viet nam war were fought because of somebody's misguided sense of nationalism. by the way, beating up somebody because they dont agree with you is a tenent of facism, be sure to wear your arm bands!
Good point rtabish. Oh, a question about proper disposal of an American flag. I know burning was one method, but wasn't burial another?
i dont think think they should ban flag burning ..... they should legalize burning flag burners. flag makers should make flags out of materials that are deadly toxic when burned.
I would love nothing more than to have peace. You get a few countries, ones like Iraq for example, that don't care about peace. They are only worried about power. They will try to take by force anything that they want. Sure we can "leave them be" and not bother them. How long do you think it will take them before they are beating on the door of some other country, wanting to take it over........... hmmmmmm.....hey I have an idea, lets call some Kuwaiti people up and ask them what they think about Iraq and what they think about us removing a threat to any kind of peace. Burning a flag is not disagreeing with your countries policies, it is spitting on the graves of all the men and women who gave their lives for your freedom, and mine. I appreciate that to the point that the flag is held sacred to me. Without these people you and I might be living in the UK or somewhere else.......maybe even ....ahem....France! Mike
