"I pledge conditional allegiance to the burning flag"

[RallyJon]

Just got back from the Independence Day celebration at the nearby borough that's home to a small liberal arts college. The parade was led off by an anti-war protest. Vets against the war who are still patriotic (yes, that is what their sign said) followed closely behind by a group promoting recycling (dressed in cardboard boxes and aluminum cans).

Nothing says patriotism more than people pushing their agenda on unsuspecting spectators and kids. At least there were some antique cars and a firetruck.

[Moneyguy1]

On the other hand, we are a nation where everyone is free to state their opinions. Would you want it any other way?

If so, wait a few years.........

[Rick V]

JMO but if you want to burn my flag please do the right thing and wrap yourself in it first!

[john70t]

Yes, a nation able to be self-contained in industrial material usage is obvously a conspiracy which benefits only liberals. Nature is only for homosexual Democrats.
And why would men, who've been forced through a draft to postpone their careers and lives for a political/corporate seperatist adgenda, be as antiwar as that bi-millenium middle eastern punk worshiped weekly?


Mabye you should get the FCC(or any gov agency) to break into their house without a warrent while they're at work and search the place. Also, tap their phones, track their cellular and vehicle location at all times, install cameras on their stretcorners, review their credit card purchases and library selections, and jail them for books banned in the US and anti-American speech. That just some of the passive things we can do to 'em as a "legal" start.

That'll show 'em who loves freedom.

[RallyJon]

It's a question of can vs. should. A question that our society seems to get wrong more and more every day.

[IROC]

There was a letter to the editor in our local paper that had the perfect solution to this flag burning dilemma. Make the flags out of flame-retardent material. Problem solved. :>)

Mike

[DaveE]

Originally posted by IROC
There was a letter to the editor in our local paper that had the perfect solution to this flag burning dilemma. Make the flags out of flame-retardent material. Problem solved. :>)

Mike

Yes, then our panderers in Congress could waste several days discussing a Constitutional amendment outlawing the burning of copies of the Constitution.

[ben parrish]

Originally posted by john70t

Mabye you should get the FCC(or any gov agency) to break into their house without a warrent while they're at work and search the place. Also, tap their phones, track their cellular and vehicle location at all times, install cameras on their stretcorners, review their credit card purchases and library selections, and jail them for books banned in the US and anti-American speech. That just some of the passive things we can do to 'em as a "legal" start.

That'll show 'em who loves freedom. [/B]

While I am into recycling, protecting the environment, and a lot of other "tree hugging" ideals, I do NOT believe that you SHOULD be able to burn the flag. I also believe that if it is so bad here for some people that they simply cannot stand the oppression then they should pack it up and "Get the *#@! out of here" Go try it somewhere else and you will quickly see how great America is. I am speaking from experience; I live in the Bahamas. Bahamas you think; sounds real tough. Well, the government here is about as ineffective as a government could be. They are worried about the stature of their position not helping the problems facing the country. Phone service, power service, mail service, health services, road services; all ran by the government and all are pathetic. Guess what, it rubs off of the citizens too. Hey if the government doesn't care, why should I. The American government is not perfect but it is better than anything else out there.

I know it is a travesty for all of you poor, complaining, down trodden souls. I mean how dare "they" track your calls or watch your bank account. You should be able to check out any book you want to; heck, any book should be able to be published. I mean, it's not like we have anything to worry about.
We are safe here from any of the millions that want to kill all Americans .. ..RIGHT?? No reason to want to keep tabs on those types of things. Nahhh
There is definitely a contingent in America that feels like they have the right to do anything they want. But those same people are the first to cry out loud when you want to say the Pledge of Allegiance because it mentions God or look into their bank accounts/phone records for activity that could threaten us all. These same independant, free spirits are the first to point their pathetic fingers at the government when a tragedy happens screaming "Why did you not protect us" Well, as the old saying goes, you can't protect an idiot from himself.
If you have nothing to hide, what is the problem with a little investigation. I don't like it any more than you but I understand that we are living in a different world now. Things are not just going to take care of themselves and the bad guys are not going to just go away.
I am not directing this at any one person. This is for all the winey a$$, bleeding heart, government hating, freedom preaching, liberty taking, moral bending, responsibility skirting, jerks.

have a nice day,
Ben

[RPKESQ]

Ahh!, the old "America, love it of leave it" slogan revisited. Now there is an illogical phase. What if it’s gone wrong, should we not try to fix it? Free speech means FREE. Not free unless you don't like it, just totally free. All of the "patri-idiotic" who want to prohibit free expression of speech (including flag burning) are not supporting what the Constitution states. Are we so weak as a Nation that we have to ban someone from burning a flag? Get real, we have plenty of problems without addressing this made up issue. Politicians pull these issues out just to obscure the real issues that they need to deal with. And they rely on the red-blooded knee jerk reactions of the masses to react just like they always do. Stop the emotional tirades and start thinking for once.

[john70t]

They said about Stalin: "at least he got the trains to run on time".

I agree there is some individual comprimise with a well-oiled, tightly run governmental machine but I just don't see it here.
I know it works in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore but then again they have health care, gov pensions, and cheap mass-transit.

The proof is in the puddin'. In a "fair" world, gov and corporations would open their own doors to investigation as well, and would enforce unsecure borders, and...and...
Just like someone burning "your" flag, don't start giving away "my" freedom.

[ben parrish]

Gentlemen, as I said, I enjoy the freedoms that America offers. Ahhh.. I see, give me the "protection of the borders, and keep those corporations from stealing our money BUT do not tell ME what to do.
I think that both parties of government have lost touch with the American public and we all should be galvanized enough to make a change happen by electing better representatives. I personally disagree with flag burning; not so much the act but the disrespect it displays to all the men and women who have given their time and lives defending this country. As stated before, just because you can does not mean you should. It is legal to mary a sixteen year old in some states but it sure isn't right.
America isn't perfect; it is far from it. With all the faults, it is still the most stable, open government on the planet. With power comes corruption and that is indicitive of ALL humans not just the American government.
And RPKESQ, emotions are essential to life. We are emotional about our cars; we buy houses base on how they make us "feel"; date or marry based on emotions. I am perfectly able and quiet capable of thinking any issue through even when emotions are involved.

Ben
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should."

[nostatic]

Originally posted by john70t
They said about Stalin: "at least he got the trains to run on time".

I think it was Mussolini

[Moneyguy1]

It was Benito.

[RPKESQ]

Emoitions made the Mona Lisa and they also made the Nazi death camps. Emotions should be examined by the cold hard microscope of critical rational thinkng before on act on them. That is why we have a brain. It takes no thought, no work to have an emotion. I do not say to ignore emotions, I say do the work to make sure you understand why you feel the way you do, before acting.

[ben parrish]

Touché sir, touché. Point well made ane received.