Flag Worship

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

This is something that's made me wonder for a while, but it just now resurfaced out of my subconsciousness.

Why is it that Americans seem to blindly worship the American flag like it's some kind of God? I understand symbolism, but do pacifists worship the dove? No. They worship what the dove represents and don't generally give two shits if a dove is killed. It may be a bad comparison, I don't know, but I don't understand why Americans throw temper tantrums when a flag is burned. It's a piece of cloth. More can easily be made for very cheap.

Note: I have duel citizenship to America and Scotland, so I'm not biased here.

[Generalissimus]

Its more symbolism than anything. It supposed to represent the USA so not handling a flag appropriately is viewed as disrespect towards the USA.

[Flak]

http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1065 947

You already started this discussion.

[InsertFunnyUserName]

When someone burns a flag, people aren't upset because the matter that once used to look like a flag is now in the form of ashes. What they're upset about is the symbolism that the act of burning the flag represents.

The flag represents the country and when you burn it, it's the ultimate insult to your country.

[SteveGuzzi]

At 5/31/09 05:18 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote: I understand symbolism, but

buuuut

I don't understand why Americans throw temper tantrums when a flag is burned.

ahhrmm.

It's a piece of cloth. More can easily be made for very cheap.

Seeing as how textile production costs is entirely irrelevant I question this whole "I understand symbolism" thing you got going on.

[CowBoyEmo]

It's a piece of symbolism basically.

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

At 5/31/09 06:00 PM, StephanosGnomon wrote:

At 5/31/09 05:18 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote:

It's a piece of cloth. More can easily be made for very cheap.

Seeing as how textile production costs is entirely irrelevant I question this whole "I understand symbolism" thing you got going on.

What I mean is that I understand that it symbolizes the nation and everything it stands for, but there isn't a reason to get upset over a cheaply made copy of a symbol.

[SymbolCymbal]

im american and i dont worship the flag but our armed forces do. And our armed forces go and die in combat .. as americans it is our CULTURE to use the flag and it symbolism of our freedom in our country to honor our fallen soldiers. We see it as a symbol of what this country was founded on.

The flag wasn't even popular here in america until the civil war. It was only used by our military to say who we were on the battle field.You know when the north was fighting the south to end slavery and a bunch of other things. It is a symbol of freedom to us. We are a nation that has ben through many wars and are a young nation.. younger than most.

So fuck off about making fun of our culture.. its our culture .. not yours.. you dont have to deal with it as much as the people in this country do.

trust me i can tear major ass on a brit but i dont cause it fucking rude and prejudice

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

At 5/31/09 06:10 PM, SymbolCymbal wrote:
So fuck off about making fun of our culture.. its our culture .. not yours.. you dont have to deal with it as much as the people in this country do.

trust me i can tear major ass on a brit but i dont cause it fucking rude and prejudice

I wasn't making fun. I was asking a question. And it's my culture too. I was born to an American father and an American mother. I lived in America for several years, and I may even be moving back sometime next year.

It was a simple question. I didn't understand something so I asked. What's wrong with that?

[SteveGuzzi]

At 5/31/09 06:08 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote: What I mean is that I understand that it symbolizes the nation and everything it stands for, but there isn't a reason to get upset over a cheaply made copy of a symbol.

And what I mean is that the people who make a public display of flag-burning aren't doing it to deprive others of something materially valuable or because its chilly out and they need something to warm their hands by. It's a demonstrative way of saying "fuck the United States". How much a flag costs is, again, entirely irrelevant.

If someone you know took a big dump on top of a photo of you and your family and left it for you to find, would you be cool with "yeah but hey reprints are pretty cheap to order"? Or would you be irked at what kind of message that person was trying to send to you?

...

Like I'd agree that anti-flag-burning legislation is retarded and unnecessary but either way you'd have to be pretty thickheaded to not understand why the burning of a flag as a symbolic gesture would piss people off.

[SymbolCymbal]

At 5/31/09 06:21 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote:

It was a simple question. I didn't understand something so I asked. What's wrong with that?

well if your from here and know the difference between a piece of cloth and symbolism (taking american history into account) wouldn't that make it a dumb question?

lol and how am i supposed to know how long you were here for and where in america your from?

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

At 5/31/09 06:22 PM, StephanosGnomon wrote:

At 5/31/09 06:08 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote:

Like I'd agree that anti-flag-burning legislation is retarded and unnecessary but either way you'd have to be pretty thickheaded to not understand why the burning of a flag as a symbolic gesture would piss people off.

I actually only used flag burning as an example. What about the little things? Like when a flag was stolen, a big deal was made out of it. (I can find the link if you want) Or that it's the law that you must dispose of a torn or damaged flag in some special way. (I haven't actually confirmed that, but it's what I'm told.) I completely understand the respecting of an important symbol, but I think it's taken a little bit too seriously in America.

[dome-of-red]

It's because they're retarded.

All this patriotism shit is, it's just a country people settle the fuck down.

[Draxonicar]

At 5/31/09 05:18 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote: This is something that's made me wonder for a while, but it just now resurfaced out of my subconsciousness.

Why is it that Americans seem to blindly worship the American flag like it's some kind of God? I understand symbolism, but do pacifists worship the dove? No. They worship what the dove represents and don't generally give two shits if a dove is killed. It may be a bad comparison, I don't know, but I don't understand why Americans throw temper tantrums when a flag is burned. It's a piece of cloth. More can easily be made for very cheap.

Because, by burning the symbol of our country, which represents us, you are essentialy saying "to hell with liberty, free speech and freedom of thought! I HATE AMERICA!!" and if in scotland, are there not punishments for burning a scottish flag? Flag burning is also associated with riots, anti-american ideas etc, because it's a way of showing distaste for us and our laws etc

my 2 cents

[WeHaveFreshCookies]

At 5/31/09 06:34 PM, Draxonicar wrote:

At 5/31/09 05:18 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote:

Because, by burning the symbol of our country, which represents us, you are essentialy saying "to hell with liberty, free speech and freedom of thought

But my making the burning of flags illegal, is the government not doing the same thing?

Not saying I disagree, because I don't. But it IS something to think about.

[SteveGuzzi]

At 5/31/09 06:29 PM, WeHaveFreshCookies wrote: I actually only used flag burning as an example. What about the little things?

What about the example I gave you? It's okay, you can still answer a question even if it's rhetorical. If someone desecrated an image of you and your family and meant for you to see it desecrated, would you honestly be completely unaffected by such a gesture? Would your main concern really be for how much it costs to print a photo?

I completely understand the respecting of an important symbol, but I think it's taken a little bit too seriously in America.

The reason you hear more about people reacting to American flag-burning (as opposed to, I don't know, New Zealand flag-burning) is because the U.S. has more enemies within and without due to its power and influence in global affairs. Obviously when there are people taking shots at the 'top dog' the top dog's most vocal supporters are going to feel obligated to send shots right back. Flag-burning is an act designed to rile up the people who support the banner and foment anti-whateverplace sentiment from the people that oppose the banner.

It's really, really not that complicated of a thing to get.