Punishment for burning the flag

[Peter90688]

What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

[dandandan4]

there was a law passed against flag burning after/during the vietnam protests.

[blueloa13]

At 11/19/03 09:39 PM, Peter90688 wrote: What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

w00t im the first to post. anyways. There cant be a law against buring the flag beucase its perfectly legal. Unless of course your trying to light a building on fire with it or putting people into harm with it. But beside they cant do shit.

At 11/19/03 09:44 PM, blueloa13 wrote: There cant be a law against buring the flag beucase its perfectly legal. Unless of course your trying to light a building on fire with it or putting people into harm with it. But beside they cant do shit.

People who are burning flags shouldn't be in the country. Seriously guys, I know protesting is legal, but flag burning shouldn't be. Don't fucking burn the flag of the country that you live in.

At 11/19/03 09:39 PM, Peter90688 wrote: What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

Why should there be a punishment for burning the flag?

[True-Lies]

Looks like you just barely missed being first, Loa :) Anyway, you're right, there can be no punishment for burning the flag, as it is our right to desecrate the flag as long as its not harmful to something/someone else. I don't like flagburners, but the freedom of speech law is designed to protect speech that we don't like.

[Chaoslight]

At 11/19/03 09:39 PM, Peter90688 wrote: What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

Having someone sit down and listen to your opinions on why the country is violating the precepts on which it was founded, thereby 'dirtying' the flag and allowing, nay, requiring that all patriotic citizens pick up their gas cans and their b-b-q lighters and turn the filth-encrusted symbol of our country into a cleansing flame that maybe, just maybe, we can use to BURN THE FECKING CRYPTO-FASCIESTS ALIVE!

At 11/19/03 09:47 PM, MikeBillingz wrote: Don't fucking burn the flag of the country that you live in.

Why not?

At 11/19/03 09:47 PM, MikeBillingz wrote: Don't fucking burn the flag of the country that you live in.

At 11/19/03 09:50 PM, punk_disease wrote: Why not?

That's like starting a boycott of a store or restaurant, completely destroying their business and reputation, but then continuing to buy their products every day as they are forced to lower the prices to avoid going out of business.

[True-Lies]

::

That's like starting a boycott of a store or restaurant, completely destroying their business and reputation, but then continuing to buy their products every day as they are forced to lower the prices to avoid going out of business.

That's hardly the same thing, although they are somewhat similar. Yes, I really can't stand when I see some ass burning the flag on T.V., and then applying for welfare and state aid. But it is our right to burn it if we feel we should. The American flag isn't some idol, to be worshipped like it's a god. Although, that's how a lot of politicians treat it in the public...

[Chaoslight]

At 11/19/03 09:55 PM, MikeBillingz wrote:

At 11/19/03 09:47 PM, MikeBillingz wrote: Don't fucking burn the flag of the country that you live in.

At 11/19/03 09:50 PM, punk_disease wrote: Why not?

That's like starting a boycott of a store or restaurant, completely destroying their business and reputation, but then continuing to buy their products every day as they are forced to lower the prices to avoid going out of business.

No, it isn't. Good analogy, but no. Or rather, I disagree with your opinion. It's like sending back the card that says 'Please rate our resturant' with all bad reviews. Flag-burning is a legal and official way of saying "You bastards are getting our ideals dirty. Stop that!" Granted it's an incendieary way, (pun intended) but that seems to be the only way that works. The constitution didn't do much against the patriot act.

[A-Carrot-By-Dr-Riot]

At 11/19/03 09:44 PM, blueloa13 wrote: There cant be a law against buring the flag beucase its perfectly legal.

Genius, couldn't have said it better my self...

Seriously though, I wonder if you are misinterpreting the act of burning the flag. Perhaps it doesn't neccessarily mean "I WANT TO DESTROY THE US" perhaps it is saying "Freedom is being destroyed in the name of freedom"

Vietnam protesters burned the flag because they felt that the united states was destroying what it was trying to protect.

I do not think that burning the flag is a nice thing to do, but it cannot be illegalized. I would not want to live in a nation that enforced such an evil law.

[RedSkunk]

no punishment.. since, yeah it's legal.

but it should remain legal. definitely.. *goes and burns flag*

[True-Lies]

It think that I'm going to sing a relevant song from the Simpson's... You know, where Itchy and Scratchy was taken off the air cause it plagerized? You know, with the School House Ro-... Nevermind, just listen: *Crappy music starts up*

Kid: Hey, who are you?

Bill: I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill, sitting here on capital hill...

Kid: Well what do you do, Mr. Bill?

Bill: Well there are a lot of flag burners who have too much freedom, and we wanna make it legal for policemen, to beat 'em! Now they better ratify me, or I'll make Ted Kennedy pay! If he fights back, I'll say that he's gaaay!

Congressman: Good news, Bill! You've become a law!

Bill: Oh yeah! Come on boys, the doors open!

*Severeal hundred other $*#*ed up bills run into the capital building*

[Cassidythapimp]

There should be no punishment unless you use the burning flag to light propery on fire, which would be arson. It is nice to be proud of the flag as a symbol of our country, but it is bad when people worship it like it's a god. Especially christians........who shall have "no other gods before me(God)" as stated in the bible.

[TheShrike]

At 11/19/03 09:39 PM, Peter90688 wrote: What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

None.

To clarify: I don't think that burning the flag of any nation is a criminal act. It's expression, it harms no one. Some people may think it rude or crass when it's their flag, but it certainly isn't criminal.

NEVER SURRENDER YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

[Jimsween]

Why the hell would you punish somebody for burning the flag? It's just a flag, if he bought it whats the big deal?

Although, it's gotten a little old by now, if the people are going to take the time to protest they can at least try to be creative.

[eight-car]

If you think its ok to burn the USofA flag then you need to get the heck out of this country!

[TheShrike]

At 11/20/03 03:08 AM, eight_car wrote: If you think its ok to burn the USofA flag then you need to get the heck out of this country!

*burns a flag*

FUNK? I Need some funk in here! *kicks a frog*

[bumcheekcity]

At 11/19/03 11:22 PM, TheShrike wrote: NEVER SURRENDER YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

So true, Shrike. Our most important right is freedom of speech. If you are burning the flag, that should be legal, unless you are trying to harm people with it, or trying to set fire to something else.

[Ravens-Grin]

At 11/19/03 09:48 PM, True-Lies wrote: I don't like flagburners, but the freedom of speech law is designed to protect speech that we don't like.

Just like what Voltaire said, "I may not support what you say, but I will fight for you to say it." or something like that.

[Ravens-Grin]

At 11/20/03 02:32 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

At 11/19/03 11:22 PM, TheShrike wrote: NEVER SURRENDER YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

So true, Shrike. Our most important right is freedom of speech. If you are burning the flag, that should be legal, unless you are trying to harm people with it, or trying to set fire to something else.

What if I'm trying to catch on fire a papier mache of President Bush?

Here is a link to the picture(it's 10 pixels too wide to put on Newgrounds)

[Lyddiechu]

At 11/20/03 03:08 AM, eight_car wrote: If you think its ok to burn the USofA flag then you need to get the heck out of this country!

Oh honey.. I'm so sorry you know nothing about the ideals the country you are so proud of were founded upon...

I think there are smarter, more effective ways to change what you don't like than burning the flag, however, it must remain legal otherwise the US Constitution would be renedered completely null and void.

Burning the flag is the last restort in expressing your discontent with our country, the only reason you should burn the flag is if you think our nation's government is violating the ideals that the country is founded on and refuses to change even after repeated lobbying, legislation, etc. Basically, its ok to burn the flag when the government is breaking the laws it was put there to impose and defend in the first place.

[bumcheekcity]

At 11/20/03 04:54 PM, Lyddiechu wrote: Basically, its ok to burn the flag when the government is breaking the laws it was put there to impose and defend in the first place.

You could burn the flag anyway. You dont need a reason to do something that isn't hurting anyone.

[Chaoslight]

Isn't it fun to think that we, ordinary citizens of the united states, know more about the constitution than most people in power on capitol hill?

[Lyddiechu]

At 11/20/03 11:36 PM, bumcheekcity wrote:

At 11/20/03 04:54 PM, Lyddiechu wrote: Basically, its ok to burn the flag when the government is breaking the laws it was put there to impose and defend in the first place.

You could burn the flag anyway. You dont need a reason to do something that isn't hurting anyone.

The point is the flag is an important symbol to most of the country (and the world) whether you like it or not, therefore making flag burning a very serious criticism of the US Government. Just burning the flag any old time for any reason (or lack thereof) would be cheapening all of the protestors who burned the flag for righteous causes.

[EvilGovernmentAgents]

At 11/21/03 12:46 AM, Chaoslight wrote: Isn't it fun to think that we, ordinary citizens of the united states, know more about the constitution than most people in power on capitol hill?

Be careful....most of the people there are, or were laywers, and they know MUCH more than we do.

Although your statement does bring up a good point. How is it, that many users here that are not religious, yet know more about what the bible says than most Christians?

[Chaoslight]

At 11/21/03 12:57 AM, UNpossible wrote:

At 11/21/03 12:46 AM, Chaoslight wrote: Isn't it fun to think that we, ordinary citizens of the united states, know more about the constitution than most people in power on capitol hill?

Be careful....most of the people there are, or were laywers, and they know MUCH more than we do.

I said 'In Power'. as in, people have to listen to them, or at least steamroll them, as in a senator, rather than just ignore them if they so chose.

Although your statement does bring up a good point. How is it, that many users here that are not religious, yet know more about what the bible says than most Christians?

We look at it criticly (sp?) The extreme religious right look at the bible and say 'this is good. THat is bad. Why? Because it says so here. It says so there." They ignore the facts that don't fit their views by saying "I am christian. I grew up being taught by nuns. I know more about this than you do."

I, on the other hand, look for the flaws, which are much more numerous then consistancies with the religious right's views. When I see something that seems to agree with them, I check it thoroughly by at least two sources: Reputable websites, and the bible. If I still can't prove it inconsistant (hasn't happened yet) I will email my rabbi, who, when helping me prepare my Bar Mitzvah, pointed out a lot of useful facts about Leviticus. If it STILL seems to agree with the ERR, I will accept that perhaps they are right...

BUT ONLY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THAT RELIGION Which I am not, because my sect practicly defines liberal agnosticism.

One tends to look a lot closer when trying to find the flaws than one does when trying not to.

[karasz]

At 11/19/03 09:55 PM, MikeBillingz wrote: That's like starting a boycott of a store or restaurant, completely destroying their business and reputation, but then continuing to buy their products every day as they are forced to lower the prices to avoid going out of business.

actually thats the whole point of a boycott...

[Dagodevas]

At 11/19/03 09:39 PM, Peter90688 wrote: What do you people think the punishment for burning the flag should be?

Well, I don’t think burning a flag should be a crime, but where and how you go about burning it should depending on the circumstances. Then it would be a fire-hazard, making it a crime.

Yes, I know, that’s a silly reply. Yet, in all honesty I do believe I’ve kind of made a point. Don’t burn flags, it isn’t safe.