12-01-2016, 12:09 AM
(11-30-2016, 09:01 PM)Carsman Wrote: My belief is that our military men and women died fighting in the name of our flag. And I'll bet you none of those flag burners ever fought in the name of the American flag! If they did, they likely would have/show some respect for the flag. Those flag burners are reaping their 1st amendment rights benefit from the blood, sweat, and tears of those who did fight for the right to give them that privilege.
Well, at the risk of you bullying the shit outta me again........I'm gonna tell you honestly that you be wrong, man!
Some Americans have fought in wars to defend our country and its principles, and some have fought to expand our country's principles elsewhere. They were fighting for our country and its principles, not in the name of a symbolic piece of cloth.
And, there have certainly been American soldiers who burned the flag in protest, but who would never attempt to burn down the country they fought for.
I'm surprised you're not aware of Vietnam vets, for example, who burned the flag in protest of having been drafted into a war which they felt was unnecessary, wrong, and an injustice to the soldiers (the survivors, the wounded and the killed), the American people, and the Vietnamese people.
I can't imagine being compelled to burn the flag and I agree with sal that it's usually an idiotic thing to do. But, I think it would be dangerous to forbid that non-violent form of protest against the government. The idiotic flag burners can carry on flaming and the rest of us can carry on calling them idiots. There's no reason to throw them in jail or revoke their citizenship, for Christ's sake.