Does anyone have proof of liberal flag burning in the U.S?
If not, can we please retire this tired old rant? I've never seen a flag burned in my life. Is there anyone here that truly has?
If not, can we please retire this tired old rant? I've never seen a flag burned in my life. Is there anyone here that truly has?
Anonymous
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I did a web search and found one or two pics of Americans burning flags, but so few as to be absolutely meaningless. I mean, you can find one or two pics of Republicans who hang out in Public washrooms but does that mean that Republicans are prone to hanging out in public washrooms?
Most of the flag-burning pics I found were of people from other countries (Iran, Iraq, etc...) burning the American flag. And if you were them... wouldn't you? They have every right to be more than a little ticked.
Samwise
The case that triggered this fight was a case in which a protestor burned a flag, which Texas considered a crime. The Supreme Court justices who overturned that conviction were a combination of extremists on both the left and right wings.
Personally, I consider anyone who would burn the flag an adolescent jerk seeking attention. Nevertheless, I want it to remain legal; it makes it easier to pick out people whose opinions should never (unless they repent and apologize) be respected.
Please note that the man who burned that flag in Texas did not care a bit about freedom of expression. He pulled down a flag being flown by a local building owner and burned it. Surely choosing to fly the flag must be respected as well as burning it, if freedom of expression is the issue.
The problem was that instead of charging the guy with vandalism, arson, disorderly and dangerous conduct, or whatever, the state of Texas tried to charge him with expressing his opinion. That expression of opinion, however stupid and contemptible, is and ought to be protected.
(This may be the only case in which the Supreme Court was sharply divided and I agree with Antonin Scalia's side.)
oimwoomwio
It's not a rant!!
Reported incidents of flag burning went up 33% from 2005 to 2006!!!
(from three incidents in 2005 to four in 2006)
Moody Red
Oh yes! I have seen it many times.
It was noted during many of the protest marches against the war in Vietnam on campuses and city streets all over the U.S.
This was mostly during the 1960's and 1970's during the "Hippie" era.
Edit: It is only legal to burn the flag to retire it.
.
Free Bird
Yes. It happened a lot in the 60s and 70s. You can find pictures all over Google images.
PS: I'm a liberal, and I would never think about burning a flag.