Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: wizardLRU
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Originally posted by: wizardLRU
If thats all the American flag means to you then, frankly, that is despicable.
Is it really the flag that is important in our country? How about the people and ideas? Why should a symbol be more important than the people that wave that symbol, or the ideas that blossom under that symbol?
Let me simplify this for you. In my mind (and in those of some burners) the American flag is the symbol that directly relates to these people and ideas. Burning that symbol in protest is a clear statement of disrespect against the values of our nation. If this is not so to you then please, elucidate me 🙂
To me a symbol is just that, a symbol. From your statements, it sounds like burning an American flag and burning and American are just as bad. To me, the American, his ideas, and his ideals are more important than something that respresents those things. Symbols are all well and good until they become as important as what they represent.
For the most part this is true, but my point is that symbolism is still quite alive and well in the minds of most, and for most flag burners, burning the flag is a protest against the ideas of a nation. If the flag were simply a worthless relic, I don't see why peple would even bother with it 🙂. There is a reason for the flag's existence. As a matter of fact I would like to qoute the poster who got me started on this rant:
In fact I recommend everyone burn a flag to show your American Pride. I have a stack of them that I use for fuel on those cold American winter nights, in my American fireplace. I also have an American flag beach towel, which doesn't catch on fire, but does get pretty hot on the sand. When I come out of the lake, I wipe the American E. Coli from my feet onto the towel. I wipe my drool with American flag napkins, salute my 47 star flag every morning (I refuse to acknowledge Alaska, Hawaii or North Dakota as states), and keep my American pole warm in my American flag boxers.
If you don't see anything wrong with this paragraph then more power to you. I for one think its rather comical. Which is why I didn't bother to reply. However this:
You disgust me for being disgusted at someone burning a piece of red, white and blue fabric.
is something a bit diferent. I for one don't think that burning the American flag is *patriotism*, I think its obvious that when someone burns the flag they're not exactly endorsing the country whose flag they're torching. The American flag is not just some meaningless symbol to me. You, however, can have and keep your opinions. What makes this country great though is the atmosphere of tolerance. Here you can burn your countries flag. However I prefer more mature ways of dealing with the rights and wrongs of my country than torching a national symbol.