Do you consider the burning of the American Flag to be an attack on ALL AMERICANS?

[jumperboy357 0]

I wouldn't have to knock someone out that burned a flag at the dropzone. I don't know about where anyone else jumps, but some of the dropzones where I've been I've met veterans from Force Recon, Army Special Forces (5th & 7th group), Navy Seals, 101st and 82nd airborne and Rangers. I wouldn't need to hit anyone. There would be a lot of pissed off veterans around me that would do before I could ever set my drink down thus giving me more time to enjoy my cocktail. SSG James

[wildblue 7]

You'd be surprised at the number of people in the military who wouldn't touch the person. They fought for that person's right to do that - why fight against what you fought for? Doesn't mean they like it.

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[kelel01 1]

Yeah, but some people obviously don't understand what they're fighting for.

"Welcome to the land of the free. Disagree with me, and I'll punch you in the fucking face."

[rhino 0]

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but some people obviously don't understand what they're fighting for.

And people that haven't fought for it damn sure don't understand.

[kelel01 1]

Ooooh, it's bolded. It must be true.

No actual response to what I said, though, huh? That seems to be your blanket response to everything. Get a new hook.

[billvon 3,080]

>And people that haven't fought for it damn sure don't understand.

And people that didn't spend three years of their life designing weapons to defend the US definitely don't understand.

[SkydivingNurse 0]

People who haven't put their ass on the line to defend that Flag probably don't know what they're doing, either. Most of the nitwits I see burning the Flag on videos are just that. Nitwits. I find what they do extremely distasteful and disrespectful, but unless they did something to actually hurt someone, I don't think I'd do anything more than pity them for their ignorance.
BTW, six years in the Navy, Honorably Discharged.

[EBSB52 0]

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People who haven't put their ass on the line to defend that Flag probably don't know what they're doing, either. Most of the nitwits I see burning the Flag on videos are just that. Nitwits. I find what they do extremely distasteful and disrespectful, but unless they did something to actually hurt someone, I don't think I'd do anything more than pity them for their ignorance.
BTW, six years in the Navy, Honorably Discharged.

So you want to make that judgment w/o listening as to why they are symbolically burning flags? Maybe that's one reason they burn the flags, the facade of liberty and freedom, due process, etc masked by blind patriotism.

WHat they do is a symbol of discord and dissent withthe agnda of waking people up or at least getting the attention of all - mission accomplished unless you ignore them.

I was in the military too, but to state that only people who have served deserve an opinion is a gross Ad Hominem. Point is, if there 2 people in front of you, one served and wanted the dissent of burning a flag, the other didn't serve and adamantly disagreed with the notion of flag burning, you would selectively give license for opinion to the guy that parallels your opinion. So actually serving has little to do with it. Can you understnd the concept of having the right to have an opinion, based upon the spirit of the American doctrine, yet it being stripped becuase of overzealous so-called patriots?

See the contradiction? The flag/US Const/most doctrine point to general unabridged right to be who you want and say what you want, yet there is a huge contengency of people that would like to revoke that in the name of patriotism.

So what is it, free speech/expression as long as it doesn't offend?

[rehmwa 2]

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- mission accomplished unless you ignore them

Exactly. Ignore them and then they are forced to examine their position and try to get the message out in a productive way. They either do a better job of it, or they discover their message isn't worth pressing. Either way, the rational presentation has value, this little emotionally based tantrum is just a waste of energy.

Burning a flag is a negative way of presenting a concern and it only validates those who already agree with them (preaching to the choir). It convinces no one on the other side and only hardens their resolve further. It's a self centered and emotionally based response with no hope of creating converts to ones cause (talking to themselves).

That makes it stupid and ineffective and financially dumb to purchase a flag and then destroy your property. But not worth getting uptight about. (analogy - quoting Bible verse to convince a non-religious person on a topic - utter lack of capacity in placing ones self in the other person's shoes - yet that happens all the time too)

Now if you burn my flag, that's valdalism of another's personal property - it is a kind of attack. I'd treat that differently.

Edit: So, yes, if someone is burning a flag or making a 'symbolic' shock gesture, then I'm not interested in listening to them as (my bias here) they haven't taken the effort to fully understand their own position enough to get past the emotion and prepare a real argument worth listening to. It's my choice to not give time to those who try to use shock tactics, I don't want to encourage that by validating the display with attention.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[steve1 5]

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this little emotionally based tantrum is just a waste of energy.

Burning a flag is a negative way of presenting a concern and it only validates those who already agree with them (preaching to the choir). It convinces no one on the other side and only hardens their resolve further. It's a self centered and emotionally based response with no hope of creating converts to ones cause (talking to themselves).

That makes it stupid and ineffective and financially dumb to purchase a flag and then destroy your property.

validating the display with attention.

I agree with this. What good does flag burning do? It certainly isn't convincing the opposition they are right about anything.

They can burn all the flags they want in Iraq. All it is doing his hardening their foes to fight all the harder against them. If anything this flag burning is convincing Americans who are sitting on the fence who the enemy really is.

The beheadings often have the same affect. It makes American Forces feel like their cause is just and correct in killing more of the insurgents.

As far as what was stated earlier in another person's post about blind patriotism, I don't agree with that. Just because you are patriotic, respect our flag, and respect what our country stands for does not mean you are being a blind patriot willing to follow our government into anything. I have seen some people who might fit that mold, but they are a small part of the voters (in my opinion). Most patriotic people I know are able to think for themselves and vote for the best politician on election day.

But then again following the 9/11 tragedy it seems a lot of people were thinking emotionally rather than rationally, including many of our politicians.

I feel like I love my country, but distrust it's leadership....Steve1

[Ron 10]

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I wouldn't have to knock someone out that burned a flag at the dropzone. I don't know about where anyone else jumps, but some of the dropzones where I've been I've met veterans from Force Recon, Army Special Forces (5th & 7th group), Navy Seals, 101st and 82nd airborne and Rangers. I wouldn't need to hit anyone. There would be a lot of pissed off veterans around me that would do before I could ever set my drink down thus giving me more time to enjoy my cocktail. SSG James

Having been in the 82d....I disagree.

Its a flag folks.

I don't like the idea of someone burning it....But they have the right.

I may not hangout with that person, but he has the right to do it...I think it makes him a twit, but I would be a bigger twit if I let some jackass burning fabric piss me off.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Zenister 0]

wow! and i completely agree on something..

looks about for the 4 horsemen

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Ron 10]

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wow! and i completely agree on something..

looks about for the 4 horsemen

Why so shocked? Last I checked we only disagree on one thing...But we do disagree alot on it.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[skinnyshrek 0]

Instead of hitting them why not turn on a hose pipe. More effective and makes for less jail time.

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[tbrown 26]

Those people hate us. Number 1 reason we should've never gone over there in the first place. They're a bunch of dumb fucks who aren't happy unless they're killing somebody. They'd shoot a baby in a stroller if they had nothing better to do, so why give them the opportunity to kill an American baby by even being there. We'll never change ANYTHING about they way they live or "think".

Yeah they hate us, remember those Palestinian dumbfucks who were dancing in the streets firing their AK's in the air on 9/11 ? We should've dropped the big one on that town the next day. Fuck 'em all.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[crozby 0]

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Yeah they hate us, remember those Palestinian dumbfucks who were dancing in the streets firing their AK's in the air on 9/11 ? We should've dropped the big one on that town the next day. Fuck 'em all.

'Those people' have spent most/all of their lives being on the receiving end of US supplied Apache helecopters and F16s. Why hold them to higher standards than yourself?

[mfnren 2]

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Those people hate us. Number 1 reason we should've never gone over there in the first place. They're a bunch of dumb fucks who aren't happy unless they're killing somebody. They'd shoot a baby in a stroller if they had nothing better to do, so why give them the opportunity to kill an American baby by even being there. We'll never change ANYTHING about they way they live or "think".

Yeah they hate us, remember those Palestinian dumbfucks who were dancing in the streets firing their AK's in the air on 9/11 ? We should've dropped the big one on that town the next day. Fuck 'em all.

who hates who? That "big One" that you mention also kills all the people in the town sitting around waiting for the world to help them. And we certainly won't change anyones mind about us if we bomb them.. Hmm oh yea, middle eastern people are some of the nicest i've ever met,they aern't all that different from us. the one's trying to kill us sound just like you.

[Skyrad 0]

Ever considered a career in interogation???

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[rehmwa 2]

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all the people in the town sitting around waiting for the world to help them.

and thus the real root cause of the problem we are caught up in now

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants