Poll: Do you care about "flag burning"?

[CounterReproductive]

US Flag Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8:
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

Wow so what you are telling me is that during the furor after the 11th of September terrorist attacks, all those companies who used the American Flag in their advertising were in fact breaking the US Flag code and as such breaking the law.. oh man thats too funny

 

[TheVioletBandit]

Being Canadian, I've never seen a Canadian flag being burned EVER, whether it's in real life, on the news, a picture on the internet (although I'm sure if I actually Googled that, I'd probably find one, because hey, it's the internet!). Honestly, flags don't really mean anything to me, so it wouldn't really effect me to see one being burnt. I just roll my eyes at flag burners, because really, what are they trying to accomplish here, I mean come on. But no, it doesn't offend me.

It happens, there were plenty to choose from.

 

[Akimoto]

its symbolic, by burning a flag you are declaring that you want to destroy the country who's flag you are burning, its like shoe-throwing in the middle east to show disrespect you throw shoes and burn flags in america you call some one a ****

You'd think someone would white-wash a flag as a form of protest one of these days.

Personally I would be a little miffed, after which back to playing *insert favorite game here*. It's better than getting a shoe in the face that's for sure.

 

[subtlefuge]

I have a problem with it because I have to. I can not abide dumb symbolic gestures.

Whether it is religious texts, books, flags, or effigies, it amounts to symbolizing closed-mindedness and barbarism. Learn to think for yourselves, and then learn how to do things that produce results other than hatred.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I do take offense to flag burning, It's like calling a black man "a dirty ******" or a brown person "a paki bastard" except you're saying it to an entire country. I'm from the UK, I also object to the burning of anything that represents a culture so koran burning, bible burning, poppy burning is offensive. I'm not personally offended by bible or koran burning because I'm not a muslim or christian but it is disrespectful.

What? No it isn't. Those are other terms are discriminatory and have baggage behind them. Burning a flag protests what the nation is doing. Burning a Koran or Bible protests the ideas they stand for.

I didn't say flag burning was the same as burning religious texts.

Okay. Drop the religious part and that still leaves my issue with saying it's the same as a racial slur.

I personally feel that flag burning is as offensive as a racial slur.

Alright, I personally feel that makes as much sense as wearing a shoe on your head. Presumably there should be some logic behind it, but apparently not.

I love posting my opinions and watching them get ripped apart. Why can't I be offended by flag burning?

I love posting something reasonable and having people twist it to mean something else.

Let's get some things straight.
1. I did not say that you could or could not do anything.
2. I am objecting to the comparison between flag burning and racial slurs.
3. I made no comment on being offended by flag burning itself, only on the comparison.

Alright, I'll rephrase my question why do you find it so un-logical that I find flag burning as offensive as a racial slur?

One is discriminatory, backed by a very negative past including violence and serious consequences.

The other is merely a gesture against the government of a nation and its actions.

One is a personal affront to people, the other is a comment on their feelings towards a government and how it's acted.

You say that flag burning is a gesture towards the government, I see it as a gesture against the people of a nation. Because of this I get as offended as someone that has been the victim of a racial slur.

That makes little sense since people burn their own flag. Thus they clearly mean it as a message against the government. It would make no sense as a message against themselves.

I am pretty sure their are numerous times when a group of people from a different country have burnt another countries flag, and meant to be offensive against the differing country as a whole not just its government. For example when extremist Muslims refer to America as "the great Satan" I don't think their just speaking about the government.

It's kind of hard to tell what they're talking about in particular.

But honestly, I'd imagine they're mostly upset about US actions in their region.

Well the buildings they flew planes into were filled with civilians, most of the Americans they have captured and beheaded on their little videos were civilians, and they have no problem suicide bombing civilians. All this leads me to believe they dislike Americans not just the American government. It's actually a pretty obvious conclusion that their flag burning is meant to insult the nation as a whole, yet your trying to deny this for some reason.

Okay, so I'm to believe that all those people I see on TV in the Middle East that happen to be Muslim and burning flags were in on 9/11. Yeah, sure.

I also don't see their lack of problem with killing civilians as proof they hate all Americans. They'll kill their own people in a suicide attack. I think it says more about how low they're willing to stoop to achieve their goals.

Wow, don't try to derail the conversation by implying that I think something as stupid as all Muslims being involved in 9/11. That's not what I said, and I'm pretty sure you know that. If not then your not even reading my posts and this conversation pointless. Honestly, I don't know what else to say to convince you that your wrong. Other than, have you been on this planet long? Hate isn't always rational, and surely isn't always directed in rational ways. Sometimes a government can do something unfortunate, and people take their resentment for that government, and project it onto the civilians as well. I don't understand why your having such a hard time grasping this concept, it's not as far fetched as your making it out to be.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

I don't hate the burning of the flag. I hate what they stand for. So I voted it bothers me a little.

 

[zefiris]

I personally feel that flag burning is as offensive as a racial slur.

And this is why I like flag burning, because it annoys people like you who think that something that harms a group not in power is somehow equivalent to something that mildly annoys a country that is very much in power.

Without people like you, I'd think flag burning was a pretty tasteless thing to do.

I mean, many people in the middle east are justified in hating the west, the United States and Britain in particular. We fucked their region up utterly. We supported horrible dictatorships. How could they NOT hate us? I'd hate people that supported a regieme that tortured people I knew, just so the regieme'd sell slightly cheaper oil.

 

[Yopaz]

It doesn't bother me one bit. A flag doesn't mean much to me. If someone disagrees with what my country does then well, I disagree too sometimes. Someone on the outside will always have a view that portrays the negative rather than a clear view of the positive. Burn our flag and it wont affect me. It wont affect my country. Why should I care?

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I do take offense to flag burning, It's like calling a black man "a dirty ******" or a brown person "a paki bastard" except you're saying it to an entire country. I'm from the UK, I also object to the burning of anything that represents a culture so koran burning, bible burning, poppy burning is offensive. I'm not personally offended by bible or koran burning because I'm not a muslim or christian but it is disrespectful.

What? No it isn't. Those are other terms are discriminatory and have baggage behind them. Burning a flag protests what the nation is doing. Burning a Koran or Bible protests the ideas they stand for.

I didn't say flag burning was the same as burning religious texts.

Okay. Drop the religious part and that still leaves my issue with saying it's the same as a racial slur.

I personally feel that flag burning is as offensive as a racial slur.

Alright, I personally feel that makes as much sense as wearing a shoe on your head. Presumably there should be some logic behind it, but apparently not.

I love posting my opinions and watching them get ripped apart. Why can't I be offended by flag burning?

I love posting something reasonable and having people twist it to mean something else.

Let's get some things straight.
1. I did not say that you could or could not do anything.
2. I am objecting to the comparison between flag burning and racial slurs.
3. I made no comment on being offended by flag burning itself, only on the comparison.

Alright, I'll rephrase my question why do you find it so un-logical that I find flag burning as offensive as a racial slur?

One is discriminatory, backed by a very negative past including violence and serious consequences.

The other is merely a gesture against the government of a nation and its actions.

One is a personal affront to people, the other is a comment on their feelings towards a government and how it's acted.

You say that flag burning is a gesture towards the government, I see it as a gesture against the people of a nation. Because of this I get as offended as someone that has been the victim of a racial slur.

That makes little sense since people burn their own flag. Thus they clearly mean it as a message against the government. It would make no sense as a message against themselves.

I am pretty sure their are numerous times when a group of people from a different country have burnt another countries flag, and meant to be offensive against the differing country as a whole not just its government. For example when extremist Muslims refer to America as "the great Satan" I don't think their just speaking about the government.

It's kind of hard to tell what they're talking about in particular.

But honestly, I'd imagine they're mostly upset about US actions in their region.

Well the buildings they flew planes into were filled with civilians, most of the Americans they have captured and beheaded on their little videos were civilians, and they have no problem suicide bombing civilians. All this leads me to believe they dislike Americans not just the American government. It's actually a pretty obvious conclusion that their flag burning is meant to insult the nation as a whole, yet your trying to deny this for some reason.

Okay, so I'm to believe that all those people I see on TV in the Middle East that happen to be Muslim and burning flags were in on 9/11. Yeah, sure.

I also don't see their lack of problem with killing civilians as proof they hate all Americans. They'll kill their own people in a suicide attack. I think it says more about how low they're willing to stoop to achieve their goals.

Wow, don't try to derail the conversation by implying that I think something as stupid as all Muslims being involved in 9/11. That's not what I said, and I'm pretty sure you know that. If not then your not even reading my posts and this conversation pointless.

It gets pointless when you try to use 9/11 as evidence of the feelings of people uninvolved in it. I was also quite a lot more specific than 'Muslims'. I'm not going to take you very seriously when you try and use 9/11 as evidence like that.

Honestly, I don't know what else to say to convince you that your wrong.

And we get down to the core of your 'rational' argument.

Other than, have you been on this planet long? Hate isn't always rational, and surely isn't always directed in rational ways. Sometimes a government can do something unfortunate, and people take their resentment for that government, and project it onto the civilians as well. I don't understand why your having such a hard time grasping this concept, it's not as far fetched as your making it out to be.

You're making assumptions about their anger. Quite simply they've never been in a position where the expression of it can be confirmed to be hate of all Americans.

Woohoo, they don't hate Americans! In fact, no one that has ever burned an American flag hates Americans! This is a great day for our nation, and for all nations, as flag burning has never once in the history of humankind been against the civilians of any country. I had thought that nations harbored resentment, and hatred for other nations that went far deeper than simple objection to a government, and could for example be a hatred of a peoples culture or religion, but now I know their is no such thing as nationalism or misappropriated hatred. Thank you for pointing that out to me. Bye now, I must go out amongst the people and voice this great wisdom to the masses, oh joy.

 

[alandavidson]

No, it doesn't bother me. It's an expression of opinion. If I say that people are not allowed to express opinions, what kind of person am I?

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I do take offense to flag burning, It's like calling a black man "a dirty ******" or a brown person "a paki bastard" except you're saying it to an entire country. I'm from the UK, I also object to the burning of anything that represents a culture so koran burning, bible burning, poppy burning is offensive. I'm not personally offended by bible or koran burning because I'm not a muslim or christian but it is disrespectful.

What? No it isn't. Those are other terms are discriminatory and have baggage behind them. Burning a flag protests what the nation is doing. Burning a Koran or Bible protests the ideas they stand for.

I didn't say flag burning was the same as burning religious texts.

Okay. Drop the religious part and that still leaves my issue with saying it's the same as a racial slur.

I personally feel that flag burning is as offensive as a racial slur.

Alright, I personally feel that makes as much sense as wearing a shoe on your head. Presumably there should be some logic behind it, but apparently not.

I love posting my opinions and watching them get ripped apart. Why can't I be offended by flag burning?

I love posting something reasonable and having people twist it to mean something else.

Let's get some things straight.
1. I did not say that you could or could not do anything.
2. I am objecting to the comparison between flag burning and racial slurs.
3. I made no comment on being offended by flag burning itself, only on the comparison.

Alright, I'll rephrase my question why do you find it so un-logical that I find flag burning as offensive as a racial slur?

One is discriminatory, backed by a very negative past including violence and serious consequences.

The other is merely a gesture against the government of a nation and its actions.

One is a personal affront to people, the other is a comment on their feelings towards a government and how it's acted.

You say that flag burning is a gesture towards the government, I see it as a gesture against the people of a nation. Because of this I get as offended as someone that has been the victim of a racial slur.

That makes little sense since people burn their own flag. Thus they clearly mean it as a message against the government. It would make no sense as a message against themselves.

I am pretty sure their are numerous times when a group of people from a different country have burnt another countries flag, and meant to be offensive against the differing country as a whole not just its government. For example when extremist Muslims refer to America as "the great Satan" I don't think their just speaking about the government.

It's kind of hard to tell what they're talking about in particular.

But honestly, I'd imagine they're mostly upset about US actions in their region.

Well the buildings they flew planes into were filled with civilians, most of the Americans they have captured and beheaded on their little videos were civilians, and they have no problem suicide bombing civilians. All this leads me to believe they dislike Americans not just the American government. It's actually a pretty obvious conclusion that their flag burning is meant to insult the nation as a whole, yet your trying to deny this for some reason.

Okay, so I'm to believe that all those people I see on TV in the Middle East that happen to be Muslim and burning flags were in on 9/11. Yeah, sure.

I also don't see their lack of problem with killing civilians as proof they hate all Americans. They'll kill their own people in a suicide attack. I think it says more about how low they're willing to stoop to achieve their goals.

Wow, don't try to derail the conversation by implying that I think something as stupid as all Muslims being involved in 9/11. That's not what I said, and I'm pretty sure you know that. If not then your not even reading my posts and this conversation pointless.

It gets pointless when you try to use 9/11 as evidence of the feelings of people uninvolved in it. I was also quite a lot more specific than 'Muslims'. I'm not going to take you very seriously when you try and use 9/11 as evidence like that.

Honestly, I don't know what else to say to convince you that your wrong.

And we get down to the core of your 'rational' argument.

Other than, have you been on this planet long? Hate isn't always rational, and surely isn't always directed in rational ways. Sometimes a government can do something unfortunate, and people take their resentment for that government, and project it onto the civilians as well. I don't understand why your having such a hard time grasping this concept, it's not as far fetched as your making it out to be.

You're making assumptions about their anger. Quite simply they've never been in a position where the expression of it can be confirmed to be hate of all Americans.

Woohoo, they don't hate Americans! In fact, no one that has ever burned an American flag hates Americans! This is a great day for our nation, and for all nations, as flag burning has never once in the history of humankind been against the civilians of any country. I had thought that nations harbored resentment, and hatred for other nations that went far deeper than simple objection to a government, and could for example be a hatred of a peoples culture or religion, but now I know their is no such thing as nationalism or misappropriated hatred. Thank you for pointing that out to me. Bye now, I must go out amongst the people and voice this great wisdom to the masses, oh joy.

I never actually said that. I'm just pointing out your evidence sucks pretty bad. But you're going to just ignore that for throwing a little tantrum.

Why I would need to produce evidence in the first place for something that is blatantly obvious is beyond me.

 

[F4LL3N]

I don't care about any object burning of the sort. Are we not adults? It's ridiculous to get upset, let alone riot or kill people over it.

 

[TheVioletBandit]

I do take offense to flag burning, It's like calling a black man "a dirty ******" or a brown person "a paki bastard" except you're saying it to an entire country. I'm from the UK, I also object to the burning of anything that represents a culture so koran burning, bible burning, poppy burning is offensive. I'm not personally offended by bible or koran burning because I'm not a muslim or christian but it is disrespectful.

What? No it isn't. Those are other terms are discriminatory and have baggage behind them. Burning a flag protests what the nation is doing. Burning a Koran or Bible protests the ideas they stand for.

I didn't say flag burning was the same as burning religious texts.

Okay. Drop the religious part and that still leaves my issue with saying it's the same as a racial slur.

I personally feel that flag burning is as offensive as a racial slur.

Alright, I personally feel that makes as much sense as wearing a shoe on your head. Presumably there should be some logic behind it, but apparently not.

I love posting my opinions and watching them get ripped apart. Why can't I be offended by flag burning?

I love posting something reasonable and having people twist it to mean something else.

Let's get some things straight.
1. I did not say that you could or could not do anything.
2. I am objecting to the comparison between flag burning and racial slurs.
3. I made no comment on being offended by flag burning itself, only on the comparison.

Alright, I'll rephrase my question why do you find it so un-logical that I find flag burning as offensive as a racial slur?

One is discriminatory, backed by a very negative past including violence and serious consequences.

The other is merely a gesture against the government of a nation and its actions.

One is a personal affront to people, the other is a comment on their feelings towards a government and how it's acted.

You say that flag burning is a gesture towards the government, I see it as a gesture against the people of a nation. Because of this I get as offended as someone that has been the victim of a racial slur.

That makes little sense since people burn their own flag. Thus they clearly mean it as a message against the government. It would make no sense as a message against themselves.

I am pretty sure their are numerous times when a group of people from a different country have burnt another countries flag, and meant to be offensive against the differing country as a whole not just its government. For example when extremist Muslims refer to America as "the great Satan" I don't think their just speaking about the government.

It's kind of hard to tell what they're talking about in particular.

But honestly, I'd imagine they're mostly upset about US actions in their region.

Well the buildings they flew planes into were filled with civilians, most of the Americans they have captured and beheaded on their little videos were civilians, and they have no problem suicide bombing civilians. All this leads me to believe they dislike Americans not just the American government. It's actually a pretty obvious conclusion that their flag burning is meant to insult the nation as a whole, yet your trying to deny this for some reason.

Okay, so I'm to believe that all those people I see on TV in the Middle East that happen to be Muslim and burning flags were in on 9/11. Yeah, sure.

I also don't see their lack of problem with killing civilians as proof they hate all Americans. They'll kill their own people in a suicide attack. I think it says more about how low they're willing to stoop to achieve their goals.

Wow, don't try to derail the conversation by implying that I think something as stupid as all Muslims being involved in 9/11. That's not what I said, and I'm pretty sure you know that. If not then your not even reading my posts and this conversation pointless.

It gets pointless when you try to use 9/11 as evidence of the feelings of people uninvolved in it. I was also quite a lot more specific than 'Muslims'. I'm not going to take you very seriously when you try and use 9/11 as evidence like that.

Honestly, I don't know what else to say to convince you that your wrong.

And we get down to the core of your 'rational' argument.

Other than, have you been on this planet long? Hate isn't always rational, and surely isn't always directed in rational ways. Sometimes a government can do something unfortunate, and people take their resentment for that government, and project it onto the civilians as well. I don't understand why your having such a hard time grasping this concept, it's not as far fetched as your making it out to be.

You're making assumptions about their anger. Quite simply they've never been in a position where the expression of it can be confirmed to be hate of all Americans.

Woohoo, they don't hate Americans! In fact, no one that has ever burned an American flag hates Americans! This is a great day for our nation, and for all nations, as flag burning has never once in the history of humankind been against the civilians of any country. I had thought that nations harbored resentment, and hatred for other nations that went far deeper than simple objection to a government, and could for example be a hatred of a peoples culture or religion, but now I know their is no such thing as nationalism or misappropriated hatred. Thank you for pointing that out to me. Bye now, I must go out amongst the people and voice this great wisdom to the masses, oh joy.

I never actually said that. I'm just pointing out your evidence sucks pretty bad. But you're going to just ignore that for throwing a little tantrum.

Why I would need to produce evidence in the first place for something that is blatantly obvious is beyond me.

It probably has to do with jumping to stupid conclusions. Never said that it could never be fueled by hate of all of America. I pointed out a clear example where it wasn't so someone who couldn't fathom that it could be anti-government instead of anti-citizen. Then someone jumped it saying random pointless shit.

In that "random pointless shit" I only stated that it could be a hatred for both the government and the people, but you wouldn't just accept that. You instigated a stupid and pointless argument with your own stubbornness.