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Re: Flag Burning...
> From: "Peter Trei" <[email protected]>
> Organization: Process Software
> To: [email protected], [email protected]
> Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 09:52:50 -6
> Subject: Re: Flag Burning...
> Reply-to: [email protected]
> Cc: [email protected]
> Priority: normal
> "RS" writes:
>
> I'm curious as to why you feel the need to conceal your identity.
>
> > When it comes down to flag burning, It really bothers me that we allow our
> > symbol of freedom to be burned. It's more than a flag and a right. It's a
> > symbol of the freedom we have. To allow someone to publicly burn a flag is
> > essentially displaying our freedom being burned.
>
> It's a symbol, not the thing symbolized. You are confusing the map
> with the country.
>
> Burning the flag is a statement by the burner that they feel that the
> symbol has become empty, and the freedom which the flag symbolizes is
> gone or has been compromised in some manner. It's clearly a form of
> political speech. True, It's a very strong statement, but strong
> political speech has been protected by the Constitution (at least up till
> now).
>
> > Bush was a veteran, and Clinton was not. I take it the ones who are
> > writing on this subject about how we should have the "freedom" to burn the
> > flag have never served in the military or for our country.
>
> You are mistaken - some of the people opposing your viewpoint have
> stated that they are veterans.
>
> > Being a veteran myself, I find it very distateful to allow anyone on our
> > soil to be allowed to "BURN" our symbol of freedom. Think about the flag
> > for a moment and what it really stands for. Does it not stand for freedom
> > and liberty?
>
> It does *stand* for freedom and liberty, but only as long those
> values really exist. It *is* *not* freedom and libery in it's own
> right.
>
> When what the flag symbolizes is gone, it becomes just a piece of
> cloth. Burning this cloth draws attention to the loss. It is a dramatic
> statement, but under certain circumstances an appropriate one.
>
> > Sorry, I just had to let this out. I stand behind Bush on this one. Don't
> > burn the flag unless you would like to live under another flag!
>
> Thank you for your opinion. You are of course free to express it. And
> I, and other thoughtful, freedom-loving Americans can oppose it.
>
> Think about this:
>
> Would you rather people did not burn the flag because:
>
> 1. They'll be thrown in the slammer if they do.
> 2. The revere the values for which it stands, and will not descrate a
> meaningful symbol of these values.
>
> In (2), we can look at the (very rare) individuals who *do* burn the
> flag, and determine for ourselves if they have a valid point to
> convey.
>
> In (1), we'll never know.
>
> For Congress to deny the freedom to burn the flag is a desecration of what
> the flag stands for - a descration of the flag by the government itself.
>
You Crazy Americans . . . I dont think anyone else in the world would
give a fuck someone burnt their countries flag, certainly not in
Australia. What is it about your country?
My friend is a New Zealander. When she was in school for a short
while in America, she was beaten up for not reciting the "Pledge of
Allegiance" in class everymorning.
Pete Nicol
Global Media Magnet
[email protected]
BroomStick Productions
VRL - the Virtual Record Label
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