[Just George]

I see the Congress has lost another battle to make it against the law for a US citizen to burn our flag in protest.

First of all, let me tell you that I am a 59 year old combat vetern of Vietnam. I was in the 9th Infantry Division stationed in the Delta. I was not drafted, I joined. I thank God every day because I was born an American. I come from a long line of combat experienced relatives; father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncles etc. I am about as patriotic as one can get. I fully believe I went into harms way to defend the American way of life. To defend our rights under the Constitution of the United Sates of America. I fully endorse the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (aka The Declaration of Independance). So when I say this you will know that I love America. If someone wants to burn our flag in protest, I say, "Give tham a match". That's right. I fought for thier right to express themselves through protest. If burning a cloth symbol means that much to the, let them go.

All they really want to do is draw attention to themselves and thier protest. We just feed them when the news crews arrive, set up the cameras and "go live" with yet another flag burning protest. If the news didn't show up to put it on the front page and in front of everyone at dinner time, the protest would loose what they want the most.

If they really, really wanted to protest America, they should burn copies of the Constitution. Or, even better, copy the constitution onto toilet paper and wipe thier @%% with it. Now THAT would tell thier story.

Twice now our law makers have voted agains this law. It has been overturned in court several times. Why do we keep bringing it up? I think it is because Americans feel the flag is America. It is not. The COnstitution is America. The flag is a symbol. Please. Let me know what you think.

[jproffitt10]

George,

First, thanks for your service in Vietnam and secondly, for your continuing patriotism. While burning the flag in protest is a seemingly major issue to many folks--especially veterans, many others believe the constitution is far too important a document to ammend for such a limited, unimportant issue. It is in fact that constitution many people feel, including you, which actually gives Americans the right to burn the flag in protest.

While we feel it is wrong to burn the flag in protest, it is nonetheless a legal act at this time. Nothing we can do about except try to change the law and as best we can tell--that ain't gonna happen!

At least one good sign is that folks who are out burning the flag are politically active instead of sitting at home doing nothing--even if they are out doing the WRONG thing. It is, at least, a sign that they care about the nation and the constitution, in their own way, and its direction. And uif there's one thin that America needs it's more people who care and are willing to do something about it.

[Just George]

I agree, at least in part, with you. The protesters are up and out, trying to do something. Be it "right" or "wrong". I do not feel that burning the American Flag is the way they should go about getting support. If anything, burning the flag goes WAY against them. However, they have the right to do it! Many vets I have spoken with, especially those with combat experience, believe as I do, again, at least in part, that they have the right to do so.

I do find it strange that only you have responded to my post. I thought there would be many more. I guess even in this site people would rather just complain than put it in writing. I think it would be interesting to see what others think. I'll bet we would be about split down the middle.

I will tell you one thing about our flag that many too many people don't have a clue about. It's the real meaning you get when you see it flying. Let's suppose you are in hostile indian country, surrounded on three sides by bad guys. As you continue moving south you come to a knoll. Upon going over the top of the knoll you look down into a small valley. In the center of the valley you see the "fort". You see, flying over the fort, the American Flag.
You know that all you have to do is get to the ground that flag is flying over and you'll be safe. You fight your way to the fort and they, thank God, let you in. You're safe. You're home. It's America all over again.

I'll tell you what. You will never forget that sight and the feeling. You will always respect our flag. You will hate to see it burned in protest. But you will also always remember why you were in that position in the first place. That was to insure ALL AMERICANS enjoyed the freedom we have fought and died for. Never, never give up any of our rights. Never.

At any given protest, for whatever reason, you could have a flag burner present. If I could pick him or her up and put them on top of that knoll, let them get to the fort, I don't think they would ever consider burning the flag again.

Thanks for reading this. What do the rest of you think?

[american21]

George,
First off i want to thank you for your courageous fighting in the Vietnam War, as i do appreciate all war veterans efforts and sacrifice for their nation. My grandfathers both faught in previous wars(WWII,Vietnam) and i honor and praise them for that everyday.However i completely disagree with some of your beliefs. How could anyone have the right to burn the American Flag? The American flag represents everything we are as a nation. Freedom, Liberty, peace, happiness, and respect. Anyone who feels they should be allowed to burn the American Flag is flat out, out of their mind and shouldnt be allowed to call themselves Americans. When you burn something as sacred as the American flag your basically saying that you dont want to be an American. Just because you dont agree with how the government is being run or how dumb George Bush's decisions are has nothing to do with American Flag. Leave the flag out. Honestly lets think about what were saying. Every day in Schools around the U.S. (I'm in highschool) we honor are flag and thank every American who ever fought for it. People shed tears and loose their fellow mates, sons, daughters, and relatives under this flag. Sacrifices are made for this flag. People give up their lives under this flag. Burning it is flat out crazy and should be outlawed!

Thanks
Please respond
_BK

[Just George]

Thanks for your reply BK.

The first thing I want to make clear is that I DO NOT support or endorse the burning of our flag. However, I stand firmly on the Right to do it. I also stand firmly on the rest of the Rights given to us Americans under our Consititution. It's the Constitution we defend, fight and die for, not the flag. While 99.95% of us respect the flag, it is the Constitution that is sacred, not the flag. The flag is just a symbol. We allow the printing of our flag on napkins, paper cups and just about any other item you can think of. Most of these items, if not all, end up in the land fill along with the rest of the garbage. What's right about that? What's sacred about that? Flag burners are trying to get the attention of the media. The media oftens places more importance on the burning than the reason for the protest. Make it against the law to air the burning of our flag on TV. But then we would be taking a Right away from the media, wouldn't we? How about making it against the law for a forigen national to burn our flag on our soil? Now that makes sense. I'd vote that law against burning our flag. But take the Right to burn our flag away from an American citizen, NEVER.

I'd like to address your questions. Keep in mind while you read my response, that I have the up most in respect for you. You are speaking your mind in an open forum. A very hard thing to do for most, let alone a high school student.

You ask how anyone could have the right to burn the flag. It appears that both your grandfathers fought for the constitution and our rights. We won in WWII and got thrown out of Vietnam, but, we still have our rights, ALL of them. Many men and women fought and died for those rights. Lets not give them up. Remember, it's the Constitution that gives us the rights, not the flag.

You state that anyone who feels they should be allowed to burn the flag shouldn't be allowed to call themselves Americans. Whoa there, stop and take a breath. It's me you are talking about now. While I do not respect, in the slightest way, anyone who burns our flag, they do have the right. Don't ever forget that. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT! I am an American. I fought for these Rights. I respect these Rights. I have no respect for the low life scum that want to burn our flag. But I have the up most respect for thier Right to do so.

In closing BK I would ask that you continue to fight for what you think is right. Spearhead an amendment to the Constitution. It's your right to do so. Continue to make your opinions known. It's your right to do so. Yes, many people have lost life and limb under our flag. They did so in defense of our Constitution and our rights.

God Bless You.

Geo

[american21]

George thanks for your response,
I understand that you feel the Flag is not as sacred as the constitution but maybe we as Americans need to change that to begin with. Lets no forget all the proper ettiques for the flag to begin with. To some Americans the flag is as sacred as the constitution although it may merely only be a symbol. And another thing is the flag represents the United States not what issues are going on in the U.S. We have the flag to show off our countries pride. Flag burning is outside the boundaries of free speech and protest. It crosses a whole other dimension of protest a dimension of not believing in your country to begin with it.

Thanks
B.K

[Just George]

Hey BK, Get Over It! Burning the flag IS NOT outside the boundries of freedom of speach or the right to protest. It is completly legal to do so. Many Americans fought and died to make sure our rights are not taken away. Until the Congress makes a law against it, the flag may be burned in protest. Most of us do not like that idea one bit. Then again we didn't like the national 55 mph speed limit either.

[american_flag_uk]

hey yall wow. what a subject for my 1st post on this forum.

maybe i should tell a bit about me 1st b4 i respond to the above messages,,,
i am from england but ever since i was small ive loved america but as an english citizen i didnt learn not a thing about america,- neither historically or geographically. (my american friends in kentucky laughed out loud when i told them this because they think the english are ashamed because they lost vs the americans lol)
ever since ive had access to the internet ive been finding out things about america and talking with americans.
one of the greatest things that interests me about america is the FLAG. i started out thinking what is it about the american flag that makes the americans LIKE it so much?? -even tho i loved the american flag too but wanted to see if it was for the same reasons (because we english are not patriotic except maybe when world cup soccer is on the television and we all go out wearing our flag round our shoulders or waists and waving it- and burning it when we lose!!- i saw this happen on the streets outside the place where i was watching the game from)
so anyway i did find out the americans love the stars and stripes for the same reasons that i do. - because well 1stly i think the flag is just BEAUTIFUL- and because of what it stands for- freedom and liberty.

whenever i chat to ppl regarding the flag, the burning of it always comes into the conversation. its like the burning of the flag is so high up on ppls minds when they think about the flag

id like to give you a couple of lines from a poem that i read long ago that has stuck in my head ever since. it is a poem from the flags own point of view and this is a piece out of the poem from howard schnauber

''i have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.''

as for me?? i love the flag of the united states of america and i am against the burning of the stars and stripes to protest against the said country. it upsets me a great deal when i see the flag being trodden on deliberatly, or ripped apart, or burnt- and when i see a ripped flag up high on a flagpole- when some american has not cared enough for his flag to let it fly in that state of condition.
i belive that we shouldent make flag burning illegal, reasons being
1: if a flag is in a condition that is so bad that it cannot be repaired the proper way to dispose of the flag is to burn it- discretely and in honor.
2: it would be going against what the 1st amendment says about freedom

what americans need to understand about the stars and stripes, is that even if the americans dont belive this, the rest of the world sees the american flag as the biggest symbol of america. its the main symbbol.. whenever anybody thinks of america what object do they see 1st? THE FLAG. 2nd perhaps the statue of liberty.
i see the burning of the flag as burning america and i love the flag so much as i do the USA. i have 33 american flags i have collected whilst being here in america and taking them back home with me to hang round my home. i may even get a couple of outdoor flagpoles too one for the stars and stripes and one for the union jack (UK flag)

im very greatly interested in the american flag and its history a nd im learning things on the internet about it, but id love to discuss it with somebody

[Just George]

Here Here! Three cheers for the UK!
Thanks for your post. It's always nice to hear from the other side of the "pond". You Brits have almost ALWAYS been for the Red White and Blue. I agree, there is nothing on this earth that looks better than our flag, standing in a brisk wind, upon a pole with a gold ball on top. Just think about what the American Flag stands for. The entire world knows. We are the strongest nation in the world. Our flag tells the world that. That's why it is burned, stomped on, thrown down in the mud, spat on, torn up and otherwise destroyed. It's what we stand for. And we stand for the right of every American citizen to burn it, if they so choose.
God bless America and every thing she stands for.