Ross Mackenzie: Freedom to Burn the Flag? No – It Is Our Defining And Most Essential Symbol

The Richmond [VA] Times-Dispatch ^ | July 4, 2005 | Ross Mackenzie

[highball]

I'm glad to see there's still some sense on this subject. Thank you.

[Jacquerie]

You ignore my points and your points are specious.

"Chose" to be offended. Sure. One is offended in our culture by the single finger salute and patriots are offended by design by Anti-American scumbags burning our flag.

So just what is a public, advertised, media gala planned around torching the flag supposed to evoke? Humor? Happy Feelings? Kumbaya? No, it is designed to evoke outrage by losers who cannot express themselves in any other fashion.

Why do only lefty groups burn the flag anyway? They do so not to oppose a governmental policy, but to show their hate for the US. Why do they need police protection to protect a right which is God given? On what other occasion does the expression of ideas require protection?

If for example, I called your mother a whore, would you "chose" to be offended? Free speech right? Wrong. I would deserve a punch to the nose.

[ValenB4]

The First Amendment and property rights are not specious points. If someone buys a flag and burns it, you would actually criminalize that?

In terms of offense, that's right. You choose whether or not to be offended. Do you have your own mind? Can you control your own thoughts? Or are you some sort of animal or automoton who will go into an uncontrolled rage at the drop of a hat, like the Muslims do?

When do the expression of ideas need to be protected? All the time. It happens very frequently because there are people who cannot control themselves who will attack those that they disagree with - again, as we see in Muslim countries.

Burning a flag doesn't hurt anyone. It may hurt their feelings, but that's too bad. Causing mass hysteria in a theatre is putting people at risk. If you can't see the difference, that's your problem, so go ahead and be bitter.