Some quick food for thought, why isn't burning the flag arson? It's arson if you burn your own house down, so why not a flag?

 

Why isn't burning a log arson? Why isn't burning a cigarette arson?

 

I know you're smarter than that.

Governments love it when their constituents are ultra-nationalistic. Gives them more room to operate their bulls***.

 

 

In the 70s Nixon had his "Silent Majority." Now Reagan and both Bushes have the "Moral Majority."..who as far as I am concerned, is neither...

 

?

 

I was commenting on the indoctrination that kids are put through in American schools. Nothing to do with Democrat/Republican.

 

And before anyone responds, don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing to love your country. Though extreme nationalism is what has allowed governments throughout history to get away with things they shouldn't be getting away with. And I think in the US they brain wash you about unconditional love for the country so that when they are involved in some dirty business they can spin it as they wish, because the US can do no evil. How can it be....we are the greatest nation on earth!

 

Those who want flag burning banned fall under this group of people. Blinded by their indoctrination. I want to go off on a limb and say that is not what the 'founding fathers' would have wanted.

 

 

Actually I see it as the complete opposite. Perhaps as small children there is some love your country education. But nfrom 6th grade on, teachers are the opposite. Teachers especially in civics/social studies classes teach yo uto question every thing about the government. This is more likely to produce the result sandro claims, getting masses to go against a government is what has allowed for coups and revolutions that have paved the way for brutal regimes. Of course practically, both things should be taught at some level. Love your country, but feel free to question government. In fact that ability to quesiton government is what makes this a great country

Governments love it when their constituents are ultra-nationalistic. Gives them more room to operate their bulls***.

 

 

In the 70s Nixon had his "Silent Majority." Now Reagan and both Bushes have the "Moral Majority."..who as far as I am concerned, is neither...

 

?

 

I was commenting on the indoctrination that kids are put through in American schools. Nothing to do with Democrat/Republican.

 

And before anyone responds, don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing to love your country. Though extreme nationalism is what has allowed governments throughout history to get away with things they shouldn't be getting away with. And I think in the US they brain wash you about unconditional love for the country so that when they are involved in some dirty business they can spin it as they wish, because the US can do no evil. How can it be....we are the greatest nation on earth!

 

Those who want flag burning banned fall under this group of people. Blinded by their indoctrination. I want to go off on a limb and say that is not what the 'founding fathers' would have wanted.

 

 

Actually I see it as the complete opposite. Perhaps as small children there is some love your country education. But nfrom 6th grade on, teachers are the opposite. Teachers especially in civics/social studies classes teach yo uto question every thing about the government. This is more likely to produce the result sandro claims, getting masses to go against a government is what has allowed for coups and revolutions that have paved the way for brutal regimes. Of course practically, both things should be taught at some level. Love your country, but feel free to question government. In fact that ability to quesiton government is what makes this a great country

 

Ok. And when questioning the government you can go as far as burning its flag if you so wish to. So what if its disrespectful? So is the middle finger, but you don't see anyone pushing to ban the middle finger. As Buckeye says, having that right is what makes this country so great. I personally wouldn't do it, not for the italian flag nor the american flag, but just because I don't want to go as far as burning my flag to show my discontent with the government doesn't mean I'm going to rally to have it banned.

 

Maybe I was spoiled by growing up in a 'free country'.

Governments love it when their constituents are ultra-nationalistic. Gives them more room to operate their bulls***.

 

 

In the 70s Nixon had his "Silent Majority." Now Reagan and both Bushes have the "Moral Majority."..who as far as I am concerned, is neither...

 

?

 

I was commenting on the indoctrination that kids are put through in American schools. Nothing to do with Democrat/Republican.

 

And before anyone responds, don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing to love your country. Though extreme nationalism is what has allowed governments throughout history to get away with things they shouldn't be getting away with. And I think in the US they brain wash you about unconditional love for the country so that when they are involved in some dirty business they can spin it as they wish, because the US can do no evil. How can it be....we are the greatest nation on earth!

 

Those who want flag burning banned fall under this group of people. Blinded by their indoctrination. I want to go off on a limb and say that is not what the 'founding fathers' would have wanted.

 

 

Actually I see it as the complete opposite. Perhaps as small children there is some love your country education. But nfrom 6th grade on, teachers are the opposite. Teachers especially in civics/social studies classes teach yo uto question every thing about the government. This is more likely to produce the result sandro claims, getting masses to go against a government is what has allowed for coups and revolutions that have paved the way for brutal regimes. Of course practically, both things should be taught at some level. Love your country, but feel free to question government. In fact that ability to quesiton government is what makes this a great country

 

Ok. And when questioning the government you can go as far as burning its flag if you so wish to. So what if its disrespectful? So is the middle finger, but you don't see anyone pushing to ban the middle finger. As Buckeye says, having that right is what makes this country so great. I personally wouldn't do it, not for the italian flag nor the american flag, but just because I don't want to go as far as burning my flag to show my discontent with the government doesn't mean I'm going to rally to have it banned.

 

Maybe I was spoiled by growing up in a 'free country'.

 

I agree, shouldnt be banned. i just think its lost a lot of its meaning and as you said I wouldn't do it either. I wouldn't burn the cuban flag to protest castro either

Not to beat a dead horse, but...

 

WASHINGTON - A constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration died in a Senate cliffhanger Tuesday, a single vote short of the support needed to send it to the states for ratification a week before Independence Day.

 

The 66-34 tally in favor of the amendment was one less than the two-thirds required. The House surpassed that threshold last year, 286-130.

 

The proposed amendment, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, read: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

 

Latest best bet

The resolution represented Congress' response to Supreme Court rulings in 1989 and 1990 that burning and other desecrations of the flag are protected as free speech by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

 

Senate supporters said the flag amounts to a national monument in cloth that represents freedom and the sacrifice of American troops.

 

"Countless men and women have died defending that flag," said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., closing two days of debate. "It is but a small humble act for us to defend it."

 

Opposition wins out

Opponents said the amendment would violate the First Amendment right to free speech. And some Democrats complained that majority Republicans were exploiting people's patriotism for political advantage in November's midterm elections.

 

"Our country's unique because our dissidents have a voice," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, a World War II veteran who lost an arm in the war and was decorated with the Medal of Honor.

 

"While I take offense at disrespect to the flag," he said, "I nonetheless believe it is my continued duty as a veteran, as an American citizen and as a United States senator to defend the constitutional right of protesters to use the flag in nonviolent speech."

 

Alternative also fails

The Senate also rejected an alternative put forward by assistant Democratic leader Dick Durbin of Illinois. The bill, not a constitutional amendment, would have made it against the law to damage the flag on federal land or with the intent of breaching the peace or intimidation. It also would have prohibited unapproved demonstrations at military funerals. The vote was 36-64.

 

The last time the Senate considered the amendment, in 2000, it fell four votes short of what was needed. Both sides predicted correctly before Tuesday's vote that it would get more support.

 

The last proposed constitutional amendment that Congress sent to the states for ratification was the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972. The normal seven-year deadline for state ratification was extended to 1982, but the ERA couldn't muster the approval of more than 35 state legislatures, three short of the three-fourths of states required under the Constitution.

 

The 26th Amendment, guaranteeing 18-year-olds the right to vote, was approved by Congress in March 1971 and was ratified by the states less than four months later.

 

The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, was first proposed in 1789. It says pay raises that Congress votes for itself can't take effect until after the next election for members of the House.

 

Related action

The House also got into the July Fourth spirit Tuesday by passing on a voice vote a measure that would bar condominium and homeowner associations from restricting how the flag can be displayed.

 

Sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., the resolution would prohibit those groups from preventing residents from displaying an American flag on their own property. The Senate is considering whether to bring up the measure this year.

 

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13579789/?GT1=8211

 

WE WON! WE WON!

 

CELEBRATE! But, celebrate within reason. I'm going to Wendy's!