Flag Amendment? Veterans Input Please...

[BOSSHOG]

I did 24 years supporting and defending the Constitution. I think banning Americans from burning the American Flag is about as unamerican as voting for a Republican. I would like to hear from other vets as I truly respect their opinion. What will be banned next? - Non christians from the Air Force Academy??

[Stinky The Clown]

1. You wanna burn the flag? S'okay with me.

Not sayin' you do, Boss ... just expressin' my opinion.

I see it as a right of free speech and political expression.

I also think it is stupid.

But it should be a right. It is NOT a religious symbol. Buring them is wrong. But flags? No problem.

[Goldmund]

2. Why is burning religious symbols wrong?

Could that also not be free speech and political expression?

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I really **do** see a difference

The flag is secular and flies over **all** of us. It is a symbol of our nation.

Religious symbols are (should be, anyhow) separate, generally cover a narrow stripe of our society, and essentially are private. Burning a religious symbol to me seems a hate crime.

And I'm neither a member nor practitioner of any religion.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I'd never burn the flag

My retirement flag is neatly encased in a shadow box just about three feet off my right flank. I would also never prevent anyone from burning the flag if that was their choice. With bush in the white house why wouldn't there be such a desire? And where are all the flag wavers now that the Army is missing recruiting goal month after month? Wave it. Prevent others from burning it. Don't lift a finger to defend it. Conservatives suck.

[evlbstrd]

4. Free speech, baby.

That's what I served for.
Why don't they take a look at why people burn the U.S. Flag?

[pfitz59]

5. As they taught me at Rangely Lakes.....

its just a peicce of cloth.....

[Beacho]

6. I took the oath to defend the Constitution, not a piece of cloth

We need a 'defend the Constitution' amendment, but these thugs wouldn't have anybody to pander to

BTW, Is there an epidemic of flag burnings that someone forgot to tell me about?

[BOSSHOG]

9. Quoting President Bartlett??

Defend the Constitution Amendment? Outstanding idea!! Wouldn't the religiously insane have their heads spinning on that one?

[unhappycamper]

7. 9 years, 9 months, and 6 days checking in.

I abhor burning the flag. But it is a First Amendment right. And I swore 32 years ago to "protect the Constitution, again all enemies, foreign and domestic."

[Op]

8. I'm with ya boss

...when the flag signing asshat puts the pen to old glory ..now that's flag desecration...and lie'n the country into war ...that's flag desecration ...I need a drink..... I did my three years 37 years ago

[BOSSHOG]

11. Thanks Op and thank you for your service

And thankyou for giving me the right to throw my two cents worth into the pile. Why are there so many who haven't served unfamiliar with that concept? God bless you teammate.

[deadparrot]

13. Welcome to DU, Op!

And thank you for your service. :patriot:

[BOSSHOG]

16. Ol Op's been keeping a low profile

Member since 2002 and ONE post. Now that's restraint.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Welcome to DU, OP.

[atreides1]

10. It's a piece of cloth

What's important about the flag is what it's supposed to stand for, not the cloth that represents it.

Burning the flag is a form of free speech, plain and simple. It seems kind of strange to me that the Repukes don't want people to burn the flag, but they don't seem to have a problem with companies
making American flag boxer shorts!!!

I did 13 years doing the same thing you did, only I was in the Army, and I met all kinds of people, some believed in things that scared the hell out of 19 year old from Hawaii, but even if I didn't agree with it, it was my duty to defend their viewpoints. It still is today, and I still believe in defending the right of free speech for all, not just those that agree with me, but those who don't.

When someone burns the flag all they are doing is burning a piece of cloth, they are not destroying what it stands for, they are just destroying material, nothing more.

[BOSSHOG]

12. Roger that teammate

Conservatives are awful rightious about waving the flag but none of them wants to join the Army to defend it. Thank you for your service My Fellow American.

[atreides1]

18. Thank You

Coservatives today don't seem to be very conservative, do they?

You're welcome, and thank you for your service as well, if things keep going to hell in hand basket, we might very well have to serve our country again. Only this time it will be the same way that the
Founding Fathers served it, in order to save it.

[smitty]

17. flag burning

I think burning the flag is stupid and counter-productive, but it is protected speech.

When I joined the Army I took an oath to defend the Constitution, not to defend the flag. The flag is a symbol of our country, it is NOT our country.

[BOSSHOG]

19. Roger that Smitty

May I add to your post that American Servicemembers DID NOT swear to support and defend the bible or any other religious document.