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When is it OK to burn an American Flag ?

dcinffxva
I can already guess what most of your thoughts are, but take a peek at this video and see what you think afterward. If nothing else, you have to admire its creativity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NymRecFWgAs
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Comments

22 comments

Date Votes
  • FEENIX
    quote:Originally posted by dcinffxva
    I can already guess what most of your thoughts are, but take a peek at this video and see what you think afterward. If nothing else, you have to admire its creativity.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NymRecFWgAs




    SLICK! IMHO, in protest, they can wrap themselves with the US flag, and burn away [:(!].
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  • David Nunn
    [:D]
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  • KSUmarksman
    when its old and raggedy and needs to be decomissioned
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  • David Nunn
    Penn & Teller did not burn a flag, at least not the one they took off the pole. Somewhere between the folding and the stuffing, the flag was switched for one made of paper, paper treated with flash powder. Look at the flag that is stuffed in the tube and you can see that it has much less bulk than the flag that was folded. It's a TV show, for crying out loud.
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  • He Dog
    I think it is a fine illusion. The evidence that that is the case is that you are not sure if they did something wrong or not.
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  • Mercury
    It is ok to burn an American flag when you are a American. Thats freedom, like it or not.


    Merc
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  • royc38
    If michael moore is wearing it at the time as a cape.
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  • SCorvers
    If Tim Robbins is wrapped in it.
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  • divebomb
    Its easy to see what they did.
    He puts the flag in the end of the rolled paper between them, then teller slips that end beneth penns arm with the flag at the back end, you can see that tellers arm is now free to remove the flag and stick it somewhere, say in pens troweres or coat pocket in the back without anyone seeing.
    he stuffs the other paper in the front.
    When they light it there is no flag in the constitution paper, its on penn somewhere.
    slight of hand ment to amaze but also to cause controverys.
    nice trick, but thats all.
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  • Sith Lord
    quote:Originally posted by Mercury
    It is ok to burn an American flag when you are a American. Thats freedom, like it or not.


    Merc


    I AGREE.....Pesonally I would not burn one....but it you are an American and that is what you want to do...then have at it.
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  • jwb267
    what is the difference if an american or any other nationality burns the flag it is still disrespect
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  • Sith Lord
    quote:Originally posted by jwb267
    what is the difference if an american or any other nationality burns the flag it is still disrespect


    As I said "I would NOT ever do that" because I also believe that it is disrespectful......However, this is a "FREE" country, so if an American citizen wants to burn the flag...oh well
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  • oldgunman
    I believe NEVER!!!
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  • dakotashooter2
    But is it disrespect in this case? While the flag (or at least an illusion of a flag) was burned for entertainment it was done so with an educational end. It was not dragged on the ground, soiled, carved up, displayed in an inappropriate manner or such. I personally would not burn a flag in protest or for any other reason but do not find this case disrespectful. We as a nation are not just a flag. That is only a symbol of our unity. Our respect should be for what the flag represents and not only the cloth on which it is printed. It does make me angry to see our flag burned in a disrespectful manor but I remind myself that while someone has destroyed the symbol they still have not destroyed the spirit , something that they often overlook.
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  • likemhot
    how about some flag etiquette,
    flags on cars, worn on clothes, etc.

    http://www.flagsexpress.com/shell/eti_01.htm
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  • aramisvi
    true that as part of the process to decommission Old Glory, it must be burned until all that remains is ash.
    true, what Penn and Teller did was cool as well as Constitutionally protected, but it was just an illusion, Penn and Teller have gone on to say that on numerous occasions that even though they fight for the rights of Americans, they themselves wouldn't do half the things they fight for...including flag burning.
    I think that in this clip from "The West Wing" the controversy here was that it was done in the White House. anywhere else, no one would have had a problem with it.

    also true, Penn never went to college or a university. he graduated from clown college.
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  • OldNavyGuy
    I served 20 years active duty defending the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And part of that Constitution is the bill of rights. The first being freedom of speech.

    I do not agree with burning old glory. I personaly would never do so. But I would defend anyone elses "right" to do so. Its all part of our "Freedom" and our "Liberty".

    I think the metaphore of the U - tube video put it very well. The flag can be burned and the constitution remains un blemished and un-burned.

    Machinist Mate 1st Class, United States Navy (retired)
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  • BarkingDog
    i think you should have the right to burn the america flag. i will however take note of WHO burns it and when the revolution starts i will remember you :)
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  • tobefree
    quote:Originally posted by OldNavyGuy
    I served 20 years active duty defending the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And part of that Constitution is the bill of rights. The first being freedom of speech.

    I do not agree with burning old glory. I personaly would never do so. But I would defend anyone elses "right" to do so. Its all part of our "Freedom" and our "Liberty".

    I think the metaphore of the U - tube video put it very well. The flag can be burned and the constitution remains un blemished and un-burned.

    Machinist Mate 1st Class, United States Navy (retired)


    I must say Burning the flag is something that I couldn't do. (Yet anyway)...You comment is something has weighing sorta heavy on my mind...I or should I say we are all concerned about the 2nd here or 99.9999% of us anyway... I wonder if we shouldn't be standing up for all of them not just one... There are a lot of folks out to weaken or flat out destroy the 2nd. Anf a lot of us would ban the burning of the flag...been my stance for years.. But is that stance "right"...it sure as Hell is a cut into the 1st. You weken one you risk weaking the rest...IMO....
    My gut feeling is that your stance is a better for us all stance... I reckon I'll have to wait till some Bozo burns a flag close by to see if I can swallow my pride and defend the 1st instead of kicking his ass!!!
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  • givette
    Question asks "when is it OK?" Here's the answer.

    American Legion will accept flags. Usually a drop barrel near the front entrance. Accepted method of distruction is burning. As long as it's carried out with dignity. Joe
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  • gbeggrow
    +1

    quote:Originally posted by KSUmarksman
    when its old and raggedy and needs to be decomissioned
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  • Queen of Swords
    personaaly, I think I would rather see someone burn a flag in a respectful fashion than continue to see some of the torn, ragged ones some people continue to fly, way past the point that they should.
    Now, THAT I find offensive.
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