Flag Burning Amendment Advances In House

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by kddani
Thank you, beat me too it.

Funny that Earp calls me a stalker, because I had just called him the same thing in a different thread where he just randomly posted after me and started insulting me.

But it's not worth the effort to argue with someone who is so entirely ignorant on what he's talking about. Tom, get some education on the First Amendment then come talk to me.

Excusim oui?

I asked a simple question and made a comment. Insulting you is a Home Securtity Situation. In your mind only.

Now, The American Bald Eagle is an Endangered Species and is the Symbol Of Our Country, and Freedom.

Oh, The American Bald Eagle Is not Endangered as a Species, It is Protected By Federal Mandate As Our National Symbol.

Well, if any feel that You can Kill Our Symbols - American Flag along with any other Symbols of
Our Country then why be Here?

"Freedom of Speech" only works for those that want it to be their way!

Now, Is that the way You want it to be?

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Its illegal to kill because its an endangered species, not because its a symbol.

Real nit-picky, but I'm pretty sure the Bald Eagle in the lower 48 states is considered threatened, a step higher than endangered.

That happened a couple of years ago.

Semi-useless information gleaned from NPR.

[Tom Earp]

Oh, We could be eating Bald Eagles in stead of Real Plump Turkeys?

Oh, I am a Patriot. That is All.

Oh Wrong, It is Not Legal Really To Kill, for one Reason, It is the National Bird! Check Your Stuff?

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by Tom Earp


"Freedom of Speech" only works for those that want it to be their way!

Now, Is that the way You want it to be?

Actually, that's not at all what I read in kddani's thoughts.

I may not agree with someone burning the flag, but I think it's completely out of line to have a law against it, to start throwing people in jail for doing it. If people choose to burn the flag as their means of protest, more power to them.

Thinking that flag-burners should be shot is just ridiculous. This amendment, if passed, approaches that ridiculousness.

[valkyrie]

If the amendment passes, I could still frolic around town in an American flag diaper, right? I mean, I probably will if the Amendment passes, just to let everyone know what a high level of complete ridiculousness such a thing would represent.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by valkyrie
If the amendment passes, I could still frolic around town in an American flag diaper, right? I mean, I probably will if the Amendment passes, just to let everyone know what a high level of complete ridiculousness such a thing would represent.

Have you moved out of Nederland?

That would look perfectly normal up there. Or maybe in Ward.

I think I'd pay to see it.

Assuming it's a real diaper with big safety pins and stuff.

[kddani]

if you want to ban flag burning, are you going to ban flag bikinis? I mean, I think it's more disrespectful of your country to wear your bikini wedgied into your nether regions. It's a slippery slope

[bekibug]

Originally posted by valkyrie
If the amendment passes, I could still frolic around town in an American flag diaper, right? I mean, I probably will if the Amendment passes, just to let everyone know what a high level of complete ridiculousness such a thing would represent.

Seriously. If it passes, does that mean that I can't wear a shirt/hat/uniform with the flag on it, since you're not supposed to wear the flag? (You're really not supposed to anyway, no matter what Old Navy prints every summer.) I probably wouldn't even be able to light a firework with a "Made in U.S.A." and a flag on it.

I wouldn't burn the flag in protest, but it's not my place to stop someone else from exercising that right. And thanks to the 1st Amendment, it's not the government's, either.


EDIT: CALLING GC LEGAL EAGLES

The US Flag Code is public law, as of 12/22/1942. According to Section 10:
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
Note that this is Section 10 in its entirety. The President is the only one given authority to change the Flag Code. Therefore, why is Congress bothering/how are they getting away with it?
My source is http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#5

[honeychile]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
While I don't think it's considered disrespectful to burn an old flag -- which is what we were all taught to do -- I also don't think it's recommended these days.

I read somewhere that you should take an old flag to the VFW or American Leigon or like group and they will destroy it in a prescribed manner.

Speaking of respectful, I think we should be a little careful in this debate of how we address each other. Expressing our own feelings on this issue is part of our right to freedom of speech as well.

Believe it or not, our little town's AL or VFW do NOT accept flags for respectful disposal - I asked last year. I'm sure there's a good reason, but I don't know what it is.

And I agree about respect - it's really easy to throw names around to make a point, but not always wise. There may be people whose opinions one don't agree with, but that IS the function of the Ignore feature!

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by bekibug
The US Flag Code is public law, as of 12/22/1942. According to Section 10:
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
Note that this is Section 10 in its entirety. The President is the only one given authority to change the Flag Code. Therefore, why is Congress bothering/how are they getting away with it?
My source is http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#5

I'm 60% drunk and won't be in the office until Tuesday (thanks patent litigation!), but I would all but guarantee that this section has two important limitations:

1 - 'rule or custom' is not equivalent to 'law'
2 - 'display of the flag' may or may not refer to how the flag is to be displayed by official government entities, and not necessarily the layman.

Also you raise a good point with regard to the involvement of Congress, but the reality is that the only way Congress can circumvent this sort of restriction is through the amendment process . . . which is what they're doing. So essentially they're superceding this policy.

Separation of powers and all that.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Have you moved out of Nederland?

That would look perfectly normal up there. Or maybe in Ward.

I think I'd pay to see it.

Assuming it's a real diaper with big safety pins and stuff.

Haha, I did move out of Nederland. I would, however, go back to visit during Frozen Dead Guy days and see if I could put an American flag on the Frozen Dead Guy. That would be kind of awesome.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Oh, The American Bald Eagle Is not Endangered as a Species, It is Protected By Federal Mandate As Our National

Pretty drunk as well - after informally "hosting" some reps from various GLOs looking at Canada/UofT...

The Bald Eagle is a protected species up here as well.... not because of it's "national" symbolic nature, but because of it's near endangered nature - each feather can sell for as much as $1000USD.... and trust me US federal mandates regarding enivromental concerns don't carry much weight...

[moe.ron]

I've seen doormats with the flag on it. Isn't that more offensive? Wiping your feet with the flag?

[RACooper]

I thought that technically any commercial advertisement or use of the US flag was illegal as of a century ago... but that the legal enforcement of the laws just were lacking...

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Well, if any feel that You can Kill Our Symbols - American Flag along with any other Symbols of Our Country then why be Here?

That's the whole point. We want to be here because we DO have freedom. By the way, I think you mean "excusez-moi."