So as a "civics" lesson this civics teacher, instructor of our nation's youth burns Old Glory TWICE.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI...822/NEWS01/608220378

Did he do a good thing? Some think so. I don't know what you think about this but anyone who says he taught a good lesson is full of Bravo Sierra; he ought to be fired.

Unless he was showing the proper way to dispose of old American flags.

Now: what if he hard burned a Mexican flag or a farkin' Hezobollah flag or a Saudi flag? His ass would have toast no question.

What have we come to?

As a teacher, he is supposed to provoke thought in his students. His choice could have been better.

Flag burning is protected under the constitution. Until there is an amendment stating otherwise, we need to support his right to do so.

I carry a pistol and wear it openly as is my constitutional right. I would imagine there are many that feel that I shouldn't be allowed to do so. This is along the same lines of personal freedoms allowed for within the constitution.

I have to agree with gunny. It will be a sad day and the beginning of the end to our liberties if they outlaw flag burning. I don't agree with it, but we are the only country in the world, I believe, that allows our citizens that right of expression. If its taken away, it will open the door for our other rights to be taken away. That's what makes the US of A great and why so many hate us.

That's OK, but there's lots of things allowed by the Bill of Rights that shouldn't be done in a 7th grade classroom. If you know what I mean. And what did the Fire Dept think of it?

I keep thinking of some kid with a family member, dad or mom or older bro, serving in harm's way for the very country this guy is dissing.

Meanwhile there are librarians who refuse to display the Flag because it might "offend" (???) some non-Citizen.

I hear ya bro! Makes me sick to think of what he did and where he did it. But individuals freedoms are at stake when things like this get escalated. He sounds like a reasonable fellow and believe that if he had opportunity to do it over, he very likely wouldn't.

quote:

Originally posted by thegunny:
He sounds like a reasonable fellow and believe that if he had opportunity to do it over, he very likely wouldn't.

Not without hands, no.

A flag is just a flag, its the people that make a nation great, and just because a nation has a great history does not mean the same is true for its future. who knows in 30-40 yrs some other nation may step up to the plate and represent what this nation did 200 yrs ago

geez. you really don't know when to stop do you?

A flag is just a flag

Bet your one of those that when colors sounded on base, you ran indoors so you wouldn't have to salute it huh?

I dont remember a time when such an occurance happened in basic and at guard drill it was on the weekend once a month and we met in the middle of nowhere. But no I dident feel what ever it is other people feel when it happened when I was in civilian clothes (which was most of the time). I just stand up so someone does not cop an attitude with me and I dont ever wear a hat so that has not been an issue.

If the only reason you stand up during the raising of our flag is just so people don't cop an attitude towards you, then you are doing so for the WRONG reason.

I believe in the expression but disagree with the means. A right is a right.

Round Ronald just loves to sneer at all things patriotic or military. His constant bragging is a sure sign of a classic passive-aggressive personality. By the way, King Karate, I have had fifteen years of martial arts and it has nothing to do with kicking ass. It is more to do with keeping in shape and sharpening the mind.

quote:

keeping in shape and sharpening the mind

2 things rppearso has no clue about.

This is treason plain & simple! He deserve to face the firing squad or at the very least be put to jail for a long time.

It does not meet the requirements for treason and is considered free speech. Killing someone over this is a bit rash and rather totalitarian in nature.

quote:

Originally posted by HarryP:
It does not meet the requirements for treason and is considered free speech. Killing someone over this is a bit rash and rather totalitarian in nature.

Naw, just chop off his hands.

____________________________________________
Note to rppearso--I'm joking. (Everybody else will understand that.)

If he was in the military and failed to render appropriate recognition during colors, he would have fallen under the category of failing to obey lawful orders. i.e.: come to attention and render hand salute. Which is as we all know, failing to obey a lawful order is punishable by the UCMJ.

As a civilian, he is under no such obligation. The status of rppearso however is in question due to his walking away from his existing military obligation. Is he still a military member or is he a civilian?

Patriotism is not a requirement of citizenship in this country. Lack of patriotism is not a punishable offense. Nor should it be. Saluting the flag or standing up and covering the heart is but one small way our nations citizens can easily acknowledge those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

It does however, bring his lack of ethics and integrity to serious question. He consistantly displays a total lack of both. Are we to change that or even make the attempt? Personally, I say no.

Here is a citizen that our fathers and brothers fought and died for, just so he could exercise his rights. Ain't nothing says he has to respect or display any indication that he acknowledges thier sacrifices. OK fine. He is but one of many like this in our nation. This alone does not make him a piece of shit like some have inferred. We need to recognize this fact and learn how to deal with them. Cementing or confirming his skewed thought processes is not the way to communicate with people like this.

A good majority of military members both past and present give respect where it is due. This is where some of the differences lie. I hold a certain degree of respect for rppearso. I respect that he obtained his engineering degree. No small feat. I respect him because he has or is obtaining his private pilots license. Piloting an aircraft is but a skill, but it is one I admire. Not every pilot is a good one though. I still find myself watching aircraft flying above, everytime I hear one nearby. Mostly because I want to know which direction to run to get out of the way should that pilot be having a bad day. Pilots are always the first one at the scene of any airplane crash.....

I do respect those two accomplishments. As we all know, accomplishments make the man. My certain degree of respect of him extends no further than that. Respect is something that is earned, it is however intangible and yet holds meaning and has great value to military men and women like us. While we thrive on it, not everyone recognizes this.

I also have one other thing for him.....pity. He had the right idea in enlisting. He had a golden opportunity to join in the brotherhood of warriors, to earn the respect of his friends and peers and his nation, but no. He pissed it away. So yeah, he rates my pity.

Were I to have the opportunity to actually meet him, I am doubtful that I would extend my hand to shake his. I certainly wouldn't buy him a beer and shoot the breeze with him like I would you guys and gals.

Gunny, I never look at the flag and see a piece of cloth (as some do). I see a representation of our nation and the people that make it great. It is still carried into battle, businesses pay money so that they can fly it, the flag covers the coffins of our heroes, and millions of people buy them every year. To see them displayed on the graves of veterans in cemeteries across this nation shown the ultimate sign of respect for those who have served by a nation that appreciates what they did.

It is the embodiment of what is good about this country and it covers all of us whether we want it to or not. I, too, pity anyone who cannot see it for what it is. Ronald is beyond help because he is not really looking to be helped.

Harry
The vast majority of us think alike. I posted the above to get him to actually think. Whether or not that works remains to be seen. I haven't completely written him off as of yet, but somethings gotta change on his end.