quote:
Originally posted by Steve T:
But if you don't do something that gets a reaction it's a prett ineffective protest.
ghandi and mlk seemed to have been quite succesful.

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Whereas I tend to think that a legitimate government has nothign to fear from having its flag burned as a sign of protest.
its not the government im concerned for, its the people.

if you're protesting against something you have no respect for, why should the protestees have respect for you?

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Tell me, does anyone here have an objection to the burning of a Nazi flag? Or the Iraq flag for Saddam Hussein?
try burning either one, during their respective reign. you'd get a lot more than disgruntled message board posters.

further, i'd think, at any point in history, it'd be somewhat obvious to point out the flaws of your two selected govenerments. burning a nazi flag as a stand against slaughter or death camps isn't such a bad stand. burning a sign of evil doesn't hurt too much.

but burning an iraqi flag infront of a proud, saddam-hating iraqi would be quite hurtful to that individual. ... which, in turn, would end up being quite hurtful to you.

perhaps you shouldn't try that.

quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
Or what if those two brave cricketers in the World Cup who wore black arm bands to symbolise the death of democracy in Zimbabwe had instead chosen to defy their corrupt and illegitimate government by burning the Zimbabwe flag?
as said, its a matter of picking your battles, i suppose.

burning the american flag for any of the dozens of reasons its currently burned for (lack of funding, upset healthcare issues, increased rent, etc) is hideous and pathetic.

i sincerely doubt you have the conviction to explain to any american world war II vet that its simply a "form of protest."