Originally Posted by Fengzi
Honestly iamapatient, I don't know what would consitute a legitimate reason. I personally couldn't concieve of a reason to burn the flag. I don't know, maybe something like the mother of a son who is drafted, and dies in an unjust war, burns the flag in protest and as an expression of her grief. I would have to hear the reason, and try to judge how strongly a person feels about the issue, before making my final decision. In any case, I'm sure 99% of the time I'd come to the conclusion that the burner needs a beating. Certainly being pissed off about losing an election, or the fact that an idiot is in the White House, don't qualify in my book though.
You're right that a lot of what is posted in this forum is done just to get a rise out of those who don't agree with our point of view. I'm no more innocent of doing that from time to time than you or anyone else here is. There is a huge difference between that and burning a flag for the same reason though.
Certain symbols are just sacred and shouldn't be desecrated. Doing so is just incredibly insensitive and in terribly poor taste. Take a Crucifix for example. I am not a Catholic or a Christian and do not beleive in God. I would, however, find the desecration of a Crucifix just as offensive as the burning of a flag. Yes, it is just a piece of wood or plastic just as a flag is just a piece of fabric. And, yes maybe it is a symbol used by those whose views I feel very strongly against. But it is also a symbol that many, many very good people hold dear. It is out of respect for those people that I feel the way I do.