Flag burning - your views?

[Craig]

Legitimate protest? Un-patrotic? Anything else you might want to add?

This is in response to the Socialists down in Melbourne (or whereever it is) selling flag burning kits in protest of the Australian flag. Personally for all their whinging about this country, foregin policy they don't know how lucky they are to live in this country or any other first world country.

Whilst I don't agree with it, and if that is their opinion that is their life. So what are people's opinion's, perhaps experienced it in other countries (ie Britian?)?

[andyc]

Burning the Australian flag is almost as un-Australian as not liking Michael Hussey.

[masterblaster]

Burning the Australian flag is almost as un-Australian as not liking Michael Hussey.

Agreed mate, it's absolutely disgraceful. Burning the flag of a country that provides you with food, shelter, opportunity, employment and well being shows a lot of ignorance, disrespect and a severe lack of character in the person doing the burning. Respect needs to be shown to the land on which one is living in.

[Robertinho]

It's a touchy issue but I'll say this - I'd burn a flag if there was no more firewood. Fair enough?

[FaaipDeOiad]

Burning in effigy is a long-standing element of protest. I hardly see why burning the flag of a country in protest against the actions of its leaders should be considered any different from any other form of peaceful protest.

[steds]

Depends if it's your flag or if you nicked it off someone else or a flagpole or summat.

[Swervy]

Burning in effigy is a long-standing element of protest. I hardly see why burning the flag of a country in protest against the actions of its leaders should be considered any different from any other form of peaceful protest.

The actually act of course is relatively harmless, however it is a deeply symbolic act, . The flag represents the country, and by destroying the flag, you are implying quite alot about what you feel about the country as a whole and what you would like to do with that country.

I personally feel the act of flag burning is a deeply offensive act towards the country, which ever country that may be.

[Dydl]

In short, it's not very nice...

[alternative]

I just don't like the idea of burning the flag, its just disrespect to your/another country.. It actually tells their true character of the induvidual.. it shouldn't be done..

[FaaipDeOiad]

The actually act of course is relatively harmless, however it is a deeply symbolic act, . The flag represents the country, and by destroying the flag, you are implying quite alot about what you feel about the country as a whole and what you would like to do with that country.

I personally feel the act of flag burning is a deeply offensive act towards the country, which ever country that may be.

That's not really how I read flag burning at all. You don't burn the flag of a country because you hate the country, particularly not if it is -your- country. You burn the flag as a symbolic indication of your anger at the way the country (or more usually its leaders) is behaving. And that isn't necessarily an offensive thing at all.

Personally I know I'm never offended if I see someone burning an Australian flag, though if I felt it was an act of actual hatred against the country I might. It depends on the context.

[Mr Casson]

Well I'm so sorry you all feel that way about flag-burning, but anything that gets close enough to my loins is prone to combustion. I can't even wear nylon jocks anymore for the fear of fusion.

It's tough being sexy.

[Dasa]

Flag burning is not offensive to me. Then again, I'm not patriotic at all, and don't understand all this talk about the flag representing this and that.

[Nnanden]

I think it`s insulting. I watched ACA and La Trobe Uni Students were selling kits. And their reasons were crap. I feel sorry for the war vetos who have to hear about this.

[benchmark00]

La Trobe uni is a hole, what do you expect.

[Top_Cat]

Side 100% with FaaipDeOiad and Dasa here. When you're burning the flag, you're not burning it as the symbol of the country and it's values per se; you're burning it as a symbol of your disapproval for the actions/ideology/direction of the country. It's symbolic in that you believe the country in the vision you believe is to be is being destroyed, not NECESSARILY what you'd like to do to it. It's a very powerful symbol of protest and it's curtailment would do nothing other than appease those who believe their country is and should be above criticism.

Personally, it's not a favoured tactic of mine because I think more can be done in constructuve ways but I understand the point of those who do it. Mind you, the persons who are actually making money out of such a thing by commercialising it apparently don't get irony..........

I think it`s insulting. I watched ACA and La Trobe Uni Students were selling kits. And their reasons were crap. I feel sorry for the war vetos who have to hear about this.

Who do you think comprise a large proportion of a lot of protest groups burning flags? VETS! Geez.......