re: Marine and Soldier recover U. S. Flag Disrespectfully Displayed

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Being a military member or a veteran doesn't make you more patriotic than anyone else


Yes it does.

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Azranod

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you're an idiot

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Being a military member or a veteran doesn't make you more patriotic than anyone else

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And I agree with this - to a point and with a caveat. I was already a pretty patriotic MFer when I signed up - but after over a quarter of a century (over half my life - effectively all of my adult life) of service, I recognize that we, collectively (and there are exceptions, of course), who have served/are serving are probably overprotective of the flag.

Therefore, if, for some reason, the Klan got approval to protest in Harlem - and ended up getting their lily white asses kicked, a few of them hospitalized and a couple killed - that wouldn't make the response "right" - I mean, freedom of expression is what it is - and the rule of law as well, but people would largely understand, yet disapprove of the spontaneous expression of community discontent with the Klan demonstration, and there would be more than a little support for the notion "They were asking for it."

With the same token, if you ride an inverted flag past veterans, or burn a flag in front of an American Legion or VFW post - and get your hippie, American-hating, commie arse whipped - there will be similar community understanding of the violent, unlawful actions taken against your person.

You ever wonder why people describe victims of crime like this, "Minding his own business, just walking down the street..." and that this, seemingly, has more emotional impact and generates more sympathy for the victim, than in the OP's example or my Klan analogy?

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Context can be a mitigating factor, but it doesn't excuse the action.

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I thought my post was completely on point with this.

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We choose to live in a civilized society where you are free to disagree. Our country is stronger when there is free thinking. If people cannot express themselves for fear of a mob, whether they be private or the government, the entire being of our country is undermined.

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I think we're in general agreement.

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Remember, democracy serves to protect the minority from the majority.

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I'm worried about this sentiment with regards to political correctness - but, again, I agree in principle.

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AND the only people allowed by law to own a slave for the lifetime of a slave(at the time) was a black person. White people had to free their slaves after a set number of years.

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That part isn't true. Not even under the code noir.