Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Well, stupidity does not belong to just one party.

Hey!!; maybe your inspiration can lead to the new slogan for your party.

"Vote Democrat; we're not singularly stupid!!"

Originally Posted by The Villager II

Well, this thread needs to die. We are all in agreement. How boring. LOL

getting uncomfortable???

Originally Posted by djplong

On the one hand, it was a pretty stupid maneuver with the flag.

On the other hand, am I the only one who sees the irony in veterans trying to take down a flag - considering that they're supposed to be defenders of the Constitution? I mean - freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of speech you agree with...

Seriously??; Veterans getting angry about the desecration of the flag is about as American as you can get.

One of the 2 Party's representing Americans defacing the flag they pledge to defend is about as despicable as it can get.

I don't really see irony; I see patriotism.

Originally Posted by djplong

On the one hand, it was a pretty stupid maneuver with the flag.

On the other hand, am I the only one who sees the irony in veterans trying to take down a flag - considering that they're supposed to be defenders of the Constitution? I mean - freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of speech you agree with...

With that argument were they wrong in blowing up Swastikas after WWII? Should crosses be allowed to burn? I could go on.

This image of the President on our flag reminds me of North Korea or Iran. Those icons you see hanging everywhere.

Unfortunately, yes.

Nazis have the right to march in Skokie IL. Freedom of speech, you know.

Veterans have the right to express their anger if I were to deface the flag. Heck, I'd *expect* it of them if I were stupid enough to do it. But they do NOT have the right to try to confiscate my property.

People have a right to unpopular opinions. That's where Freedom of Speech gets it's true test. Not in the opinions we all agree upon - but on the ones we DON'T.

When flag-burning was "all the rage" and people wanted to pass laws against it they claimed how shocked our forefathers would be at such behavior. I pointed out that, had they thought of it, they probably would have DONE it. Remember, we had a revolution against the most powerful, most progressive and most advanced empire in the world at that time. British subjects had more rights than just about anyone else in the world - which is what confounded so many back in Europe...

Originally Posted by djplong

Unfortunately, yes.

Nazis have the right to march in Skokie IL. Freedom of speech, you know.

Veterans have the right to express their anger if I were to deface the flag. Heck, I'd *expect* it of them if I were stupid enough to do it. But they do NOT have the right to try to confiscate my property.

People have a right to unpopular opinions. That's where Freedom of Speech gets it's true test. Not in the opinions we all agree upon - but on the ones we DON'T.

When flag-burning was "all the rage" and people wanted to pass laws against it they claimed how shocked our forefathers would be at such behavior. I pointed out that, had they thought of it, they probably would have DONE it. Remember, we had a revolution against the most powerful, most progressive and most advanced empire in the world at that time. British subjects had more rights than just about anyone else in the world - which is what confounded so many back in Europe...

I do not see this as a freedom of speech issue. There is communication, but it is done by doing something not through talking. Action as speech is an interesting issue. A march probably would be seen more as action rather than talking unless you also bring in the right of assembly and to petition the government for grievances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Desecration_Amendment

I know there are various US Supreme Court cases on action as speech but what does the Constitution say???

Snopes has a report on this now.

snopes.com: Obama Flag

What I took away or learned..

In fairness to the vets, they asked them to remove the flag - offerred a POW/MIA flag in it's place.

However, they also claimed that the flag violated federal flag code. There sort of is NOT a 'law', as we understand them, covering handling the flag.

As outlined here: USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America - United States Code

...there IS a 'code' but there are no penalties outlined for violating it. That's left to the states. Now, in Florida, it's covered by Florida Statute 256.05.

No person shall, in any manner, for exhibition or display:

(1) Place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, color, ensign or shield of the United States or of this state, or authorized by any law of the United States or this state; or

(2) Expose to public view any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield upon which shall have been printed, painted or otherwise produced, or to which shall have been attached, appended, affixed or annexed any such word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement.

Now, the real question is the flag in question itself. It's clearly INSPIRED by the American flag, but defacing it? I don't think that hold up. First off, it was never an American flag - the stars were never added. But if it's "look and feel" well, then you're outlawing anyone flying the Liberian or Malaysian flags which are clearly inspired by the Stars and Stripes.

DJ, there is no justification for your defense of the Lake County Democratic Party. This is an outrage pure and simple.

You're defending foolish stupid people who would put out a flag like this reminiscent of the idolatry in tyrannical and communist countries. It's UnAmerican to do this.

The only thing that surprises me is that they put the "United States of Obama flag" under the United States of America Flag. In their hearts I'm sure it should be placed over.

You are defending their First Amendment rights to be stupid, disrespectful and shameful Americans. OK, that's fine, but call it what it is.

Sometimes you just stun me. This is the second time in a week.

Yes, and 'being foolish' is legal. I don't have to like it in order to defend it.

I have a lot of experience being picked on and bullied in school for having unpopular opinions (I didn't like what the 'popular' kids liked - and early on, being crippled didn't help).

I believe the best defense against this sort of thing is publicity. Hold idiots up to the light and put their stupidity on display for all to see (and mock).

Originally Posted by djplong;467***

Yes, and 'being foolish' is legal. I don't have to like it in order to defend it.

I believe the best defense against this sort of thing is publicity. Hold idiots up to the light and put their stupidity on display for all to see (and mock).

Now you're on track. Mocking is good, but publicly shaming them and calling them out is what we're doing right here (in our small way)

No one said The Democrat Party of Lake County legally couldn't be stupid UnAmerican a-holes, but it's also my right to be outraged.