Valium for the Soul

Well stated. I had not thought about it in that way. Thanks for opening my mind a little more.

 

Yes, excellent point. I would think this type of behaviour would come from those who haven't been educated in the type of protests that you've mentioned...

 

I wholeheartedly agree Blue. You made some excellent points, and without even wrapping yourself in the flag
You rock!

 

Hi Blue,
Very interesting. I have yet to come to a position on this so I am glad I read yours.
My grandfather, father, brother and myself have all served our country however I get a bit 'icky' about those who think we did it for a 'flag' especially since my grandfather was under the red British flag, dad under the blue Australian flag and I under the white ensign. Just a thought. Still thinking on this one however.

 

Hi Alison,

I take your point as this is one I have struggled with this also. It wasn't until I heard this woman (from resistance) on the radio explaining her reasons that it crystalised for me.

A lot of people need symbols; and the flag is a symbol - it is symbolic for those who embue it with the essences of patriotism, with their feelings, hopes, fears and security.

If the problem was with the country and everything that country stood for then I could understand the burnings. But to disrespect the flag on the basis of disagreeing the govt policy seemed [to me] to be ephemeral and illogical reasoning.

 

Blue,
Thanks for stopping by my little world. Hope to see you again. Your site has been very interesting for a guy from the South, U.S. I will check back often. See ya.

Goose.

 

Resistance have evolved from a generation with too much freedom and not enough responsibility. I think its a product of democratic society in Australia(and most of the western world) that people can think they have total freedom of expression and speech without the responsbility of tolerence, morals, respect and common courtesy to their countrymen.

 

Still, you have to admit that's a great bargain for only $5. You should buy one, burn the pamphlets, and fly the flag.

 

Hey Bogs,

we don't have pledging here - theres a lot of people who have been exceedingly peeved (myself amongst them) when the subject has been raised for Aussie schools. I guess part of the difference is we don't have legislated freedom of speech here so there is a different attitude towards 'freedom' of speech - we support it but with guidelines (that one will have to wait till we are in a bar)

I used another example in explaining my feelings about this:

I don't have any feelings about the flag whatsoever, but to provide an analogy - destroying icons in churches because of the actions of some priests.

It doesn't hurt the priests only those who have put faith in the icons. Likewise - burning the flag doesn't hurt the govt it hurts innocent people who have embued the flag with the same symbolism.

I just figure there are a heap more proactive & positive ways to change the govt & their policies. This method accomplishs very little positive other than the self satisfaction of the movement who cannot separate flag from govt.

 

Flag burning is not just disrespectful, but it is downright silly. Why burn your own flag when you can set your local state agents home on fire instead?

I mean, if you really want to make a statement, nothing says "I'm against you" like a nice prison stint for arson.

CP.

 

well said. being proactive in a way that gains results makes so much more sense.

 

I agree with CP. Go for the real change.
Citizens that burn the flag of the nation the still live in, its non-sense. Nothing says more I hate my country than putting yourself into self exile, other methods include go to vote for the guy that is not part of a two party system and convince as many people as you can to do the same.

 

I'm doing a debate for school and this website is great. i think that this website should be more public as every one should see this.
keep it up and get it out there.