100,000 Protestors... Angry mobs of students...

[wendybeth]

Scaeagles, would you have contributed to his defense fund if it was the American flag he burned? Just curious.

Still, I agree that it's very unlikely he'll get more than a misdemeanor charge at the end of this.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Scaeagles, would you have contributed to his defense fund if it was the American flag he burned? Just curious.

It's a good question. The circumstances are such that I would say no.

As I stated earlier, when a country is conquered, the flag of the country that has done the conquering is hoisted in place of the conquered country. If the roles were reversed and and the hispanic student has burned the US flag, I would not support a charge of felony arson, but I would not contribute to the cause if such a charge was levied. I would figure the ACLU would have all the funding they needed to defend the kid. It is an issue of patriotism to me, clear and simple, and what I think is right. I can relate to the kid who burned the Mexican flag, so therefore I contributed (not a large amount, mind you. I did it primarily so the kid would see one more supporter of his cause).

I would suspect that should it have been a US flag that was burned, it would not have been politically correct to charge any crime. It would have been solely a free speech issue, though suspension may be warranted (as the kid who burned the Mexican flag rightfully received for a variety of reasons).

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

relate to the kid who burned the Mexican flag, so therefore I contributed (not a large amount, mind you. I did it primarily so the kid would see one more supporter of his cause).

What exactly is his cause? The support he's getting probably just makes him tell himself, "See! They hate Mexicans too."

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

What exactly is his cause? The support he's getting probably just makes him tell himself, "See! They hate Mexicans too."

His "cause", as I was putting it, is simply his legal defense.

I do not believe that burning a Mexican flag means that you hate Mexicans any more than burning an American flag means you hate Americans. It can mean that, but it is certainly not always the case. I don't even think if the kid started beating up the kid that did it would mean he hates Mexicans (I would not support him legally, though, should he have done that). You seem to be assuming he does hate Mexicans.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

His "cause", as I was putting it, is simply his legal defense.

I do not believe that burning a Mexican flag means that you hate Mexicans any more than burning an American flag means you hate Americans. It can mean that, but it is certainly not always the case. I don't even think if the kid started beating up the kid that did it would mean he hates Mexicans (I would not support him legally, though, should he have done that). You seem to be assuming he does hate Mexicans.

I'm sure the people burning the flag in the MIddle-East don't hate us, they just dislike our flag's color scheme.

The burning of a flag (like burning effigies) is indicative of an extreme feeling, and that ain't love. Unless, of course, a person is merely demonstrating their right to do so.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'm sure the people burning the flag in the MIddle-East don't hate us, they just dislike our flag's color scheme.

The burning of a flag (like burning effigies) is indicative of an extreme feeling, and that ain't love. Unless, of course, a person is merely demonstrating their right to do so.

Geez! I guess I am not being specific enough.

I don't think that Americans burning the US Flag in a protest are saying they hate Americans. Of course in the context of the middle east it means somehting completely different. I am not willing to simply say this kid hates Mexicans because he burned the Mexican flag. That is a judgement that no one is qualified to make unless the kid comes out and says "I did it because I hate Mexicans".

The flag was run up the flagpole twice. The first time it was taken down and givcen back to the students who raised it. The second time it was burned. I interpret that as the kid saying if you aren't going to stop then I will prevent it from happening again.