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US Teacher Stomps on Flag; Causes anguish...
- Thread starter YoungHav
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Wow, I am really shocked at the reply's. Why is gaf so anti-patriotic? I don't know if he should be fired but it was certainly a very disrespectful thing to do, by burning/stomping the flag you may as well be saying you hate America, in which case why are you living here?
I would not call myself nationalistic by any means, but I certainly am patriotic. For all it's faults America has given me more opportunities then so many other countries.
I love the feeling of being proud to be an American. I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with anyone being patriotic or proud of whatever country they reside in.
Tell me, does anyone here have any family heirlooms? I have an old watch that belonged to my great great grandfather that I cherish. Imagine how I would feel if someone just broke it and said "What's the big deal, it's just a watch?".
If someone were to, say, spit on the tomb of the unknown soldier that's okay because "It's just some brick and stone".
I would not call myself nationalistic by any means, but I certainly am patriotic. For all it's faults America has given me more opportunities then so many other countries.
I love the feeling of being proud to be an American. I don't understand why people here have such a big problem with anyone being patriotic or proud of whatever country they reside in.
Tell me, does anyone here have any family heirlooms? I have an old watch that belonged to my great great grandfather that I cherish. Imagine how I would feel if someone just broke it and said "What's the big deal, it's just a watch?".
If someone were to, say, spit on the tomb of the unknown soldier that's okay because "It's just some brick and stone".
You can be patriotic without worshipping the flag. It's really as simple as that.
I don't "worship" it. But I do take pride in what it stands for and what is symbolizes, and to see someone treat it as such to me is akin to disrespecting those things.
Enosh
Member
It's not disrespect, it's protest against the government, or in this case, against the idea of treating a cloth as sacred because it has a certain design on it.
Much like how it's silly when states try to pass laws saying nobody can talk about overthrowing the government when our entire country was founded off overthrowing a government. Or how treason should be an automatic death penalty when all the Founding Fathers were considered to have committed an act of treason with the Declaration of Independence, which was essentially signing their own death warrant.
I'd prefer people not go around randomly stomping on flags, but my response to someone doing it would be "eh cool story bro, what's your problem?". I love our system and style of government (mostly) but I remember that I can't deny other people methods of protest that were used to allow my country to exist in the first place.
Don't wear the flag on your heart and wave it around to communicate your love for country and then deny others love for their country by burning or stomping on it as a protest against their government.
So what I'm saying here in a nutshell is that not firing this guy protects my country the flag symbolizes. Firing this guy for demonstrating that it's just a symbol damages my country and the attitudes within it.
If you take pride in what it stands for then you should be supporting his right to do this without all this BS backlash and him being faced with the loss of his job. America wasn't hurt by this act. However, one of our strongest principles will be when this guy is sent packing.
The guy was making a point about the power of symbols. Unfortunately he was almost too successful in making his point. I doubt he did this while thinking "God damn America and everything it stands for" while performing the act.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Or in a classroom environment you could, y'know, be teaching a lesson on symbols...
I don't think anyone here is bashing patriotism and few are applauding what the teacher did, but the main issue here is the absurd reaction to what was supposed to be a lesson on symbols and completely missing the point of it.
You can't really compare those two - a family heirloom is a unique item that holds personal values, a flag can easily be replaced with another.
don't be silly
Apparently the teacher exists in a vacuum, however firing him has no consequences?
I'd love to watch someone wipe the flag with their ass.
Bahahahah!
Evolution was already an accepted idea before Darwin came along. It was the notion of evolution through natural selection that was controversial.
Lagspike_exe
Member
OK, this made me laugh.
LyleLanley
Banned
Way to laugh at a guy who clearly has a medical condition.
'Accepted' is a strong way of putting it. It was not a new idea, but it was hardly accepted.
I'd say the execution was done perfectly. Look at the rise he has got from this, he has proven how effective symbols are at expressing opinions and views (in this case that of an entire nation) and shown how people will unite under them. But the main point he was trying to achieve that these symbols in their physical forms are worthless. It's the meaning behind them that is important, you can burn a book or stamp on a flag but the ideas don't die.
I'll wipe my ass with it as well as the piddle off my black cock.
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
I agree. It sounds like he did this to demonstrate the power of symbols and the emotions people feel when they are desecrated. I think it's an important lesson to learn. Symbols can be a powerful thing. Just think about the times when Democrats were burning crosses in lawns. It actually means something. It's not just an empty gesture. It evokes overwhelming emotion at times.
I like this post lol
Then all the praise would've gone to Alfred Russel Wallace.
I'm saying that Darwin was faced with the dilemma of publishing a study that completely flew in the face of what the Christian society of the time believed in or sitting on it to preserve the status quo and keep everyone else happy.
He did the former and his family paid quite a price for the knowledge that we enjoy today.
No, you've missed the point entirely.
I was responding to the assertion that in a PC society no-one should challenge their beliefs. And that no-one would have included Wallace.
Dude Abides
Banned
In middle school I had a teacher who, if he thought you were not saying the pledge with sufficient enthusiasm along with everyone else, would make you stand and say it a second time all by yourself. Loon.
Bulbo Urethral Baggins
Banned
That's really stupid. You can't force patriotism. It probably had the opposite effect. There are much better ways to get kids to be enthusiastic about talking to a flag.
StealthGoblin
Banned
Its fabric. A piece of fucking fabric.
Phobophile
A scientist and gentleman in the manner of Batman.
fabricated backlash
Member
No Zoidberg Gifs? I am disappointed Gaf.
Seriously though, flags should be treated like the worst off people living in a country.
Seriously though, flags should be treated like the worst off people living in a country.
and this country gives us the freedom to stomp on a flag. deal with it.
Ponti
Member
Made in China no less.
How stupid can you get? I wouldnt want this moron teaching my kids either. Flag desecrstion is illegal in most places numbnuts. If youre going to teach a lesson or tryjng to make a point howzabout saving the liberal hippie antics for a university classroom where you have a slightly less chance of being ratted out. Seriously though, this was just stupid and poorly executed. He deserves to get fired.
Synth_floyd
Banned
Patriotism is like religion to some people. Just another dumb thing to believe in and waste time and energy on. And it also lets people manipulate you by using your love of god/the flag/whatever.
dskillzhtown
keep your strippers out of my American football
Exactly. You have to think of consequences before trying to be "edgy".
I am more amazed at the number of people who claim to have no allegiance to anything. No allegiance to country, religion, family, nothing. Not sure how it will play out to grow up not caring about anything but yourself.
Phobophile
A scientist and gentleman in the manner of Batman.
They're called Libertarians.
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