the id, the ego, & the single misfiring brain cell

A friend of mine, who I haven't seen for a while despite the fact that he and his family are assigned across town at Peterson AFB, posted a link to a video last night. It was on this page (link), which is clearly very anti-flag-burning. (If you don't want to watch the video or if it disappears for some reason, it's basically a handful of Ferguson protestors burning a flag in the street, kicking it around, and one lighting a cigarette from the flames; a bunch of National Guardsmen rush in to pick up the pieces. The man recording the episode says, “It's just a piece of cloth!” and the Guardsmen respond, “But it means something to us.” It's billed—in the recent trend of sensationalism on the internet—as a “powerful” video.)

My friend (Jose) had commented that they should be sent to Guantanamo. I wasn't sure who he meant by “they.” My first reaction was that he meant the flag-burners, but I don't know his politics, so I went to the page, watched the video, and read the blurb. The page has a brief write-up which includes the comment, “the fabled 'peaceful protesters' of Ferguson are shown burning the flag, kicking it, and contemptuously lighting a cigarette from the flames.” Of course, my immediate thought was that burning a flag is peaceful. Thus, I thought that he may be suggesting that the people who wrote the page itself deserve to go to Guantanamo. So I asked for clarification.

He meant the flag-burning protesters, as it turns out, so I asked why.

No, I'm not picking fights. I really want to know. I've never understood the violent reaction people have to protesters burning what is, after all, just a symbol.

Jose is an officer in the Navy, by the way. We met two years ago at Joint and Combined Warfighting School in Norfolk, Virginia. He's Puerto Rican by birth, has a beautiful family, and is just a really awesome man. We hit if off immediately and have remained friends, even though he is stationed just across town at Peterson AFB currently and I still have not seen him. (At the same time, I worked in the same building with my cousin Mary for a year and saw her maybe twice in that time. We all lead busy lives.)

I clarified, before anyone answered: It isn't something I would do, but it's a time-honored way of demonstrating EXTREME disapproval of government actions. And it's a Constitutional right. So, while it isn't something I would do, I guess I don't get why people get their knickers in a twist when someone burns the flag.

One of Jose's friends responded, “Because individuals like Jose and I sacrifice our time (with family), blood, sweat, tears, and lives for that symbol and all for which it stands!”

Another friend added, “Diana - because my friends have given their life for this country. These people are burning the flag of the country that gives them liberty and probably their welfare checks. How about they refuse any and all welfare to protest their displeasure of the US Gov't.”

Jose cited the following: 

18 US Code 700 - Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(2) This subsection does not prohibit any conduct consisting of the disposal of a flag when it has become worn or soiled.

 He added, “But it's kind of odd that [it] gets protected as free speech under the U.S. Govt that they are trying to rebel or go against or whatever is their motive.”

I find all of this intriguing, and I've tried to sum up my thoughts on the subject, triggered by their comments. (I don't know what the welfare system has to do with anything, so I have disregarded that comment.)

My response (tweaked a bit for my blog) is as follows:

I understand and I respect your commitment to our flag and the republic for which it stands; I also have friends who have given their lives, their health, and sometimes their sanity in deployments they didn't ask for but where they went and did their duty without complaint, because when you wear the uniform, you don't get to choose which orders you follow or not. I respect the hell out of that as well as your love for our country--which, by the way, I share.

But my points are these. On the level of the law, we are sworn to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The SCOTUS ruled in 1990 that we have a Constitutional right to burn our flag in protest, which makes this one of our protected rights, right up there with the right to bear arms, etc. Whether we believe their ruling is right or not is also beside the point. Just as we must follow the lawful orders we disagree with, we are sworn to protect and defend all Constitutional rights.

But I know y'all aren't discussing the law here. You're discussing your gut sense of what is right and wrong. From what I understand, you feel that no one should be allowed to disparage the symbol of the country you and your friends/colleagues/brothers (and sisters) in arms fight and die to protect. My thoughts on this are that, like it or not, this right--this freedom, if you will--is one of the things I'm sworn to protect and defend, as are you (from what I understand).

As an analogy, I despise all that the KKK and other hate groups stand for, but I cannot deny that they have the Constitutional right to believe what they want and to have rallies, etc (provided they don't hurt anyone). I hate what they stand for, but I have sworn to die, if necessary, protecting their right to do so. And I will, if necessary (as will you).

"Free speech" that protects only what you believe isn't free speech at all.

I made the comment earlier that I just don't understand why people get all upset about flag burning. Perhaps this is because...well, I've never tried to explain it, so here goes nothing.

First, it is just a piece of cloth, and one that—in the cases we're talking about—the person who torched it paid their own money for. Technically, it belongs to them and they can do whatever they wish with it. But that's missing your greater point, I know.

It is a symbol of our country, and setting it ablaze is a powerful statement. The question is, what statement is that? I usually take it as an expression of extreme dissatisfaction with endemic problems in our society/government. It is an act that gets people's attention, certainly, and thus as an act of protest, it is a powerful one. People burned flags as protest during Vietnam, for example, because frankly, that was a fucked up war that was poorly handled, which dragged on for years after those in power here knew it was a lost cause, but we stayed in it because people's political careers hinged on their stance on Vietnam. I think burning the flag was a completely appropriate way to express our extreme dissatisfaction with our involvement in that war, personally.

Does it mean that the people burning the flag hate the country? Of course not. It's a bit counterintuitive, but it generally means just the opposite: they love the country but recognize political corruption and they want that corruption to stop.

One last thought: I have not sworn to give my life (if necessary) for the flag or even for the country. I have sworn to defend the Constitution--the ideals upon which our country was founded. I may not always believe in my country, but I've never lost faith in the ideals encapsulated in that document.

I'm not anti-military or anti-government. I've very much pro-both, actually. And I have no problem if someone wants to burn our flag in protest. Further, I'll defend their right to do so (just as you will; it's part of your oath).

 I may still be missing something vital, of course, that will alter my understanding. Your thoughts?

EDITED TO ADD (7 December 2014): I was chatting with a non-American friend about this uniquely American oddness--our overt devotion to and defense of our flag. I've noticed this same attitude over the years with my European and Asian friends, as well. They don't understand why we are so overwhelmingly protective of our national symbol, either. 

In the course of the conversation, it occurred to me why I find the vehement pro-flag attitude so disturbing (as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, for that matter). It just doen't fit with my understanding of the ideals America was built on and stands for. In fact, both promote veneration to the state and as such, are quite fascist in nature. 

Again, I love my country. Anyone who doubts that...well. There isn't much I can do or say at this point to change your mind, is there? 

Our flag is a symbol of our country, for better or worse. I proudly stand and salute our flag. I'm not just putting on a show or just adhering to regulations. But the flag isn't the country itself, nor is it the embodiment of the ideals we stand for.

I'm reminded of the 480 BCE oracular warning to the Thebans that they could save Athens from the invading Persians behind "walls of wood." Themistocles argued persuasively that those "walls of wood" were not an actual parameter of the city, but Athenian ships. "Athens" was not the city but its people. (The city was burned to the ground, but Athens itself was aboard the ships and was saved.) By the same token, the flag is not America; we are. 

d