[geeks] Re: [rescue] The war begins....

[Kurt Huhn]

> <boggle> it's just a bit of cloth, it's not like they're killing innocent
> civilians or anything!  And can you define 'extremist'?

Maybe to you.  For me it is the physical representation of a country I love.

Lesee, extremist according to my dictionary is:
One who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in
politics.

That just about sums it up.  In my view, burning the flag goes beyond the
norm.  You don't have to agree with me here.  It is my opinion, and one that
I hold dear.  To see extremeists in arab states burning the flag and dancing
in the streets in response to the WTC catastrophe, then to turn a corner and
see US citizens resorting to similar measures in *their* protests, draws a
parralell in my mind.  Perhaps my logic is flawed, so be it.  This is
anything *but* a logical situation.

Why do you think every retail establishment ran out of flags and RW&B
merchandise in the days following the attacks?  Why did a poster company
down the street retool their production floor at the end of the day to
produce *nothing but flag posters* in order to *give them away* the next
morning.  No charge, drive up ask for a few, and get more than you can carry
in two hands.  That "piece of cloth" means more to most US citizens than any
other object.  I fly a flag on my car's antenna, I display one in my window,
and one hangs above my desk in my office.  I *always* display one
somewhere - even before the attacks.  I have (counting) 6 shirts with a flag
motif.

It is *not* just a "piece of cloth".  I'll forgive your sentiment though,
since it seems you live here and don't quite understand the feelings I
share.

>
> If what you mean is that you have no patience for people expressing their
> political views and their disapproval for the actions of the US state,
> then say so, but to compare legitimate political protest with rioting is
> ... [looks for word; Roget fails to help] ... silly.
>

Not at all - see above.  It may seem silly to you - but that doesn't mean
that it is.  Perception is reality here, and your perception is much
different than mine.  I'll give you that - but to call it "silly" isn't
necessary.

What else could they hope to gain by burning the flag.  They may disaprove
of US actions - they have every right to do so, but flag burning and
dessacration is *not* a proper method of expressing those sentiments.  It
represents the highest of insults.  Why do you suppose they do it?  If it
was "just a piece of cloth" they wouldn't do it, would they?  If it was, it
wouldn't have any effect, and wouldn't be necessary.


> Hmmm, rather inappropriately, Stu Hamm's rendition of the Star Spangled
> Banner just came on my random mp3 thingy.  He actually makes it sound
> like music unlike the ghastly warbling sopranos I usually hear.

Never heard it, my fav version is by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.  Very
upbeat version, complete with horn section, distorted guitars, and the raspy
(3 pack a day Marlboro Reds, I'm told) voice.

Kurt