Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mike
A Swastika is only six black lines in a certain orientation. By burning the symbol is in itself a symbol that you wish to "burn" the ideas and tangible assets of what that symbol represents.
Do I think flag burning should be legal? Absolutely.
Do I respect those that burn flags in a dishonorable manor? Not a bit.
If my friend were to burn an American flag, that person would no longer be my friend. To disagree with a country and attempt to change it for the better is an honorable thing to do, but simply saying "I do not like this country so I will symbolize it burning." is horrid.
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.-Voltaire
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Mike here nailed it. I quoted it for that very reason.
USC seems to be a magnet for certain people of extreme viewpoints. Sometimes religious, sometimes political, sometimes social. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I can't stand their views.
The one thing I always notice about such groups is their delivery. I've seen groups stand around with literature or signage and talk in a normal, conversational tone. I've also seen fire-and-brimstone preachers yelling and screaming about the destination of everyone within fifty yards (all in one particular direction, if you catch my drift). The former is generally allowed to stick to whereever they are as long as they're not blocking anything, while the latter tends to get moved to the campus "free speech area" (the patio behind the Russell House student union, if you were curious). As long as it doesn't harm anyone and is at a reasonable time and place, I'm not going to stop you from speaking your peace.
To apply it to flag burning, I'll put it like this: If you burn an American flag around me, you'd better have a
VERY good reason why you're doing it. But I'll fight with everything I have to let you have the option.