As far as I can see the Qu'ran is a symbol of the Islamic peoples. They are also a symbol of terrorists. When I heard about the Qu'ran flushing truth stretch and what occurred I was tempted to flush a Qu'ran myself. Then I came to my senses and realized I would be paying a pretty hefty plumbing bill if it did this.
So why am I ranting about this now? Well, it seems that congress is trying to pass that flag burning law again. It appears they want to make it illegal to burn the flag. I say we should only make it illegal to flush them. C'mon, can't you see what happens when we try to flush an item of importance? People riot in the streets and kill people. No one dies when you burn a flag, only when you flush something to people seem to die.
No, I am not serious about this. I don't believe any of these items should be burned but I respect one's right to burn an item of extreme importance in effigy. In my eyes it's protected under the same category as other forms of art. Do we arrest the painter for painting Bush like a monkey? Did we fine political comics for all of those truly tasteless "blue-dress" jabs? No, they're protected as free speech.
My father once asked me whether burning a flag was speech or action. If you burn a random article you are doing nothing more than making an action. If you burn something of importance you have just made a statement. That is speech.
Let me give you a few more examples of this "active speech". Someone doesn't like the way congress is raping the constitution so they buy a copy of the constitution and burn it in protest. That is speech. Someone urinates in a jar and dumps a crucifix in it, then calls it "Piss Christ". As repulsive as it may be it is protected as speech. (Just for the record, I know that this little piece was paid for by the government and that would cause me to enact the Constitution burning if I was one of those people that burned things.) Bible burnings, Qu'ran burnings and even Torah burnings are free speech because you are trying to send the message of disdain and/or anger, rage, disappointment, disgust, etc.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
It is all those other people - and the soldiers - who make life worth living.
Interesting "have my cake ..." post.
2 - Jeremy
Thanks Stark. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
This may sound a bit strange, but after I heard this poem the first time (Zell Miller at the 2004 RNC) I wanted to go out and burn a flag, not in effigy, but in honor to the troops. Also, in honor of the others that don't wear uniforms that work hard to keep freedom free.
3 - Temple Stark
The poem's been around a long time.
Yes - that does sound strange. The flag is a beautiful symbol.
4 - Dave Nalle
There's a big difference between private protestors desecrating the Koran or burning the flag and that same action being taken by on-duty military personnel.
When some Wahabist fires up a Koran he's speaking only for himself. When a soldier does the equivalent while in uniform he's effectively acting on behalf of the military and his government.
Dave
5 - Jeremy
Actually, the Wahabist was speaking for his entire sect. It was a wahabist action, not some lone psycho.
6 - Flush Holy Books
It is great that we live in country where we have the freedom to express ourselves, even if it may offend some. flushaholybook.com allows you to flush the holy book of your choice.