ClayTaylorNC Wrote: Georgia police arrested a U.S. Veteran, Michelle Manhart on Friday as she was taking an American flag away from a group of students who were trampling on it. The former U.S. Air Force staff Sergeant whom left the military after posing for Playboy, 'stole' the flag away from several African American students at Valdosta State University. They claim to of been demonstrating against racism. What a great way to have your voice heard right?Even though Manhart was handcuffed and taken away, she was not charged with a crime. Makes sense. Stomping on an American flag is a bit worse then taking it from those who were doing it if you ask me. Most of the words that were exchanged was to claim ownership of the flag. The just over 6 minute video shows a good chunk of the argument.“This flag belongs to the entire United States,” Manhart says“Is that not theft?” a student says moments later. “I swear to god, if this had been in the ‘hood, you’d have had me in handcuffs already.”
jaredsxtn Wrote: It may not be kosher, but stomping on, burning, and desecrating the American flag is perfectly legal under the 1st Amendment protections guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has upheld that right time and again, as well. It's not a crime to express your displeasure with Government policies on American soil. It's one of our most sacred rights and I will fight for everyone to be able to exercise that right, even if I disagree with their actions, as long as they aren't trampling on anyone else's rights when they are voicing their displeasure. Burning a flag in protest is perfectly legal; burning a building in protest is not.
ClayTaylorNC Wrote: Yeah, that was my first thoughts when seeing this. Everyone is entitled to their rights. What I thought was a bit more interesting was that she is a Veteran. And actually, a vet. who was forced to leave the military due to her posing for playboy with dog tags and an American flag.
ClayTaylorNC Wrote:jaredsxtn Wrote: It may not be kosher, but stomping on, burning, and desecrating the American flag is perfectly legal under the 1st Amendment protections guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has upheld that right time and again, as well. It's not a crime to express your displeasure with Government policies on American soil. It's one of our most sacred rights and I will fight for everyone to be able to exercise that right, even if I disagree with their actions, as long as they aren't trampling on anyone else's rights when they are voicing their displeasure. Burning a flag in protest is perfectly legal; burning a building in protest is not. Yeah, that was my first thoughts when seeing this. Everyone is entitled to their rights. What I thought was a bit more interesting was that she is a Veteran. And actually, a vet. who was forced to leave the military due to her posing for playboy with dog tags and an American flag.
johnnycee Wrote:ClayTaylorNC Wrote:jaredsxtn Wrote: It may not be kosher, but stomping on, burning, and desecrating the American flag is perfectly legal under the 1st Amendment protections guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has upheld that right time and again, as well. It's not a crime to express your displeasure with Government policies on American soil. It's one of our most sacred rights and I will fight for everyone to be able to exercise that right, even if I disagree with their actions, as long as they aren't trampling on anyone else's rights when they are voicing their displeasure. Burning a flag in protest is perfectly legal; burning a building in protest is not. Yeah, that was my first thoughts when seeing this. Everyone is entitled to their rights. What I thought was a bit more interesting was that she is a Veteran. And actually, a vet. who was forced to leave the military due to her posing for playboy with dog tags and an American flag. I suppose wearing as opposed to stomping or burning the flag is viewed differently, perhaps the Military viewed her use of the flag as a drape for a photo shoot was deemed disrespectful and she was probably told not to do it but did it anyway, thereby disobeying a direct order, which merited a Article #15 hearing which caused her to lose 1pay grade down , this is mere speculation on my part,
Dutch Wrote:johnnycee Wrote:ClayTaylorNC Wrote:jaredsxtn Wrote: It may not be kosher, but stomping on, burning, and desecrating the American flag is perfectly legal under the 1st Amendment protections guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has upheld that right time and again, as well. It's not a crime to express your displeasure with Government policies on American soil. It's one of our most sacred rights and I will fight for everyone to be able to exercise that right, even if I disagree with their actions, as long as they aren't trampling on anyone else's rights when they are voicing their displeasure. Burning a flag in protest is perfectly legal; burning a building in protest is not. Yeah, that was my first thoughts when seeing this. Everyone is entitled to their rights. What I thought was a bit more interesting was that she is a Veteran. And actually, a vet. who was forced to leave the military due to her posing for playboy with dog tags and an American flag. I suppose wearing as opposed to stomping or burning the flag is viewed differently, perhaps the Military viewed her use of the flag as a drape for a photo shoot was deemed disrespectful and she was probably told not to do it but did it anyway, thereby disobeying a direct order, which merited a Article #15 hearing which caused her to lose 1pay grade down , this is mere speculation on my part, Do you really care?
johnnycee Wrote: I suppose wearing as opposed to stomping or burning the flag is viewed differently, perhaps the Military viewed her use of the flag as a drape for a photo shoot was deemed disrespectful and she was probably told not to do it but did it anyway
jaredsxtn Wrote:johnnycee Wrote: I suppose wearing as opposed to stomping or burning the flag is viewed differently, perhaps the Military viewed her use of the flag as a drape for a photo shoot was deemed disrespectful and she was probably told not to do it but did it anywayI honestly don't care how the military conducts disciplinary hearings when it comes to the desecration of the American flag. That's their business. What I care about is how this young lady draped an American flag around her naked body for money and then feigned outrage when someone burned one in protest. You can't make money disrespecting the American flag for a porn magazine and then get upset when someone else burns one for protesting the institutionalized racism in our country.
johnnycee Wrote: As I said before , the flag is merely a symbol , not an idea or a philosophy, now to most veterans ,such as myself,we seemed to have a higher regard for the symbolism but it is still used as a form of protest by many because of that very perceived symbolism.