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Veteran and Ex Playmate Arrested for Taking Flag Being Trampled On

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  • ClayTaylorNC
    2015-04-20 08:38:29 AM
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    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.”
  • Dutch
    2015-04-20 08:47:12 AM
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    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.”
    Clay, how nuts has this country become; here in FL people go to the beach in "flag" trunks, flag "bikini's" and pee in it once in the water. Who cares about a piece of colored cloth; it means nothing. We are just copying Hitler, who started that ridiculous trend. I think I'm going to hoist a pair of wooden shoes on my non existing flag pole !!
  • jaredsxtn
    2015-04-20 04:10:08 PM
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    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.
  • johnnycee
    2015-04-20 04:23:49 PM
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    The flag is merely a symbol of a particular creed, domain or in this case a nation, and those who chose to use it in a political statement ,pro or con, are well within their rights, I don't like it when they do that but they are allowed.when used towards making a political statement, the image of the flag being . on certain pieces of mdse doesn't bother me at all, to me this a non-issue
  • pr
    2015-04-21 07:57:24 AM
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    American exceptualism at its finest!
  • ClayTaylorNC
    2015-04-21 08:14:45 AM
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    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.
  • jaredsxtn
    2015-04-21 12:02:30 PM
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    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.
    Now that is interesting point! How can this veteran get so upset over a burning flag, but have no problem posing with one while she's naked? That seems rather hypocritical to me.
  • johnnycee
    2015-04-21 01:25:21 PM
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    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
    2015-04-21 04:13:38 PM
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    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
    2015-04-21 05:24:05 PM
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    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?
    As I said this is a non-issue with me.
  • jaredsxtn
    2015-04-21 06:34:30 PM
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    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
    I 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.
  • lonely bird
    2015-04-22 08:52:48 AM
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    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 anyway
    I 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.
    agreed. it is interesting regarding "desecration" of a flag since the dictionary definition of desecration according to Merriman-Webster is to treat a holy place or object with disrespect. I happily honor the nation, actually the concept behind the nation, which has the Stars and Stripes as its flag but that does not make the flag nor the nation for that matter "holy." I realize this might be seen as verbal juggling but to me the first amendment and patriotism that acknowledges flaws while striving to fix them trumps knee-jerk patriotism. To me knee-jerk patriotism is the patriotism of authoritarian states and has no place in the country envisioned by the founders.
  • johnnycee
    2015-04-22 12:35:34 PM
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    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.
  • Dutch
    2015-04-22 04:05:25 PM
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    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.
    Yes J.C. I can follow your thinking; the only danger is "symbolism" can be used the wrong way; how about a "swastika" or a "death head" or a black ISIS flag.
    The most ridiculous part I find having flags and stickers on your car etc. Just like you don't know you live here.
    My opinion is that compared to the Netherlands, who do very little flag waving, then the US is way overdoing it; especially since plenty people around the world hate us and our flag. In their language it stands for "bombs or drones" which does kill you and family.
  • johnnycee
    2015-04-22 05:21:19 PM
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    Some do see the American Flag as a symbol of as a form of tyranny, mostly economic but also 's when we use our military might to aid in another nation 's political turmoil. We are not the cops of the World.
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