#flag stomping

[thingstrumperssay]

[theconcealedweapon]

Do you want me to support a ban on burning or stomping the flag?

Here’s what you have to do. Just admit that it’s okay to ban something if it hurts your feelings, because that’s literally exactly what you’re trying to do. Stop making fun of people for being triggered. Stop labeling people as “whiny, butthurt liberals” when they ask you to stop using slurs. Stop acting like your rights are being taken away when you’re not allowed to fly the confederate flag.

Also, if you want to punish people for protesting the wrong way, then you need to be able to explain what the right way is. Otherwise, you’re just silencing them.

[theconcealedweapon]

I’m confused. I thought assaulting someone because they’re doing something that offends you is “PC policing”, “whiny liberal bullshit”, and “thugs rioting”. When did that suddenly become patriotic?

Sure. I get it. Stomping on the flag is offensive. But these are usually the same people who insist that free speech means you can be as offensive as you want, even to the point of advocating genocide.

[theconcealedweapon]

I can understand why someone would be angry about protesters burning or stomping a flag.

What I can’t understand is why someone would be more angry about protesters burning or stomping a flag than about the injustices that people face, using “our troops” as a reason. That’s because they believe that our troops fought for a flag but not for freedom from injustices, even though many of our veterans experience those injustices. If you believe that, then the flag has already lost its meaning. 

Also, the protesters wouldn’t be burning or stomping the flag if those injustices didn’t exist in the first place.

[theconcealedweapon]

Are you angry that protesters are burning or stomping the American flag?

Good news. I have a solution. Just look the other way, like you do with the injustices that caused the protesters to burn or stomp the flag in the first place.

[theconcealedweapon]

I may have an idea of why people are more angry about protesters stomping or burning a flag than about injustices faced by oppressed people. It’s similar to what kids are taught about “school spirit”. Feel free to bully the unpopular kids, but god forbid the spirit stick touches the ground. Also, hate anyone from another school, literally only because they’re from another school.

[melifluous-november]

They get angry when you step on the flag

They get angry when you step on the flag. We were born onto grasses without being consulted No one asked our consent first We were born spilling blood and mucous onto Fifty states decked out in concrete, mud and steel

Our steel was ironed out from thirteen strips of land that didn't consent to being sectioned From underneath people that didn't know or care about the type of arbitrary brutality that was being sold

They get angry when you step on the flag My mother bled red birthing me and my father tried to while stationed across oceans. Maybe yours did too. Maybe we can talk about that if it's not disruptive to anyone.

And we can hold signs as long as no one's offended. And we can worship whatever we want as long as it matches up with someone's values. And we can write what we want as long as no one pays to have it taken down tomorrow.

They get angry when you step on the flag. Everything muddies where blue turns to brown turns to green. And where a persons voice and choices have the same value as a paper corporation, More...or Less.

Where we're represented by money and time is money and you work to feed your family and the numbers appearing in your bank account are shrinking because the cost of hearing the news is more than what you possibly make in an hour.

They get angry when you step on the flag. Because the flag has been a gag, it has been used to wipe mouths and asses. It's been used to clean up oil spills and gangrenous wounds left by piercing weapons and words.

It's been used to symbolize hope. And fear. It's threatened children and protected women and silenced victims and challenged dictators. Because in a nation of millions no one ever stops talking or thinking until actually it's easier if they just do.

They get angry when you step on the flag. But we were born on and to this flag and if the words you speak need to be spoken onto a symbol then stand your ground because I could think of worse ones.

And if they get angry, then they have the right to be angry. But we were born on and to this flag and if you want to change what you have been born into then take it as a bandage, as a blanket, as a rope, it’s yours; you were born to it. 

[theconcealedweapon]

“I don’t care what injustices you face. Burning the American flag is disrespectful to our troops who fought for our freedom.”

If freedom is really what they fought for, they’d be a lot more outraged by the injustices than by the flag being burned.