Honouring the Flag

What do you think of those who don't honour the flag? What about those who fly ripped and/or faded flags?

Shoot them.

I, personally, think there should be some sort of punishment to those who willingly choose to dishonour the flag - perhaps a fine, or at least a reminder that they should replace the flag. I don't see how places can keep flying those huge American flags when they are ripped and faded.

Seriously, this is a valid question. Do people have the constitutional right, under their freedom of expression, to dishonor the flag? It's obviously morally wrong, but is it constitutionally wrong?

How is it "obviously morally wrong" to dishonour the flag?

Do you think someone should be fined if they don't burn their torn/ripped/faded flag or send it into the group that burns them? Should they be fined for putting it in the trash? I hear so much talk about America being a "free country" but when you can't do what you want with a cloth that has red, white and blue ink on it, how's that free?

What about the Flag Code? I think everyone should read the code before they choose to fly the US flag.

North Carolina State law prohibits anyone from knowingly mutilating, defiling, defacing or trampling the U.S. or North Carolina flags (see this article)

I would say the question is whether our constitutional rights give us the freedom desecrate?

Yeah, I would agree with all of you. Dishonoring the flag is showing great disrespect to our country. I think punishment need to be taken after awhile..

I don't think it's supported biblically or even constitutionally to punish someone for showing disrespect to a piece of cloth, however much it may represent the country. Whether it is wrong is one question, the fact is you ought to be allowed to think what you want of a country without being persecuted. Seriously, punishing someone for showing disrespect to the US by flying a ripped flag, or letting it touch the ground or what have you, is taking away the freedom so proudly declared. If someone doesn't want to like America, that's their business. You want Big Brother's nose in here even further? But whatever.

Amen Wylff

Wylff:

I would like to add to the discussion this post on Doug Wilson's blog:
http://www.dougwils.com/index.asp?Action=Anchor&CategoryID=1&BlogID=5438

To quote:

But here is the problem for Christians. We are commanded to honor the emperor (1 Pet. 2:17), and this includes all forms of appropropriate honor even when rendered to the imperial gear. That includes this kind of imperial gear, which means that Scripture requires us to be respectful of the American flag. If I had been physically present when Ayers stood on the flag that way, I would have knocked him down.

That said, worship belongs to God alone, and the line between appropriate honor rendered to a creature, and the worship that belongs to God alone, is always getting smudged up by a certain kind of fan-boy Christian. That means that I need to have knocked Ayers down for the same reason I would have knocked him down for spitting on a picture of somebody's mom. I would not have knocked him down for blasphemy, because that was not his offense.

I'm curious to know what everyone's opinion on that stance is.

What would knocking someone down do?

I agree that the Bible teaches that we are required to be respectful to authority. Civil government is a gift from God. I haven't much thought on the flag thing though. If it was indeed rebelling against authority then it would be wrong.

One of my favorite children's books to read is "Our Flag Was Still There." It is a great story about Francis Scott Key and the writing of our national anthem at the close of the War of 1812. I respect and honor too much what our flag stood for to ever knowingly desecrate it even though it has subsequently been used as a banner for evil purposes. But I guess the question remains, "Is it rebellious to desecrate a country's flag?" If it is, then can a civil magistrate lawfully punish it? Any ideas?

Its up to individual states. If they wish to make it illegal, that's fine by me. I think there was a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the burning of flags or something. I don't know. I don't see how making laws concerning a beautiful piece of cloth is unlawful, wyliffe. If you don't like the strictness following the flag, then don't purchase one. Its like a gun or alcohol. If you want it, buy it and use it responsibly. A real Big Brother mentality would be one forcing everyone to have an American Flag or not permitting anyone to have an American flag.

For me, the question is "if you hate America so much, why are you here?" I am sick and tired of all the America-haters that roam the land and demand rights to defile it. It really bugs me. I think Doug Wilson hit the nail on the head and I would argue that it is rebelliousness to desecrate you own nation's flag.