I'm not about to read all 34 pgs of this debate. I did read a few of the first pages, so if what I'm about to say it's a repeat.......tough shit, suck it up!!!

As much as it angers people to desecrate the American flag, and even if it technically is illegal, peaceful protest/assembly is an American RIGHT. That is a fact. Even if we don't like what he's saying or arguing for/against.....it is his/her RIGHT to do so as long as it doesn't impede with someone else's RIGHTS. That folks, is America. We can not get all bent out of shape for someone NOT agreeing with us, unless in their pursuit they infringe on your rights.

I personally think it's a very gay and immature display to burn flags or images in effigy because 99.9% of the people doing it have no real clue as to WHY they are doing it, i.e. mob mentality.

Unfortunately, this country and this site is filled with people that are not only ungrateful but also users. Ungrateful because they love to complain about the very blanket that keeps them warm at night. Users because although they state they "hate" something, they LOVE to USE that something when it benefits them.

Use IA as a microcasm of a little corner of America. We have people and other sites that LOVE to bad mouth IA for being this and being that, yet those SAME PEOPLE LOVE to come on IA and peddle their crap on the "for sale" forums and even attend IA sanctioned events. Many members complain about not having their own subforums or the nudy forum, yet those are usually the same members that DON'T promote IA elsewhere nor are they usually willing to roll-up their sleeves to keep the rif raff out of IA. Funny how that works, huh?

Now just for giggles, use that in an analogy of America today.

-How many people complain that welfare sucks, yet do NOTHING to get OFF welfare?
-How many people complain that the gov't shouldn't close off it's borders because those people ILLEGALLY coming over our borders are only coming to "better themselves", yet after 15-20 yrs of living here ILLEGALLY they still CAN'T and WON'T learn the basic language of the land to "better themselves"?
-How many people file for bogus claims that they are "disabled", get those benefits for YEARS, yet they either A: weren't really disabled permanently and could easily go back to work, or B: are out working and getting paid under the table. Not only "illegals" get paid under the table....
-How many women spread their legs wide when they wanted to, only to have TAX PAYERS support their results, all the while REFUSING to pursue the rightful person that SHOULD be supporting the children? Isn't it cool and sheik now-a-days to have or be a "baby's daddy" and NOT a husband/wife????
-How many people bitch and moan about how "bad" the President is or was, yet they don't even VOTE????

Just like on IA, everyone thinks they have to be tolerant of idiots because it's FREE. Everyone thinks that because America is the land of the free that everything IS free. It's not and it shouldn't be. On IA, we have moderators that try and weed out the riff raff. In America, we have no "moderators" per se to keep people in check.

So in conclusion, although I personally think it's gay to burn or desecrate a flag.....it really is only as serious as YOU make it. If you ignore it and take a deep breath, it will eventually go away. Afterall, it makes THEM look like idiots and NOT you, right? We really DON'T have to be offended by every little thing people do, especially when it's done to something inanimate like a flag or a picture.

I respect and stand behind 100% what our troops do each and every day, eventhough in this case the OP needs to understand that part of what he is diligently and unselfishly fighting for INCLUDES the right for people to make idiots of themselves. It sucks, but it's part of the package unfortunately.