Air Force vet arrested for trying to stop flag desecration

[The Black Forrest]

No, she doesn't. Desecration of the flag is a constitutionally protected form of expression. Using violence to stop people from exercising their rights is never appropriate, and the fact that you would do so as a member of the armed forces says that you are a disgrace to your service. You swore an oath to defend the constitution, you should consider trying to abide by your oath.

I stand by my oath, I protect and serve my country. I draw the line at protecting people who desecrate the symbol of the nation I swore to protect.

Why would you break your oath?...

[Kernen]

So, in other words, you do not stand by your oath...

I just said, I stand by it. I've never broken my oath and I never will. I do not consider burning the flag to be a lawful action, a lawful protest. So I would prevent such things before it happens.

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

[Tekeristan]

I simply view a flag as a piece of cloth.
The cloth isn't the idea. The symbol on it, maybe, but the cloth isn't.

[Imperializt Russia]

So, in other words, you do not stand by your oath...

I just said, I stand by it. I've never broken my oath and I never will. I do not consider burning the flag to be a lawful action, a lawful protest. So I would prevent such things before it happens.

Pretty sure the concept of "unlawful action" that groups like the Oathkeepers strive to defend against aren't a pick-and-choose affair.

[Tekania]

Those who would make flag desecration illegal show far less respect for the values that flag represents than these protestors ever could. This vet in this news article is worse than the protestors.

That veteran is a patriot. Those who would destroy our greatest symbol are disturbed and of low moral character. She should be lauded for her actions; she did her duty to her country even after she took off the uniform.

No, that vet is not a patriot; a patriot defends the protestors.

[Scandinavian Nations]

Burning the flag=/=hating America.

Then please explain what other sentiment desecrating the flag expresses.

They did not burn Obama's portrait or DNC or GOP party logo.

Desecrating a country's flag always stood for one sentiment - a wish to see the country represented by that flag destroyed.

[Dyakovo]

So, in other words, you do not stand by your oath...

I just said, I stand by it. I've never broken my oath and I never will. I do not consider burning the flag to be a lawful action, a lawful protest. So I would prevent such things before it happens.

Yes, you said you stand by it, then went on to say that you don't stand by it. Flag burning is a legal action according to SCotUS, therefore it is indisputably a legal action. You are not in a position to overrule them.

[-The West Coast-]

I just said, I stand by it. I've never broken my oath and I never will. I do not consider burning the flag to be a lawful action, a lawful protest. So I would prevent such things before it happens.

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

[Fartsniffage]

There is no unspoken duty to interfere in others' freedom of speech. She was arrested for interfering in a legal protest. That is justice.

Nobody was being harmed by the protest. Being offended is not a harm, which I would expect a soldier in the service of the United States to understand. Provocation is no excuse for dishonorable behavior. Soldiers and officers alike are held to a higher standard of behavior.

Its never dishonorable to protect one's flag.

You are aware that this isn't the 19th century right? Protecting the colours is a nice idea but soldiers are expensive and much more useful that a big bit of cloth.

[Ifreann]

So, in other words, you do not stand by your oath...

I just said, I stand by it. I've never broken my oath and I never will. I do not consider burning the flag to be a lawful action, a lawful protest. So I would prevent such things before it happens.

But it is lawful. The Supreme Court has ruled it to be so. Your considerations are irrelevant.

[Imperializt Russia]

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Officers of the state can, and they have the authority to do so.

[Farnhamia]

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Right. Let's move on, shall we? Back to the topic, which is not you.

[New Frenco Empire]

I stand by my oath, I protect and serve my country. I draw the line at protecting people who desecrate the symbol of the nation I swore to protect.

So don't.

Really, if so many people in the US want to see it destroyed, maybe it's for the better. Maybe it will be better off as 50 individual states, with open borders like in the EU.

I don't want to see the flag destroyed, and I have my own opinions against those who desecrate it.

However, this constitution protects that right. The ideas behind this nation are more powerful than mere symbols.

[Ifreann]

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Not even the President of the United States and the officers appointed over you? You remember how you swore to obey their orders, yeah?

[Wisconsin9]

Burning the flag=/=hating America.

Then please explain what other sentiment desecrating the flag expresses.

They did not burn Obama's portrait or DNC or GOP party logo.

Desecrating a country's flag always stood for one sentiment - a wish to see the country represented by that flag destroyed.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would gladly desecrate the flag as a celebration of my freedom to do so.

[Dyakovo]

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Absolute bullshit. You have, at this point, repeatedly stated that you would violate your oath. Stopping a legal protest through violent and/or criminal actions is a violation of your oath.

[-The West Coast-]

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Right. Let's move on, shall we? Back to the topic, which is not you.

Thanks, that's what I was trying to do with that post.

[Kernen]

Except the Constitution protects free speech, and the Supreme Court ruled that burning a flag is free speech. You are blatantly ignoring the Constitutional protection applied to this action. By acting on that deliberate ignorance, you are in direct violation of that very oath you swore.

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Deliberate ignorance is unbecoming of any soldier, regardless of nationality. The Constitution protects Free Speech. The Supreme Court, the Constitutionally-appointed arbiter of constitutional law, determined that flag desecration is Free Speech. Ergo, The Constitution protects Flag Desecration.

By attempting to prevent Flag Desecration, you are in violation of the Constitution you swore to uphold. This is not an opinion, this is a basic logical premise based on your oath and legal determinations.

[Ifreann]

Then please explain what other sentiment desecrating the flag expresses.

They did not burn Obama's portrait or DNC or GOP party logo.

Desecrating a country's flag always stood for one sentiment - a wish to see the country represented by that flag destroyed.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would gladly desecrate the flag as a celebration of my freedom to do so.

I recall a Futurama episode about this. TL;DR version, burning the flag saved the day from the vaguely Jewish lobster people.

[Scandinavian Nations]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would gladly desecrate the flag as a celebration of my freedom to do so.

I imagine.
After all, they do sell American flag underpants, which is desecration even if not meant as such.

[Dyakovo]

I'm a patriot and a soldier and a citizen of the United States. I will never break my oath, I will never dishonor my country. If I saw people burning a flag I would stop them, its my duty to stop them and nobody can tell me any different.

Deliberate ignorance is unbecoming of any soldier, regardless of nationality. The Constitution protects Free Speech. The Supreme Court, the Constitutionally-appointed arbiter of constitutional law, determined that flag desecration is Free Speech. Ergo, The Constitution protects Flag Desecration.

By attempting to prevent Flag Desecration, you are in violation of the Constitution you swore to uphold. This is not an opinion, this is a basic logical premise based on your oath and legal determinations.

Well, he'd be abiding by his oath if the protestors he was attempting to stop desecrating a flag were doing so with a flag that wasn't theirs...

[Tekania]

That veteran is a patriot. Those who would destroy our greatest symbol are disturbed and of low moral character. She should be lauded for her actions; she did her duty to her country even after she took off the uniform.

It's not much of a symbol if it's weakened by actions such as that.

The great thing is it strengthened when people can act to desecrate it. It shows that the values upon which it represents are alive and well.

[Imperializt Russia]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would gladly desecrate the flag as a celebration of my freedom to do so.

I recall a Futurama episode about this. TL;DR version, burning the flag saved the day from the vaguely Jewish lobster people.

But with the mobile oppression palace, a few dignitaries can oppress your entire planet for pennies a day.

[Kernen]

Deliberate ignorance is unbecoming of any soldier, regardless of nationality. The Constitution protects Free Speech. The Supreme Court, the Constitutionally-appointed arbiter of constitutional law, determined that flag desecration is Free Speech. Ergo, The Constitution protects Flag Desecration.

By attempting to prevent Flag Desecration, you are in violation of the Constitution you swore to uphold. This is not an opinion, this is a basic logical premise based on your oath and legal determinations.

Well, he'd be abiding by his oath if the protestors he was attempting to stop desecrating a flag were doing so with a flag that wasn't theirs...

True. I suppose I should have been more specific in my assertion. Thank you.

[Scandinavian Nations]

By attempting to prevent Flag Desecration, you are in violation of the Constitution you swore to uphold. This is not an opinion

This is an opinion and you're not.

Otherwise the moderators would be in violation of the Constitution every time they banned a person for exercising their right to free speech in a rule-breaking but legal manner.