tyranny against Ron Paul supporters.

[kharmajunkie]

Ron Paul supporters beaten, arrested by policeA husband and wife from North Carolina, both public supporters of Ron Paul have, in front of the house they own, an American flag in good condition displayed. Upside down. With a photo of George Bush pinned to it and the words 'out now' written on the photo. The flag is in perfect condition and nothing is permanently attached to it.

The police in Asheville, North Carolina decided that this couple was 'desecrating' the flag and came up to their house. They told him they were not desecrating or disrespecting the flag, the respected it and this country, but we are in a time of distress in this nation. The deputy told them North Carolina prevents desecration of the flag and if they did not take it down, he would arrest them. So, they took it down, and went inside to put it away, closing their door.

The deputy then knocked on the door and demanded to be let in and they produce identification to him. They asked if he was arresting them for a crime. He said no, but they had to identify themselves. They pointed out that North Carolina does not have a law requiring them to identify themselves to police if they are not being arrested.

The officer then started screaming and kicking the door. The couple's neighbors by now were all outside watching this so there are several witnesses and they all describe the same thing.

The officer finally kicked through the door's window, and opened the door from the inside. He then stormed into their house and started beating the husband viciously, arrested him, and put him and his wife both in jail for:

- resisting arrest
- assaulting an officer
- desecration of the flag of the United States of America

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests

[kharmajunkie]

That cop and whoever filed the complaint (if there was one filed) are the perfect example of "fakeriotism". Disingenuous Americans that feel the need to show they love their country so they latch onto an irrelevant issue like flag display and ignore the major problems going on in our country. A flag is a symbol, nothing more. Waving a flag doesn't make someone a patriot and decrying the supposed disrespect of a flag isn't patriotism. In fact, it's every American's right to not be patriotic, or to not be demonstrative about it. As an American citizen, you have a right to hate America, love America, be despondent over the country, feel ambivolent about America; it's your call. And I have to think that the cop in question should have more important duties than to act out on an American citizens choice of flag display. Or maybe Asheville, NC is crime free, then he should stop cashing the city's checks, quit the force and go pick tobacco or bartend at an RNC banquet because he's obviously cleaned up the crime problem in Asheville.

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: kharmajunkie That cop and whoever filed the complaint (if there was one filed) are the perfect example of "fakeriotism". Disingenuous Americans that feel the need to show they love their country so they latch onto an irrelevant issue like flag display and ignore the major problems going on in our country. A flag is a symbol, nothing more. Waving a flag doesn't make someone a patriot and decrying the supposed disrespect of a flag isn't patriotism.

Agreed. There is nothing inherently patriotic or unpatriotic about your relations with/display of a piece of cloth.

[Chaossaber314]

Nevermind the fact that "flag desecration" is constitutionally protected speech.

This sounds like a bogus story to me off hand.

[Osborn F Enready]

Looks like the police state is knocking.....

The guy should have stated he also knew his 2nd amendment rights, and was not going to tolerate anymore harassment by government agents for his political statements as he shut the door the first time, and had his wife call the lawyer, and then start running the video camera.

[Jack]

Reading through a few of the 1422 comments, I can pretty much guess I'll never move to North Carolina. I'm both amazed and saddened by some of the unthinking and unAmerican attitudes expressed.

[GHook93]

Quote by: tivodan1116 Agreed. There is nothing inherently patriotic or unpatriotic about your relations with/display of a piece of cloth.

The police over-reacted no doubt, but you ultra-liberals are amazing. Defacing the flag is discussing and a horrendous act. When people deface the flag, TRUE Americans should be outraged. Protest all you want its your constitutional right, but defacing the American flag in you protest is cowardly and disgraceful.

I bet you would have no problem with burning the flag, correct?

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: GHook93 The police over-reacted no doubt, but you ultra-liberals are amazing.

Why must you assume that everyone who stands for liberty and freedom is a "lib"? You know, the conservatives used to stand for freedom themselves...

At any rate, I'm a libertarian, not a liberal. I suspect most of those who posted in support of the citizen here would identify themselves in a similar fashion.

Defacing the flag is discussing and a horrendous act.

Grammatical errors aside, it may be the case that it is a horrendous act.

So is dumping vast quantities of perfectly good tea into the Boston Harbor. But when your government won't listen, it becomes necessary to get their attention.

When people deface the flag, TRUE Americans should be outraged.

In your opinion. In my opinion, TRUE Americans have much bigger fish to fry. On all of the things I could improve in this world, flag burning is way, way, way, way down on the list. TRUE Americans seek to solve the problems of the nation, not prevent a bunch of protesters from behaving like dopes.

Protest all you want its your constitutional right, but defacing the American flag in you protest is cowardly and disgraceful.

How is it "cowardly"? Cowardly implies a fear of something. What are flag burners afraid of?

I bet you would have no problem with burning the flag, correct?

If there was an issue I felt government was not addressing that was important to me, no problem whatsoever. It's not really my style, but I don't have a problem with it.

Why don't you explain your obsession with a totemistic symbol?

Being against flag burning because it is some kind of desecration of country is like believing in voodoo - like somehow if you light a flag on fire, troops overseas get burned or something.

The flag is a SYMBOL. It REPRESENTS something. It IS nothing but cloth. Burning it merely represents dissatisfaction with what the SYMBOL represents.

[billybobama]

Quote by: kharmajunkie Ron Paul supporters beaten, arrested by policeA husband and wife from North Carolina, both public supporters of Ron Paul have, in front of the house they own, an American flag in good condition displayed. Upside down. With a photo of George Bush pinned to it and the words 'out now' written on the photo. The flag is in perfect condition and nothing is permanently attached to it. The police in Asheville, North Carolina decided that this couple was 'desecrating' the flag and came up to their house. They told him they were not desecrating or disrespecting the flag, the respected it and this country, but we are in a time of distress in this nation. The deputy told them North Carolina prevents desecration of the flag and if they did not take it down, he would arrest them. So, they took it down, and went inside to put it away, closing their door. The deputy then knocked on the door and demanded to be let in and they produce identification to him. They asked if he was arresting them for a crime. He said no, but they had to identify themselves. They pointed out that North Carolina does not have a law requiring them to identify themselves to police if they are not being arrested. The officer then started screaming and kicking the door. The couple's neighbors by now were all outside watching this so there are several witnesses and they all describe the same thing. The officer finally kicked through the door's window, and opened the door from the inside. He then stormed into their house and started beating the husband viciously, arrested him, and put him and his wife both in jail for: - resisting arrest - assaulting an officer - desecration of the flag of the United States of America CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests

Ah, nothing like the good ole Fascist Police State the Republicans have created.

[billybobama]

Quote by: Isherwood Reading through a few of the 1422 comments, I can pretty much guess I'll never move to North Carolina. I'm both amazed and saddened by some of the unthinking and unAmerican attitudes expressed.

Isherwood - If the Fascist Republicans get enough control they will load your butt in a railcar and ship you to the furnaces, no matter where you are.

[GHook93]

Quote by: billybobama Ah, nothing like the good ole Fascist Police State the Republicans have created.

PLEASE, most liberal and democrats are outraged by anyone that decimates and disrespects the flag.

Hey Billy, do you support flag-burning as a justified form of protest?

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: GHook93 PLEASE, most liberal and democrats are outraged by anyone that decimates and disrespects the flag. Hey Billy, do you support flag-burning as a justified form of protest?

Probably in the way you would support burning Democrats as a form of protest.

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: GHook93 PLEASE, most liberal and democrats are outraged by anyone that decimates and disrespects the flag.

Then why did you accuse me (incorrectly) of being a liberal when I supported the freedom to "disrespect" the flag barely 5 posts up this very same page???? :rolleyes:

Hey Billy, do you support flag-burning as a justified form of protest?

Of course it's a justified form of protest. As long as you're not burning it in a propane and fireworks factory, go ahead.

Quote by: billybobama sherwood - If the Fascist Republicans get enough control they will load your butt in a railcar and ship you to the furnaces, no matter where you are.

Come on, they would never load you in a railcar and ship you to the furnaces...



























Their money is in oil, using diesel trucks would consume way more fuel, that's how they'll do it.

[Autolykos]

Quote by: GHook93 The police over-reacted no doubt, but you ultra-liberals are amazing. Defacing the flag is discussing [sic!] and a horrendous act.

Thank you for your opinion. Please note, however, that it is unrealistic to claim the above as anything more.

When people deface the flag, TRUE Americans should be outraged.

Why?

Protest all you want its your constitutional right, but defacing the American flag in you protest is cowardly and disgraceful.

Again, thank you for your opinion.

I bet you would have no problem with burning the flag, correct?

Correct.

- Rob

[Chancellor]

Quote by: kharmajunkie Ron Paul supporters beaten, arrested by policeA husband and wife from North Carolina, both public supporters of Ron Paul have, in front of the house they own, an American flag in good condition displayed. Upside down. With a photo of George Bush pinned to it and the words 'out now' written on the photo. The flag is in perfect condition and nothing is permanently attached to it. The police in Asheville, North Carolina decided that this couple was 'desecrating' the flag and came up to their house. They told him they were not desecrating or disrespecting the flag, the respected it and this country, but we are in a time of distress in this nation. The deputy told them North Carolina prevents desecration of the flag and if they did not take it down, he would arrest them. So, they took it down, and went inside to put it away, closing their door. The deputy then knocked on the door and demanded to be let in and they produce identification to him. They asked if he was arresting them for a crime. He said no, but they had to identify themselves. They pointed out that North Carolina does not have a law requiring them to identify themselves to police if they are not being arrested. The officer then started screaming and kicking the door. The couple's neighbors by now were all outside watching this so there are several witnesses and they all describe the same thing. The officer finally kicked through the door's window, and opened the door from the inside. He then stormed into their house and started beating the husband viciously, arrested him, and put him and his wife both in jail for: - resisting arrest - assaulting an officer - desecration of the flag of the United States of America CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests

They attached a picture of President Bush to the flag. The fact that it was a picture of President Bush is a desecration of the flag and the couple should be shot for treason! How dare they trample on all that the flag stands for by attaching to it the picture of someone who seems to be working so hard to turn the United States into a right wing dictatorship where the citizens have no rights!

Seriously, though, the Courts have long held that burning the American flag is an expression of free speech - since no damage to the flag was done in this case, the couple is well within its rights. The country is in distress and raising the flag upside down represents being in distress.

The police officer was clearly outside his legal authority and should be charged with a crime (perhaps even more than one).

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Chancellor The police officer was clearly outside his legal authority and should be charged with a crime (perhaps even more than one).

This smells of Hate Crime if you ask me.


Much like the anti-smoking crowd, these over zealous pseudo patriots have some serious issues.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Milton Bradley Much like the anti-smoking crowd, these over zealous pseudo patriots have some serious issues.

Like the up to 20,000 percent tax increase on cigars to add extra funding to SCHIP so that the 25 year-old children of "poor" families making $82,000 a year can have taxpayer-funded healthcare.

[Osborn F Enready]

S-CHIP pisses me off so bad I see red.......... If that passes there is going to be some serious hell to pay by these traitors.

[billybobama]

Quote by: GHook93 PLEASE, most liberal and democrats are outraged by anyone that decimates and disrespects the flag. Hey Billy, do you support flag-burning as a justified form of protest?

It does not matter what you or I think. What matters is "What does the law say?". Now if we loose the law, we loose our Freedom.

[billybobama]

Quote by: tivodan1116 Then why did you accuse me (incorrectly) of being a liberal when I supported the freedom to "disrespect" the flag barely 5 posts up this very same page???? :rolleyes: Of course it's a justified form of protest. As long as you're not burning it in a propane and fireworks factory, go ahead. Come on, they would never load you in a railcar and ship you to the furnaces... Their money is in oil, using diesel trucks would consume way more fuel, that's how they'll do it.

Yea - That is exactly what 6,000,000 European Jews said in 1939.