its amusing to say the least. They thought they could ram their candidate down our throats, only to lose for a SECOND (and final !!) time in the bid for presidency

Watching the Hillary lovers on tv has been one of the great joys of my post-election life. They simply cannot grasp "it."

Aside from the fact that the flag is a political symbol and the Koran is a religious document probably not. If the political system is a theocracy there isn't any difference.

Good idea. I can accept that. We really do need to be fair. ;- )

I havent thought a lot about this, but my first reaction is that the problem is rooted in citizenship by birth. If we want to have a country with a constitutional basis, all of the members should agree to be on board in some elemental way. I mean- what does citizenship really mean if not that?

That was Clinton's legacy. It is slavery.
On another subject, welfare that the minorities are so in favor of is really modern slavery by the white man. The white man gives a few crumbs that will be taken away if one goes out and work and keeps slavery alive. I read that somewhere.

Citizenship shouldnt be automatically granted by birth. It should be more like a drivers license- agree to the common rules of the road, or you dont get the license. Agree to our constitution, language, and societal norms here, or dont be a citizen.

True. I do have to say that I enjoyed seeing and hearing people support hillary. Now I know what they really think about individual rights, corruption, and my right to property. I have decided to eliminate all hillary supporters from my "circle of trust". Flag burners also are telling me who they are, and I would rather know.

Trump seems to be one of those who confuse an idea with symbols of the idea. Should everyone who does not respect the wishes of those who believe that a flag is some kind of religious article to be held accountable and even beaten as a couple joked about here in the Gulch. There are millions of flag symbols destroyed by burning, burying, discarded, etc. each year and no government priest has come along to remove the flag-ness from them. When I was young, before flags were everywhere, the teachers would teach some nonsense about how to treat a flag and other symbols of pretend patriotism. Those who value the USA do not need anymore than the ideas involved and whether it is still relatively free to want to defend it. The rest of the stuff is just feel good or feel bad depending upon who is acting. Grow up children and become rational adults.

Well I'm now going to shoot myself. All is lost!

Maybe not. In Atlas Shrugged the pins were pulled out from the economy and the country fell flat. The land, resources, people, technology and will to be free still existed. How long to rebuild? 240 years, doubtful.

It shouldnt be a crime but its an expression of violent behavior that isnt the way a free society deals with dissent. But, its an indication that the person might be better off living somewhere else if he cant be peaceful about protest.

Our citizenship and immigration rules should be changed. If they want to live here and enjoy the benefits of our society, then respect the country. If not, then leave and go somewhere else. If you want change within this country, you make your ideas known and hope the freedom the flag represents will allow that change.

But it makes less sense to have citizens who say in such a graphic way that they have no respect for the principles we stand for- BUT want to stay here and enjoy the benefits of our society. I say they shouldnt be citizens either.

No, surely you're not suggesting of stripping citizenship from the entire political class?..

better to let them burn things so we know where they stand, rather than hide in the backwoods with their feelings. But, actions have consequences, and I would rather not have people who burn the flag be fellow citizens of this country. They should go somewhere they feel comfortable, and let ME feel comfortable here.

A lot of his tweets are just him saying the things that a LOT of us are thinking. Not necessarily what we would ACT on. If my neighbor burned his flag in the front yard, I would be pissed off, would want nothing to do with him, and would prefer that he move away. Doesnt mean I would string him up in a tree.

At least Trump tells us his reactions to things like this. Now we have to evaluate things and decide what to DO, if anything.

Citizenship shouldnt be granted by birth in the first place. It should be earned.

The basic problem is automatic citizenship by birth. I think citizenship needs to be earned by showing that you want to be a part of the country- by things like agreeing to the constitution, language, and culture. If you burn the flag, that says it all, and citizenship should be not allowed.

No he is not - he is simply stating his opinion, which happens to agree with 80+% of the population! Flag burning is protected, unfortunately!

I agree with those who think Trump is goofing (or perhaps goosing) the left. There may be a little more, though. I heard (on radio, in passing, so not sure who it was saying it) that he's doing this on purpose to get the libs fired up and screaming about free speech. Then they can be proven the hypocrites they are.

I don't think it will work; after all, the realization that one is a hypocrite and should shut the hell up requires a rational mind. The left proves consistently that the collective does not possess this asset. However, if it is going to be screaming about something, it may as well waste its energy on this.

If citizenship wasnt granted just by being born inside the border, but was granted upon agreeing to the consititution and language and culture of the country, then it could be revoked if one didnt agree with the basic tenets of the country.

Why would one set fire to the USA flag and still want to be a citizen here. Isnt that like having your cake and eating it too? If you want to be a citizen of a country as opposed to a visitor or someone who just works and lives here , then act like it. If you dont want to be part of a country, leave.

Intentionally burning the flag of the country of which you are a citizen is a pretty strong indication and message that you dont want to be associated with the country and should leave it.

I think citizenship should be something that is earned by agreeing to the constitution and accepting the language and culture of the country. It shouldnt be a matter of birth anyway.

Careful...Is Flag burning any different than Koran burning [in Pakistan]?

I'm fairly confident that you'll find agreement from most Vets, and especially those that saw any of their comrades give their life for this flag. I disagree with the ten dollar fine however, it should be the same as the new presidents salary, one dollar, to represent fairness.

Flag burning should NEVER be made illegal. No one's rights are violated, so go pound sand if you think it should be disallowed. If that is your view, you are assigning mystical powers to an inanimate object that it simply does not have. You are asking for government intervention over concern for the irrational feelings of some people. They are irrational because there is no actual harm done to them by a flag being burned, nor by their witnessing of it online or in person. If they imagine harm, then their feelings are out of sync with reality and are therefore irrational. We can be considerate of the feelings of those when they are rationally held, but changing the way we act, or expect others to act, based on the irrational feelings of others is appeasement.

Plenty of people are unafraid to say what they think, and they do it without sounding like an orangutang. Having a big mouth and no filter is not a virtue. What Trump lacks is tact.

From the Ayn Rand Lexicon:
Tactfulness:
"Do not confuse appeasement with tactfulness or generosity. Appeasement is not consideration for the feelings of others, it is consideration for and compliance with the unjust, irrational and evil feelings of others. It is a policy of exempting the emotions of others from moral judgment, and of willingness to sacrifice innocent, virtuous victims to the evil malice of such emotions.

Tactfulness is consideration extended only to rational feelings. A tactful man does not stress his success or happiness in the presence of those who have suffered failure, loss or unhappiness; not because he suspects them of envy, but because he realizes that the contrast can revive and sharpen their pain. He does not stress his virtues in anyone’s presence: he takes for granted that they are recognized."

Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution “The Age of Envy,”

So, if I decided to move overseas in order to escape income taxes on my production, all I have to do to escape is burn a flag?
Great idea!
(For those who are not aware, the feds impose a large penalty tax on anyone who wants to take the production he has legally kept after taxes and relinquish his US citizenship (economic slavery) status to move to another country.)