Extreme Politics - not for the fainthearted

[Pat McCotter]

What we need is some good effigy burning. It's not the flag that will get us into war with Iran but politicians. Burn their effigies!

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sons.htm
The first widely known acts of the Sons [of Liberty] took place on August 14, 1765, when an effigy of Andrew Oliver (who was to be commissioned Distributor of Stamps for Massachusetts) was found hanging in a tree on Newbury street, along with a large boot with a devil climbing out of it. The boot was a play on the name of the Earl of Bute and the whole display was intended to establish an evil connection between Oliver and the Stamp Act. The sheriffs were told to remove the display but protested in fear of their lives, for a large crowd had formed at the scene. Before the evening a mob burned Oliver's property on Kilby street, then moved on to his house. There they beheaded the effigy and stoned the house as its occupants looked out in horror. They then moved to nearby Fort Hill were they built a large fire and burned what was left of the effigy. Most of the crowd dissipated at that point, however McIntosh and crew, then under cover of darkness, ransacked Oliver's abandoned home until midnight. On that evening it became very clear who ruled Boston. The British Militia, the Sheriffs and Justices, kept a low profile. No one dared respond to such violent force.

[Kat Kanning]

I was curious if anyone else has been burning US flags anywhere across the country.  Here's one:

http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1149830751146600.xml&coll=2

[Kat Kanning]

http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4983672&nav=menu120_2

[Russell Kanning]

I am with you Caleb.

[Lloyd Danforth]

I was curious if anyone else has been burning US flags anywhere across the country.  Here's one:

http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1149830751146600.xml&coll=2

Probably just vandals.  Those flags are put there to honor Veterans of the Revolution.

[Kat Kanning]

You will undoubtedly hurt any progress that has been made.  Stick with blue flag elimination.  It is the palpable strategy.

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said "You're going to ruin it for the rest of us" here.

[KBCraig]

As an interesting side note, a local TV station had a segment last night covering a "flag retirement" ceremony, where the American Legion and Boy Scouts were retiring worn and unserviceable flags, by tossing them on a fire.

I'll be the majority of the men there are 100% in favor of the flag-burning amendment, and cannot see the irony of their position.

Kevin

[Lex]

I'll be the majority of the men there are 100% in favor of the flag-burning amendment, and cannot see the irony of their position.

Where is the sheeple emoticon when you need one?

[Kat Kanning]

Did he leave out a word in that sentence?

[Kat Kanning]

And here's a sheep emoticon for you, Lex

[Russell Kanning]

You will undoubtedly hurt any progress that has been made.  Stick with blue flag elimination.

We can log this alongside all the comments before the UN flag burns.

I just realized .... we have never had a successful idea that was not attacked by many critics ahead during and afterwards. This must be a winner.

[KBCraig]

You will undoubtedly hurt any progress that has been made.  Stick with blue flag elimination.

We can log this alongside all the comments before the UN flag burns.

I just realized .... we have never had a successful idea that was not attacked by many critics ahead during and afterwards. This must be a winner.

How are you going to rate the success of this one? By the number of people who talk to you and agree? Or by the unknown number of people who will not talk to you, because they're so angered by someone burning the U.S. flag in protest?

I can hardly be accused of being "Seth-esque". I usually support going for it ("it" being whatever radical idea is being tossed about). But in this case, I think you're misjudging the possible effect. I couldn't care less about offending people who oppose us, although converting them is better. I'm more concerned that you'll anger a lot of people who would otherwise agree with you.

When you've isolated yourself from both friends and enemies, you're not doing much good for your cause.

Kevin

[Russell Kanning]

Since I do not worship the state .... those that do are not on my side.
We will be politically incorrect for many people.....that is the way things go.

I would consider it a success, when it changes people's minds and emboldens others to action.

It seems like the right thing to do. I feel like overturning tables in the temple court.

[Dave Ridley]

Bad idea, has a good chance of reducing the amount of liberty we have in New Hampshire, by discrediting those of us who are fighting for it.

As I've been trying to convince Caleb quietly for some time, burning the U.S. flag means burning the perceived flag of the people, not simply a flag of government.  To them it will seem like you are burning them, rather than making a statement about the authorities.  And they will tune out all the great things you say, maybe forever.

I wish you had listened to my advice more closely, Caleb, and my warnings about the dangers of this act.  Now it's too late.   I will in all likelihood never speak of this again.

[AlanM]

An idea popped into my head. **** How many non-revolutionary types thought the Boston Tea Party was a bad idea, that made them look like a bunch of kooks and wackos. I've changed my mind Caleb, go for it.