Caleb: Alternative to flag burning?

[Russell Kanning]

uncle sam burn...i like it.

the good thing is how closely it is connected to the military.

[Caleb]

I feel like I'm tied to the Iran invasion if I'm going to burn a flag ...

But here's an idea I can do now, want to know what y'all think:

What if I sewed a NAZI Swastika flag to the other side of a US Flag?  I could carry my flag to protests and such.

Caleb

[Barterer]

What if I sewed a NAZI Swastika flag to the other side of a US Flag?

I think that would be a great hedge for your flag-burning idea.. it would make clear that you only lack respect for the fascist component of the US and not the US in general.  You might also want to use a US flag translucent enough to show the swastika from either side.. or maybe just ink the swastika instead of sewing one on.  That way the media wont be able to show you burning just a regular flag, as they would for maximum sensationalism.

[FTL_Ian]

That would make an interesting photo...

[Pat McCotter]

Google search on "us flag swastika"

[Citizen72521]

Hello, I am new here and while I have been into libertarianism for some time and I recently began listening to some of the libertarian internet podcasts as well as supporting some projects with my wallet, I am not a FSP member. I have become strongly interested in being more active and spreading the message so that there are actually people I can bring myself to vote for. Since I have been intently listening and thinking libertarian I have come up with a few interesting ideas for protest as well as noticing other good ideas I've heard mentioned yet not found being implemented.

While I am not against flag burning I know many people are not fans and I would agree that I would have to be incredibly pissed off in order to even consider such a  form of protest, but I would not rule it out entirely.

Regardless of individual positions I think kiberty minded folks can agree this form of protest is just to offensive and will only get negative 15 second news spots at best. So first I'd like to support the effigy burning idea especially of uncle sam I heard Ian mention on the FTL show. When I heard this I went searching the web for odd images of uncle same and I found a few, but not many and what I saw I would not consider to be useful pro liberty examples. I think if some artististic folks could come up with  some funny, but "evil" uncle sam caricatures it could go a long way to changing America's perception of uncle sam.

So I'd love to see a variety of humorous effigies of uncle sam available not just for burning, but on bumper stickers, shirts, rear view mirror decorations etc. I know this sounds like merchandising things to death and may not seem like activism to some folks, but I think there are ways such popular imagery can effectively create a marketing blitz. Also this also fits tightly in with two other ideas I had when I heard about FSP people carrying pitch forks as weapons, which I think is a great example of amusing out of the box and non-extremist thinking (not that people don't need to be extreme). Common DIY home items are the way to go for consistent imagery in local grass roots protest campaigns. I always enjoy reading creative protest signs in photos, but often especially on TV these are not visible or are just ignored so I think some larger more visual and interactive forms of protest would be good. Just by using some imagination and humor I think people can come up with a lot of stuff like this.

First, the additional use of the noose both as imagery and a physical protest device or even personal weapon would be a shocking symbol. It's as simple as a peice of rope, which can be used to hang things (i.e. tax collecting uncle sam) and fashioned on a simple stick for parading around. I can just picture a little uncle same puppet hanging from a noose on my rear view mirror choking to death while beggingly trying to hand back a bag of my tax money. It is also a great image for those who believe the only way to bring change any more is via mass tax disobedience and starving out the government bureaucracy.

Secondly, a more complex project for the real craftsman, but a strong symbol. The guillotine. Now I'm not suggesting making real big ones that work necessarily, but perhaps small ones on wheels for the shear symbolism. Although if you wanted one as a personal weapon I think it would quite interesting to see what the police would do. That would also make it possible to hold live beheadings of "evil" uncle sam puppets with blood packets in them for full effect et cetera.

Anyway I'd love to hear feedback as to whether these additional ideas are to violent or a waste of time in general because they are to grass roots etc. I strongly support better libertarian education projects and mass media outlets, but I think some stronger though simple advertising and marketing ideas would go a long way as well.

[Dreepa]

Also this also fits tightly in with two other ideas I had when I heard about FSP people carrying pitch forks as weapons,

Welcome citizen.  Now we have 2 citizens with numbers!
I don't think that people are carrying the pitchforks (some may say Potatoforks) as weapons.

Are you joining the FSP?  How about First1000?

[Russell Kanning]

The front page of the Keene Sentinel yesterday had a guy burning a US flag ...... in Greece. I guess it is an idea that intrigues people.
The Keene Free Press only covers NH residents that burn things.