Thread: what to do with flag burners!

I'm ambivalent.

Interestingly, his identity has been suppressed in both name and image because he is a minor. Carrying the flag would expose him.

I suspect that if he did carry the flag, there may be people out there who would tarnish the march by attempting retribution.

We allow our former enemies to march - well, the Turks are allowed to march. See http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/con...6/s1614594.htm

Ron

Originally Posted by barney

i've made stupid mistakes in my life that i'm ashamed of and i've done my best to learn from them. (and i don't see her anymore)

ROFLMAO I have been in that situation too!

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

I dunno.

Originally Posted by p38arover

I suspect that if he did carry the flag, there may be people out there who would tarnish the march by attempting retribution.

Ron

Some have already said they'll target him if he marches. THOSE people need to take a good long look at themselves, because that would necessarily mean targetting an ANZAC march for which there should and can be NO FORGIVENESS !

Originally Posted by Feral

Get over it.........

There's bigger fish to fry than that little tacker

perhaps frying his "little tacker", could be his punishment.

Hear, Hear.!!!

A lot of people wouldn't go to the march if he carried the flag. It is an honour and something that shouldn't be bestowed to this kid basically. I know that he shouldn't be made to pay for his actions all of his life. But to a lot of us his actions where downright bloody disgraceful.

I would agree that community service that is beneficial to those that he hurt is sufficient enough. Gone are the days when you got a flogging or had to go and serve in the Army. I'm not saying that I agree with this. My personal thoughts are that quite a few young ones getting into trouble would benefit from 4 years in the Army. But that is a totally different subject to this one.

My initial reaction when it first happened was to crucify him, but I now agree with what the RSL president had in mind. Education is a more powerful tool. If we can teach these kids what the flag stands for and too respect it we all win. If we just alienate them, more of it will happen. I still think they should be punished as well, but showing them compassion when they have showed none could be the answer. Then if they do similar again we should deport them to the middle east.

My feelings about this are about the same as the "War on Terror." If we repect our flag because of the values it represents (not because we think it looks pretty) then we should uphold those values. Does disrepect for those values upset us? Good. We should insist, though, that we aren't going to just retaliate in kind and appear to represent other values entirely. If the git in question needs to learn respect, he will only do that because others show both the flag and him respect.

On the Army question, I recall one "case" from working at Vets Affairs of a young surfer conscripted to Vietnam - had to have detention before he'd allow the Army to give its regulation haricut. GF got pregnant as soon as he returned and he had to live a life of responsibility - never recovered from it! Enforced responsibility doesn't always make for stronger character. He could just as easily see it as limiting his "rights" and decide to join Al Queda.

I think more discussion of the universal values of Australia - values summed up for most in some cliched anglocentric and masculine words like "mateship" and "a fair go" - is required. If you disrespect the idea of "a fair go" then you deserve your community service. After all, that's still giving you "a fair go."

Time to let someone else on the soapbox, I guess.

Steve