The arrested man identified himself as a combat veteran and said he was burning the American flag in protest of an executive order Trump signed Monday targeting flag burning.

  • Zamboni_Driver@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    edit-2
    22 hours ago

    So I get that the act of burning the flag is protected speech, but surely the act of setting a fire on public property is a crime regardless?

    I would think burning flags is only ok on a place where burning other things is ok.

      • Zamboni_Driver@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        8
        ·
        22 hours ago

        That’s a pretty bad faith comment. The video of the incident showed the person pouring accelerant on a flag on the ground and starting a decent sized fire.

        I support the flag burning, but I think that there is a better way to do it than pouring gas on the sidewalk and lighting it up. Doing in a metal container would be much more responsible.

          • Zamboni_Driver@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            7
            ·
            21 hours ago

            Come on dude, that’s another bad faith argument. The legality of setting fire to things is not determined after the fact.

            You’re better than this. Try to put more thought into your comments.

            • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              11
              ·
              21 hours ago

              Or maybe stop apologizing for cruel dictators. They don’t need your help, so don’t help them. This “to be fair” and “decorum” crap has gotten us to a point where children are being kidnapped and raped without consequence, and free speech has been eliminated. I know you aren’t trying to be part of the problem, but I’m here to tell you that you absolutely, unequivocally, are part of the problem.

              • Zamboni_Driver@lemmy.ca
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                7
                ·
                20 hours ago

                Yeaaa, that’s pretty off base. You’re moving the goalposts. I just said it’s a crime to set fire to things on the sidewalk in a public and mentioned that it would be more responsible to do it with a metal bin or something.

                All of this “apologizing for cruel dictators” “you are part of the problem” bullshit is nonsense bad faith strawman argument. You were looking for someone to fight with and went after me because it suits you to do so.

                Picking fights like this with random people who agree with 98% of what you think because 2% of their opinions are different yours, is a right wingers wet dream. They love that you are doing this. They love that you would take time out of your day to attack your allies and further fracture resistance.

                • HubertManne@piefed.social
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  13 hours ago

                  As a youth myself and friends lit many a thing on fire. Most were fireworks but there were other things and sometimes with a magnifying glass. Now these were rather small fires but none the less they were by and large allowed as no law was ever enforced in this regard although sometimes we were told to knock it off.

                • aesthelete@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  14 hours ago

                  Just wanted to pop in to say all of this "master debater"ese is bullshit and people should stop taking those who endlessly rattle on about “goal posts” and logical fallacies seriously.

                  This isn’t fucking debate club nor is it Ben Shapiro.

                  I doubt anyone’s mind has ever been changed a single iota by this type of talk, and I find it pointless at best and fascist apologia at worst.

                • BananaIsABerry@lemmy.zip
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  arrow-down
                  6
                  ·
                  20 hours ago

                  Friend, you’re on lemmy. You may only have extremist views with 0 nuance or else you’re a part of The Enemy™.

                  Realistic takes are not allowed here

    • Jason2357@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      20 hours ago

      Yes, the way to push him on this would be to very publicly burn a flag in a manner that is perfectly legal otherwise. Find an official fire pit or BBQ in a public park. Scorching the sidewalk with gasoline is only going to give them an easy win when they charge you for “defacing public property,” creating a danger to the public, or even arson.