Untitled

DUDE! Please tell me the flag isn't on the ground!!!!!

That's what's great about America! You can do what you want. Does that mean you should? This photo is a slap in the face to the many men and women dying every day in the name of what this flag represents!?!? The US flag is to be flown higher than any other flag posted with it, not laid on anything so a snake can look cool. If you were going for the patriotic look, please, try something different than an actual flag.

Echo, consider moving to a place where you would fight for the flag rather than come up with "He could burn it if he wants!" Your comment and attitude is worse than the way the poster is using the flag! He may not know where you....forget it!

Our country may not be perfect but it is great! I've been to many countries to compare ours with. We should try to make ours better, not come up with excuses to bash it. Be a part of the solution, not the problem!

DZ

The pic is a so-so pic but I don't care a lot about the flag issue really.

And actually the American flag should be pretty close to ground nowadays because of the torture pictures/videos coming from Iraq. I guess those guys and gals torturing Iraquis were the people you mentioned dying?

Also comparing U.S. with many others and saying that its the best is pure racism. Every country has pros and cons in their system.

I only agree with the solution and problem motto...

Yasin, you are totally ignoring the fact that the Iraqi's are torturing the Americans they have captured too. Such as beheading them and dragging the heads through the cities. I am not condoning the abuse by the Soldiers, but they do have a right to be angry....

Didn't say our country is the best, but great. It's the best I've lived in to date.

As for racism, using the actions of a few to dipict the many is the same thing. Keep in mind, even with the Iraqi's in charge of their own land, there will still be terrorist attacks. The people who want us out also wish to take over the country so they can go back to their easy way of life where they answer to no-one and they can control the country with fear. They're killing their own people as well.

Lots more to say but I don't want to turn this forumn into a politcol debate verses what it should be.


SNAKES!

Good discussion though!

DZ

I think the whole patriotism thing has gone way too far. What's the big deal if he puts his snake on a flag and takes a picture? If you don't like it, don't look at it. It's that simple. It seems that nowadays a lot of Americans have gone from being patriotic to ethnocentric and as much as I appreciate my country and am happy to live here, It's really starting to get on my nerves.


Nice snake by the way.

Its not about putting a flag on the ground. Its about what the flag represents. I really don't care that this guy has chosen to disrespect the flag, fine thats his perogitive. But you should have respect and feel a sense of patriotism for those who died so we can fly that flag high, and proclaim our freedom. Would you walk up to a one armed vet, and throw the flag down in front of their face?

And to think I almost made it through the day without falling into a political/patriotism argument...! Wait, I'll just - let - it - go . . .

So, can anyone identify what kind of flag that is? I know it's of the Americanus variety - but is it a silken or rayon americana? I can never find them out in the wild...

-cheers! And don't burn that flag - if a snake is sitting on it!

That first comment pissed me off, "DUDE i hope that isnt on the ground". where else do you propose he puts it, yeah hang on im sure he has a huge pole under his bed to put it on. and the next comment about it having to be higher than every other country. Do you love your self and country that much? Why? Putting the snake on the flag might make you think about nature a bit more considering your country is probably the most polluted place i can think of.

I dont see where a person said anything about flying the flag higher than any other country. He means it should be flown higher than say a state or other flag in the U.S. I think that everyone is missing the point. The flag represents our countries history, and those who died to insure our futures. You dont think that the men that fought in the revolution deserve to be respected? To me the flag is more of a representation of how this country began.

By the way, what kind of snake is that?

May you all one day share in the cost of the freedom that allows you to be here and speak freely.

"I think that everyone is missing the point. The flag represents our countries history, and those who died to insure our futures. You dont think that the men that fought in the revolution deserve to be respected? To me the flag is more of a representation of how this country began."

Funny, I always thought the flag represented the United States of America and the core concept of "freedom". Or, perhaps even "liberty". Didn't realize it was all about history and little else. In addition, I always thought that the men (and women, by the way) of the United States military (then and today) were actually fighting for these rights (freedom, liberty, etc) - not just to the sacred nature of a symbolic piece of cloth/fabric/banner/whatnot... I didn't realize that exercising the act of freedom was unpatriotic and therefore disrespecting what I thought our troops were fighting fore (freedom, liberty, etc). I always thought American Freedom was somehow connected to freedom of speech, even if it was/is against the dominant worldview of the American Agenda.

My bad.

Sorry.

Did we ever figure out what kind of flag that is?

-bacchus

I know what freedom is about. If anyone wants to disrespect the flag, fine. Think of as an old blanket your great grandmother made for you. You can burn it, tear it, throw it on the ground or whatever you want to it. Nobody can make you take of it or cherish it, but you probably would. because it represents someone or something that you loved, were thankful for, and appreciate having. If you do not appreciate, love, or not thankful for your freedom then go ahead and disrespect the flag.

“People that speak in metaphors can shampoo my crotch.”

Sorry…that’s just my favorite line from AS GOOD AS IT GETS. And speaking of metaphors…they are a tricky form of communication. Language itself can only go so far…body language can only say so much…but metaphors can get down right foggy.

The problem with communicating with metaphors and symbols is that they are not only relative to place and culture, but from person to person as well. When communicating in metaphors – intent is far more important than action.

A better question (from a communicative point of view) than asking DUDE, IS THAT FLAG TOUCHING THE GROUND – would have been DUDE, IS THAT FLAG TOUCHING THE GROUND AND, IF SO, DO YOU MEAN THAT AS A FORM OF DISRESPECT?

While Captain Hook may have seen this as literally digging out the moldering corpses of war heroes and slapping them in the face…Peter Pan may have seen this symbol as meaning something else. Did anyone just ask the poster what he/she meant?

My guess is that a snake keeper who takes a picture of his prized pet with the flag is showing his appreciation for the country and the symbol (it in fact harkens back to the “don’t tread on me” stamp…speaking of symbols). It may not have occurred to the poster that the flag on the ground was disrespectful (it may not have been part of his symbolic vocabulary…or at least not an important one).

And what kind of snake is that? Looks like an indigo to me (though I might be wrong). The indigo is the largest snake in north America…it eats other snakes. It eats other huge, exotic snakes if given the chance (I’ve heard and read horror stories). It is the kick ass, freaking American Eagle of all snakes. Taking that image and laying it with the flag seems a means of showing patriotism to me.

If I hold up my thumb, I’m saying “right on!” in one place, but in another place I’m insulting someone’s mother. Intent is more important than action when speaking in symbols. Best just to ask the poster what he meant (if you even bother to ask that and not just enjoy a picture of a healthy reptile). If I were to die for any country…I would certainly be more interested (as a heroic ghost) in what the following generations thought of the country and what their intent was…rather than how they hold their thumbs.

Well. It seems to me that we are all exercising the right to an opinion. Thats good.THAT IS WHAT THE FLAG REPRESENTS! Here is what I think, being that I sorta started this. I like the photo. I think this person is tring to do the " don't tread on me " thing..Which is cool. He/She isn't useing a hot ( i.e the EDB). That is also cool. I know the flag is on the ground. Call me crazy, but that still means something to me. I have been in the Marines for 10 years now, I plan to do about 30 more. I do fight for that flag and flags of other countries as well. I personaly challenge anyone to go to a third world country and live for one year with out money or your visa or passport. What you take for granted now will be sorely missed. Please, PLEASE do not bring up Iraq unless you have been there. If you form an opinion on what you think you know, then you only have half of an opinion.. ( Yes that was for you MET42, by-the-way, you've been slackin')Keep this post going, but keep it fair. Every one has a right to an opinion even if it isn't yours.
Again, Met 42, I'll end this just for you:
If you can read, thank a teacher.
If you can read English, thank a Marine.