Flags, guns, and decisions

JWR · February 2, 2001, 06:26 PM

Let me say first off I ain't here to start a Georgia state flag debate. It's a finished issue.

I took a look over at Glocktalk and ran across their pro/con change the GA flag debate, and it got me to thinking... how do we seperate and choose how much of something we honor? How many of us, if asked "aren't you proud to salute the flag that millions of Americans fought under since the Revolution?" would be outright insulted? It's the same flag under which the BATF gladly shuts down legitimate FFL dealers and destroys their livelihood, and under which our government meddles in the legitimate governments of other countries often to the detriment of those countries' citizens/subjects. When I'm in a group of folks saluting the flag I sometimes wonder why they're saluting. After all, the American Flag is the symbol of all that's gone on under it. If you choose not to salute to dishonor the BATF are you downgrading the honor of veterans or if you salute to honor the veterans are you also honoring the BATF, since the flag is the symbol of both? Just like the Confederate Battle Flag symbolizes both racial intolerance and heroism in fighting for one's rights. It could be argued that most folks wanted the GA flag changed, so changing it was a good idea. It could also be argued that most folks think controls such as gun registration and limiting how many guns you may buy in a certain time are good ideas, so how accepting should we be if more stringent measures come to pass? It's certainly been proven that NOTHING in the Bill of Rights is absolutely guaranteed. I suppose many gun owners have a reaction planned for if the BATF comes for their guns but what if it's a lifelong friend or family member (who just happens to be in the local Guard unit) and thinks that he is just following a lawful order? My final reflection: I'm sure that many of us are one or two issue voters. Given the choice between an ardent pro-gun candidate who is completely morally bankrupt and thinks that the electorate is there to serve him and an ardent anti-gun candidate who is an honest, moral person who thinks that he is there to serve the electorate (we'll assume that the electorate is evenly split and there is no third party running) who do you pick or do you stay home without voting or do you write in Richard Petty (or your write-in of choice) or do you pack up and leave your home of 50 years unwilling to wait however many years until the next election?

Sorry for the long post. I had to get that off my chest.

February 2, 2001, 06:26 PM	#1
JWR Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2000 Posts: 180	Let me say first off I ain't here to start a Georgia state flag debate. It's a finished issue. I took a look over at Glocktalk and ran across their pro/con change the GA flag debate, and it got me to thinking... how do we seperate and choose how much of something we honor? How many of us, if asked "aren't you proud to salute the flag that millions of Americans fought under since the Revolution?" would be outright insulted? It's the same flag under which the BATF gladly shuts down legitimate FFL dealers and destroys their livelihood, and under which our government meddles in the legitimate governments of other countries often to the detriment of those countries' citizens/subjects. When I'm in a group of folks saluting the flag I sometimes wonder why they're saluting. After all, the American Flag is the symbol of all that's gone on under it. If you choose not to salute to dishonor the BATF are you downgrading the honor of veterans or if you salute to honor the veterans are you also honoring the BATF, since the flag is the symbol of both? Just like the Confederate Battle Flag symbolizes both racial intolerance and heroism in fighting for one's rights. It could be argued that most folks wanted the GA flag changed, so changing it was a good idea. It could also be argued that most folks think controls such as gun registration and limiting how many guns you may buy in a certain time are good ideas, so how accepting should we be if more stringent measures come to pass? It's certainly been proven that NOTHING in the Bill of Rights is absolutely guaranteed. I suppose many gun owners have a reaction planned for if the BATF comes for their guns but what if it's a lifelong friend or family member (who just happens to be in the local Guard unit) and thinks that he is just following a lawful order? My final reflection: I'm sure that many of us are one or two issue voters. Given the choice between an ardent pro-gun candidate who is completely morally bankrupt and thinks that the electorate is there to serve him and an ardent anti-gun candidate who is an honest, moral person who thinks that he is there to serve the electorate (we'll assume that the electorate is evenly split and there is no third party running) who do you pick or do you stay home without voting or do you write in Richard Petty (or your write-in of choice) or do you pack up and leave your home of 50 years unwilling to wait however many years until the next election? Sorry for the long post. I had to get that off my chest.