Flags burn in celebration

Santa Cruz Sentinel ^ | July 4, 2006 | GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER

[RetroSexual]

About 25 revelers celebrated their freedom of speech and welcomed the Fourth of July on Monday night with the "2nd Annual Old Time American Flag Burn."

Around a burn barrel at Seabright State Beach, organizer Brent Adams, 41, of Santa Cruz, declared flag burning not a protest, but a celebration of the Constitution's First Amendment.

"It seemed like a good idea to burn some flags just because we can," added fellow organizer Sha Lar, 32, of Santa Cruz.

The festivities were especially relevant after a constitutional amendment allowing Congress to ban flag desecration died in the Senate last week.

That proposal came in response to Supreme Court rulings in 1989 and 1990 that burning and other desecrations of the flag are protected as free speech by the First Amendment.

But it failed by one vote in the Senate to reach the two-thirds approval required before going to the states for ratification.

"The Senate overruled it by one vote, and let's celebrate it," Lar said. Some at the celebration noted that in other countries, they could be shot for torching the national flag.

Poison Oak, 35, of Aptos, said he wanted to "reclaim the flag. Not only those who support President George W. Bush can wave the red white and blue."

Still, not everyone on the beach appreciated stars and stripes melting over the fire.

"I think they should keep it to themselves," said Bill Crawford, 16, of Aptos, who was on the beach with buddies Elijah Manchester and Jacob Kendall, both 16 and from Santa Cruz.

The trio looked away as flames consumed the large and small flags.

"To me this is what represents our nation and what represents our freedom," Manchester said. He questioned why the group would want to burn the symbol of free speech.

Despite their different views, those who didn't agree with flag burning were still welcome at the event, said Igliashon Jones, 23, of Santa Cruz. Free speech is what it was all about.

"I don't think this would be what it is without debate," Jones said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Paloma_55]

I would be tempted to toast the guy with a shot of Bacardi 151... right as he is lighting the flag... of course, if someone bumped my elbow and it landed all over him.. well, that is just tough, ain't it?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"People who want the UN to put the US in its place are idiots as far as I am concerned."

Agreed. Anyone with at least two functioning brain cells knows that the UN is totally incapable of ... well ... anything (with the possible exception of harboring vast corruption).

[oldbrowser]

I wonder if they would be willing to put their lives on the line to defend the flag (and everything it stands for) if we were under attack ?

You have to view these people for what the are, Parasites.

[gaspar]

Californians with entirely too much money and too much time on their hands. Think, what a horrible death it is to die a coward, and Santa Cruz, Aptos and Capitola are filled with people who will never be missed.

[andy58-in-nh]

If he tried burning the flag in my town, his nickname would soon be "Stumpy".

[lesser_satan]

That's a pretty good idea.

[Savage Beast]

Just make sure that the anti-American Left gets plenty of exposure. The more Americans get their message, the faster the Left will drop into the oubliette of history where it belongs.

[Blue Highway]

Surprised there wasn't a [BARF ALERT!] notation for this thread. Well here is the official notification:

BARF ALERT!!!!!!!

[betsyross1776]

The only thing they have to do is burn the flag of their country for fun ?. If that is the only way they can celebrate a holiday like this is burn the flag they better take my advise , get a job , earn a living and better still get a life period!

[tflabo]

""It seemed like a good idea to burn some flags just because we can," added fellow organizer Sha Lar, 32, of Santa Cruz."

'because we can'.....sounds like a 'Toonism.

[elcid1970]

Oh don't you dare burn `our' flag, you silly savage!

[potlatch]

I saw a flag the wind had tattered,
No one to care or think it mattered!
Windtorn and faded stripes were flapping,
Pale stars upon pale blue were napping
I wondered if a bugle blowing,
Would rouse our country to bestowing...
Upon our flag more true devotion,
And stir our hearts with real emotion!
Forgotten there, so bravely flying.
A symbol worn but never dying
A challenge to a nation sleeping,
A loyal sentry, Watch is keeping!

Edna R. Zunino




Happy July 4th - POTLATCH

[Richard Kimball]

And here's the reason those fools can act like that. Marine Corps Hymn

[ZULU]

I'm disappointed.

I wish they would have invited me.

I would have celebrated by honoring the Secvond Amendment.

[river rat]

Relax....

Think of Santa Cruz as the sandbox were we've confined the looniest of the loony -- including the UCSC campus..

For decades, the city has been overrun and run by the "campus community" which is comprised mostly of Leftists, Marxists, Queers, Lesbians, Transsexuals, Bisexuals, potheads, crack heads, heroin addicts, career welfare rats, social cockroaches and misc. miscreants....

Think of Santa Cruz as a no talent, no class San Francisco...

Semper Fi

[devolve]

[potlatch]

Are you sending me a message - or just posting your pretty flag, lol.

That flag needs ironed!

[Smartass]

Good one Potlatch, nice poem.

 

---

The right way to burn the U.S. Flag.
Hurts doesn't it A$$hole!

 

[potlatch]

[potlatch]

He seems to be enjoying it over and over, lol!