Joe Sixpack

I've already stated my virtual flag burning is a symbolic form of protest. I'm tired at US warmongering and the way the impending deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians is laughed about and cheereed. I don't dispute the fact that the USA is the strongest and richest nation on the planet? So what? It's certainly not the most humble or cultured or even responsible. It's going to walk into a country and simply bomb the shit out of it, just like it has done many times before... not to help the people or for any noble humanitarian reason but for greedy, self-interested economic reasons. I realize greed is a way of life in the USA but as far as I'm concerned stepping over others (and that includes other countries) in the pursuit of material gain or increased global political power is simply wrong. Supporters of war here rave on about Saddam being such an evil dictator but in reality he's just a regional tinpot dictator. Besides, if the need to remove him from power is so great why have they waited 13 years to do it. it's just political opportunism at its most blatant. Tie in the war on terrorism like Bush has done and make Saddam a terrorist, tell the populace he's got weapons of mass destruction when there is no chance any of the weapons he has could reach any US territory and he is no more dangerous than more than a dozen other rogue nations and you've cleverly manouvered yourself into a position where you can wage war for economic reasons at the same time giving the impression that you are doing it in the name of your own security and safety. It's such a blatant smokescreen I'm surprised so many people have gotten sucked in by it. But there will always be conformists. Sucked in by the mass media, unable to think for themselves, dazzled by professionally written Presidential speeches and waving flags. No one was cheering here on September 11, 2001 when a few thousand innocent civilians were killed. But the impending deaths of thousands of Iraqi's could easily be avoided by contiued economic and diplomatic pressure on a country that is already buckling at the knees from over a decade of harsh economic sanctions.

With regards to the burning flag... if you don't like it - tough. This board is called Go Fuck Yourself and this is my way of saying Go Fuck Yourself to a bully nation. Unlike Serge and theking I've never lowered myself and initiated personal attacks (that were anything other than a joke) and have never mocked the death of any individual, let alone someone who is related to a person on this board. Their cowardly behaviour has hardened my resolve. They've revealed their achilles heal and I'm now immune to their puerile attacks because their motivation is clear. So if you don't like it, Go Fuck Yourself. It's your problem, not mine. I'm exercising my right to protest and freedom of speech at the same time. Go burn the Australian flag... it won't bother me. I'm not simple minded enough to invest emotion in carefully crafted symbollic emblems. If there's any patriotic spirit in my body I don't feel the need to recite a pledge or salute a flag or put my hand over my heart at the sounds of the national anthem. It's something a lot simpler and unspoken not a loud obnoxious "We're the greatest!" communal display of arrogance.

There's your reply, Groove.