Extra credit for flag burning ?

[Scud]

Originally Posted by mr.c

how stupid is it that you should teach burning the Constitution, the one thing that protects your free speech? If you discard that, then what protects your freedom?

That is exactly his point. Even though 99.9% of Americans treasure the flag and the Constitution, you do have the right to burn them. Don't do it next to me, but it is everyone's right.

People need to read the entire story before they start forming an opinion with 1/2 of the facts, the way a few of his students did while in class. He does NOT say to burn the flag but says that burning it is not illegal and uses that as a tool for teaching about freedom of speech. I think the students who were offended shut down their thinking after they heard something they didn't like and heard nothing more.

[Corona Gigante]

I call .

In an e-mail responding to a request for comment from the Bangor Daily News on Friday, Grosswiler said he thought McDade misunderstood the class discussion, which was intended to elicit thought about the First Amendment. He said he has held this same discussion for years without incident.

"I don’t intend for students to burn either the Constitution or the flag, and over the years hundreds of students have understood that," Grosswiler wrote.

The incident was made public recently when The Leadership Institute, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization, distributed a press release detailing the classroom discussion.

The Leadership Institute was founded in 1979 by Morton Blackwell and has a mission to identify, recruit, train and place conservatives in politics, government and the media, according to the organization’s Web site.

Just another self-promoting wing-nut with an axe to grind at academia's expense.

[macjoe53]

Originally Posted by Corona Gigante

I call .

In an e-mail responding to a request for comment from the Bangor Daily News on Friday, Grosswiler said he thought McDade misunderstood the class discussion, which was intended to elicit thought about the First Amendment. He said he has held this same discussion for years without incident.

"I don’t intend for students to burn either the Constitution or the flag, and over the years hundreds of students have understood that," Grosswiler wrote.

The incident was made public recently when The Leadership Institute, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization, distributed a press release detailing the classroom discussion.

The Leadership Institute was founded in 1979 by Morton Blackwell and has a mission to identify, recruit, train and place conservatives in politics, government and the media, according to the organization’s Web site.

Just another self-promoting wing-nut with an axe to grind at academia's expense.

You mean you don't agree with him?

[GOAT LOCKER]

Originally Posted by Corona Gigante

Just another self-promoting wing-nut with an axe to grind at academia's expense.

He’s a fairly well connected and respected conservative and party activist who promotes conservative activism on campuses. Is that so radical? Being more conservative than Jimmy Carter does not make someone a wingnut...

Originally Posted by mr.c

I read it a few times before i posted it. It just seems to me that when people get called out on things that they back peddle. "oh I didnt really mean you should burn the flag I just ment that umm.." whatever

Of course, a university spokesman said the professor’s comments were not meant to be taken “literally”. Damage control.

Originally Posted by borndead1

I find burning the flag distasteful but instead of giving someone attention when they did it I would probably just ignore them. Flag burners = shit stirrers.

Yep, and they are not "exercising the first ammendment", they are showing their hate for America. But then, burning our flag is cool with the nouveau left.

Originally Posted by RGD

"At first, student Kathleen Dame said she thought Grosswiler was joking, but then he went on to explain to the class that burning the flag was not illegal. While Grosswiler approached the topic in a serious manner, Dame said she felt he used it as a tool to educate the class on the First Amendment.

"It was pretty outlandish and [he was] trying to prove a point," Dame said Friday.

So, he was joking, but in a serious manner? I hope Ms. Dame gets appropriate extra credit for her efforts here, she deserves it.