1 I am in strong disagreement with you. flags are very immportant. One of the reasons I have hated JFK for 34 years is the smear he did on the flag raisers at Mt. Suribachi. 4 of them never saw another sun rise. 2 more were dead before the battle was over and only one ever saw America again. Only God is more important.
"God, Country, Marine Corps"
Rod Stanton
Cerritos

2 I never said flags were not important. That's an inference made upon something I didn't say. I did say however that I don't agree with jail time for stomping on a flag.

As harmful and appalling as I think it is to stomp on a flag, it's still a freedom of speech value.

3 'So a tourist gets drunk at a bar, fair enough, but then proceeds to take down the Argentina flag and stomp on it? First off, what is his vendetta with Argentina?'

Not too long ago the UK did have a war with argentina. I would imagine an aussie and a south african would be on the side of the brit.

4 The war was 23 years ago and it was called the Falklands War after the Brit Island that was captured for six months. As soon as the Brit fleet showed up (almost) the war was over. Brits creamed them. Should be no Brit anger, maybe Argentenian anger at the discrace from a one sided war that they started.

5 Ah, Chad... first of all you're talking to a MARINE. Marines are a different breed of people and I have to go along with him. Also in this day and age (even during the Olympics) it was recommended that you learn the country, it's rules, it's regulations, respect them and dress and blend in with them and to NOT go around parading that you are an American. Free Speech, Chad, is in OUR constitution, not everyone else's.

As to this moron, he should have respected the country and if it was against their laws to descecrate a flag, he got what he deserved.

As to Rod, Chad, please give him the respect he deserves or I will add here a story about john kerry that you don't already know.

Cindy

6 Where was any disrespect towards anyone? I realize the freedom of speech idea with a flag is in our constitution, but that's something I believe in. That is what I stated above. Now how JFK got into this mess, I don't know.

7 You said that you don't agree the moron should be jailed if it was for desecrating the (Argentine)flag - your words, because of freedom of speech. Now Argentina may not have those rights and descecrating a flag could very well be a major offense in that country under it's laws. So if it's in their laws and he's jailed for that, not just disorderly conduct or moronic behavior, freedom of speech as in our constitution doesn't count. When you go to another country, you should learn their laws and their rules because they are not the same as ours.

Then you commented to the MARINE: I never said flags were not important. That's an inference made upon something I didn't say. I did say however that I don't agree with jail time for stomping on a flag.

As harmful and appalling as I think it is to stomp on a flag, it's still a freedom of speech value.

First learn what Argentina's laws and rules are before you post on freedom of speech which may only be valuable in OUR country. The reason you have Freedom of Speech is because of people like Rod Stanton who fought for those rights in Vietnam.

The disrespect not only comes from you not knowing your facts - ie thinking all countries have the same rights as we - but in your attitude that comes across through your words.

If I can feel the disrespect, how do you think Rod feels when he reads your comments?? JFK stands for John Fucking Kerry although I would hope that Rod wouldn't use JFK anymore in reference to that moron, John Kerry and just say Kerry so people wouldn't think of Kennedy.

You may not realize how you are coming across and you're young enough to think that the rest of the world is the same as the United States but you have no clue. We are a very lucky people; we are privileged people and most of us have no idea how great we really have it in this country. You live in a very lucky country that not only should you be proud of, appreciate, but fight for because it's the best country in the world.

Cindy

8 Whoa! I meant absolutely no disrespect and I doubt it was taken that way. I realize different countries have different rules as I believe Istated in my post. I simply said I didn't agree with getting thrown into jail for stomping on a flag. It is a freedom of speech issue that we have in our country, but I know it is not in every country. That doesn't mean I should agree with another country's laws if they restrict what I think of as a God given right.

I'm not going to argue here about what I said and what some hidden meaning are. I think it's clear and I've repeatedly said nothing was meant disrespectful. My facts are straight, yet you are now jumping on an opinion of mine concerning a right I feel every single person should have, regardless of the laws of the land. Of course anyone should abide by the country's laws, but that does not mean I should agree with them.

Seriously, relax. No harm was meant and I'm still unclear as to why you are so upset over something that was not there.

9 To my Marine Brother Rod, Semper Fi. To Cindy, I appreciate your appreciation of mine and Rod's beloved Corp. I also am a Marine, albeit like Rod, an older one now. I know war as a Recon Marine, and I know of Rod's dislike for JFK - I never liked the guy for his Mt. Suribachi smear. Yes flags are important, especially to those who bear the brunt of battle in behalf of their nation and it's symbols. In other countries, as in America for many of us but certainly not all(refering to the lefties in blue), the nations flag is their most important symbol, as it should be.

However, I think that we are all beating a dead horse here. Rod and I fought for the right of free speech just as much as we fought for the guys beside us and for our nation's symbols. What I hear Chad saying is that Cindy and Rod are right but that the issue of free speech is juxtaposed with our nation's flag - both carry the symbol of freedom. From my vantage point sitting out of the fray that I see here, I thank God we have people like Rod, Cindy, and Chad. My respects to all three of you. To you Cindy and Rod, we need to cut this young man a little slack - he's actually saying the same thing we are. Love all you guys,
Richard

10 Richard,
My husband was a Captain, Green Berets, Special Forces with more than 2 tours in Vietnam. His last two years were spent as an "advisor" so as far as anyone knew, he was a ghost somewhere and the govt said he was discharged in 1969 when in fact, he was discharged in 1971. Remember the ending of Platoon? That pretty much happened to him and to his camp and by all rights, he should not have survived. He was killed in 1978 by a 16 year old girl who just got her license and did a U-turn even though she saw him, hitting him 3 times until he went flying several hundred feet hitting the back of his head on a stone wall causing immediate brain death but I still had to wait 7 days. We had a 5 year old son at the time. During the time from 1971 to the time of his death, he slowly went insane; my life and the life of my son was in danger all the time. It would not have been that way if he had come home the hero that he was but because of people like John Kerry saying and doing what he did and said, when our troops did come home, they were treated like monsters, hated because they fought in that war and looked upon like dirt because John Kerry spoke in front of Congress, the whole country rioting and protesting against the war. Unlike today, we try to make our troops feel like the heroes that they are; they go through a debriefing process and a repatriation process so that they can sort of get back into norrmal society. They have psychologists and therapists and psychiatrists at their disposal now. I lost a man who was lost in this new world and my son lost a father - thanks to people like John Kerry. It was so hard and if I knew then the things I know now (and of course for some time now) maybe things would have turned out different. Instead I sat by the bed of my husband on life support and watched him go from his normal looks to one of a monster until the transplant team showed up. Back then that's how it was and as long as I live I will never forget the hell he went through. I took the brunt of it and as special as marines are, so were the Special Forces - a breed apart from the normal soldiers, so I respect all soldiers but in particular the Green Berets, Special Forces and Marines. My Dad was a Marine and all my life it was like I am a marine and I am tough; only the best can become Marines; they had a whole different attitude than the regulars and they deserved it.

I will leave it at that.

Cindy

11 Richard Hi One of your guys helped my squad successfully carry of an ambush. On of my men was hidden but his rifle was reflecting sun light. A Recon guy ,hidden God only knows where, called my radio man and got me and said get his rifle under the brush. I got it done and we got the bad guys 10 Min later. Thanks a lot.
S/F
Rod
A 1/5

12 Cindy God bless you, your son, and your husband; may he rest in peace.
Love
Rod

13 'The war was 23 years ago and it was called the Falklands War after the Brit Island that was captured for six months.'

There would be anger if you were to call them the 'Malvinas' to a brit, or 'Falklands' to an argentine.

14 Seems like some countries are more touchie about their flag than America is. how many times have we seen the American flag desecrated without action taken. Right here, on our streets. The Aussie needs an ass kicking. And I like Aussies.-

15 wala man moy klaro pangit inyong balita peke.....

16 hi,
I don't know how I landed here, but anyways I'm from Argentina and I live in new jersey. I know if someone would dare doing that to the American flag on American soil, they will get the same or worst punishment. and what freedom of speech are you guys taking about?, it's not like they said I'm going to stomp your flag,, they did it. Big difference!!!! and if you hate Argentina that bad why even going there?
And don’t forget the governments fight wars, not the citizens. And you know what? get over the falkands war, we already did.