I'm in for a couple rolls of tape. Where do we start?

I hope the guy had hairy arms.

good punishment.

Mike, it ain't a question of where, but who's up first.

And why hasn't the second perpetrator been arrested yet? After all, he has confessed on TV to assault, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. Isn't at least one of those a federal crime?

Hey Fletch, did you miss the part about being given a couple options and VOLUNTEERING to get taped to the pole?

The only thing wrong with this story is that the identity of the flag-burning fool has been concealed, at the request of the VFW, no less. If we are to restore the concept of shame to society, those who have earned shame and opprobrium must actually live with it, the sidelong glances and whispered derision.

Still, this is a good start.

Jeremy, sure. And what were the other options? We don't know and the perp very carefully didn't tell us.

Volunteering to get taped to a pole because the alternative is having the **** beaten out of you is doing so under duress. Assault, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment it was, and it wasn't ONLY if the alternative was being reported to authorities for the flag burning - which I believe is a crime in America. And probably not even if it was.

Fletcher Christian is usually spouting some nonsense at Belmont Club, but comes here to mock the American sense of justice from a uniquely ludicrous British viewpoint. No wonder the Muslims are bit*h slapping the UK into unconsciousness. Someone ought to duct tape Fletch in front of a tv set and make him watch an endless reel of John Wayne movies. Maybe he'll grow a pair.

bill - "uniquely ludicrous British viewpoint" being respect for the rule of law as opposed to vigilanteism? What was that about one of the central ideas of America being the rule of law, not men? Apparently military veterans are exempt from that.

Now, if the veteran involved had made a citizen's arrest and hauled the flag-burner off to a police station, THAT I would have respected. Subjecting someone to threats, assault and battery, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, notably in a position that could have caused permanent and potentially fatal physical damage, for burning a piece of cloth however much emotional baggage that cloth carries - that I can't and won't respect.

If the flag-burner had suffered a DVT followed by pulmonary embolism caused by immobility for several hours, what would have been your attitude then?

Fletch, We have a saying here, "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime" The knucklehead wasn't waterboarded, tortured, beaten. No one threw rotten tomatoes at him although it might have been appropriate. He was very simply made to bear the shame of his shameful behavior. As far as assault and battery, since when did duct tape become a lethal weapon? Actually it holds the world together (along with drywall screws).Don't play the fool and you won't need a slap in the head. Simple as that.

We have the same saying here. And I agree with it; provided that the "time" is time imposed by a legally appointed court and the accused has the opportunity to face his accusers and, if the offense is serious enough, to trial by a jury of his peers.

Somewhat different to being frogmarched to a flagpole and tied to it for several hours by someone who thinks that being a veteran gives him the right to appoint himself judge, jury and enforcer of the penalty he thinks fit. Newsflash; it doesn't. At least, not in civilised countries.

Of course, when the nearest officer of the law could be a week away, anyone had a right to enforce the law when necessary. Hardly the case here.

I'll need to check with you here. Which isn't something I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a put up that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!