The ANTI Americans

[michaelmt1]

I'm not sure how many fans there are od the WWF/WWE on the boards. In the wrestling there is a group of Canadians called The ANTI Americans, as part of their act they carry an American Flag that is upside down on a flag pole.

Now im not an American but I think that this is very disrespectfull to the flag. In Australia we have an act of parliment called The Flag Act. The basic proncipal of this act is that the Australian Flag must be treated with respect. It cover thing like how one should raise and lower the flag if you have a flag pole.

In theory burning the Australian Flag is illegal, though no one would ever be charged should they decide to burn a flag in protest.

The actions of the ANTI Americans would certainly be in breach of the act if it was an Australian Flag.

Do you consider the ANTI Americans actions to be an insult to the flag of The United States?

Should WWE stop this flag waving?

Is such action against the lew in the US?

Mike

 

[deliciously_naughty]

no because that would restrict my "freedom of speech."

We value, practically more than anything, our right to express ourselves. If expression includes something that some see as offensive, so be it. The only people who give meaning to an act like hanging a flag upside down are those who see it as offensive rather than something that exists to make a point.

 

[Guest]

Up-side-down National flags?
Burn them!

 

[Unclebill]

I find it rather amusing

since flying the colors inverted is supposedly an international distress signal. Maybe they feel threatened by the WWF!

 

[cg_allstar]

I think it might be fun to hang Vince McMahon upside down.

 

[Texan]

no because that would restrict my "freedom of speech."

We value, practically more than anything, our right to express ourselves. If expression includes something that some see as offensive, so be it. The only people who give meaning to an act like hanging a flag upside down are those who see it as offensive rather than something that exists to make a point.

Think again......

Title 4 give all the rules for displaying the U.S. Flag

Title 18, Chapter 33 outlines the legal penalties for acts against the American Flag.

TITLE 18
Part I. CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 33 - EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES
THIS TITLE WAS ENACTED BY ACT JUNE 25, 1948, CH. 645, SEC. 1, 62 STAT. 683


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

§ 700. Desecration of the flag of the United States; penalties
(a)(1) Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

 

[HeavyStick]

it is scripted.... I don't view it any differently than disrespect of the Flag in the movies.

 

[70/30]

Are people allowed to remove American flag decals/stickers from their cars? Property is property, if you own the flag-do what you wish with it.

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

The upside down flag is meant to insult the people, its called getting heat something that you are supposed to get if you are playing the heel. It's a script.

Just like in the 80's and 90's when the american icon Sgt. Slaughter turned on american and played the advocate of sadam hussien during the gulf war.

 

[Beginner Guy]

I do watch the WWE and I don't really agree with the current storyline. However, does anyone remember (hopefully some Canadians do) when members of the US military flew our flag upside down during the anthems of either the 92 or 93 world series, that wasn't cool.

 

[Saint Peter]

Oh goody, another reason not to watch pro wrestling.

 

[lilrosie lips]

I do watch the WWE and I don't really agree with the current storyline. However, does anyone remember (hopefully some Canadians do) when members of the US military flew our flag upside down during the anthems of either the 92 or 93 world series, that wasn't cool.

Americans can be asses, I grant you. But so can any group of people. I remember a game when someone set a American flag on fire in the outfield stands in Montreal. Rick Monday of the Dodgers was hailed a hero here for grabbing the flag and putting out the fire.

Okay I apologize, I had the whole story wrong. It happened in Los Angeles, and Rick was playing for the Chicago Cubs. I got this from the Sporting News Web site:

» April 25, 1976: Cubs OF Rick Monday snatches an American flag from two fans who are about to set it on fire in the outfield during a game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers win 5–4 in 10 innings. The next day, the Illinois legislature unanimously approves May 4th as Rick Monday Day.

Geeze Americans (including me) can be Big asses.

 

[Liontamr]

I do watch the WWE and I don't really agree with the current storyline. However, does anyone remember (hopefully some Canadians do) when members of the US military flew our flag upside down during the anthems of either the 92 or 93 world series, that wasn't cool.

Hell yes I remember that! I was PISSED! It was during the 92 series, game one in Atlanta in fact!

It's one thing for a group of wrestlers to play out a script thats handed to them. In my books it's another to have a military organization not even take proper care as to how another countries flag is to be flown.

If you follow wrestling closely enough then you'll realize just ironic it is that Christain (the one who started the group) A: Makes his home in Tampa and B: Came out during Wrestlemania X8 in Toronto back a few months ago and started claiming how great Florida was compared to Canada.

It's all in the name of getting people to boo the hell out of you. I found it funny though that they for being unAmeriancs, they sure did have alot of red white and blue on them, around them as lights and an American flag waving in the background of their entrance video.


Since we are on the topic though...

How many think adding someone like Regal or a non Canadian to the group would help? This angle does have a feel like Canada vs USA again when the idea is to have the World vs USA.

 

[Beginner Guy]

Adding Regal or even someone like Tajiri could work b/c the Canada vs. US angle has been done in the old WCW. Who knows though, Vince is a smart man, he can make it work.

 

[Liontamr]

Before WCW did that whole Team Canada deal, the WWF had been doing it with the Hart Foundation representing Canada.

Those were some classic times. One week Raw would be in Canada and Canadian fans would get to cheer on the Harts and act very patriotic, the next week is was the States turn.

I was at the Edmonton show right during the middle of that angle. The only other time I saw thousands of Canadians chant and flag wave and act as most Americans do was this past spring after we won the gold medal in hockey.

It was refreshing to see.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Think again......Title 4 give all the rules for displaying the U.S. Flag...-

Yes, Tex, but in 1990 the Supreme Court (in U.S. v. Haggerty and U.S. v. Eichman) upheld the district court rulings that the Flag Protection Act is unconstitutional. This law is still part of the U.S. Code, but it won't be enforced unless a Flag Protection Amendment passes, which will never happen.

There are also laws on the books against walking your duck in a snowstorm in Wheeling West Virginia. It doesn't mean anything. Americans are perfectly free to desecrate their flag, like the day this Act was passed in 1989 and hundreds of Americans buned the flag in protest. Not one person was charged under this Act, and no one ever will be.

 

[p_p_man]

As only a few people can say for sure...

which way up the Union Jack should be the question to us Brits can only be academic!

ppman

 

[Liontamr]

Just a not to any wrestling fans on.. Two of the unAmericans (Lance Storm and Christian) are on WWE's online show "Byte This" in about a half hour.

Thats not the good part though...

The good part will be the footage of RAW after it went off the air .. Everyone trying to make the Undertaker do a Taker-roonie