I disagree fundamentally with just about everything you said, but who gives a shit? You seem reasonable for a "potential redneck", and I think I'm pretty reasonable for a pinko-hippie-whatever it is I am.

I will say however, that while I
do believe that burning (or otherwise defiling) a flag is a valid form of expression, it should, due to the extreme reactions it tends to draw, only be done when protesting something extreme enough to warrant said reaction. Protest is a form of propaganda, and agitating somebody to the point where they're not taking anything away from seeing a protest except "that fucker burned the flag" is hardly effective in winning converts over to whatever cause you may be for or against. Here in Portland, people protest downtown at the drop of a hat, and while I've been in my share of marches and demos, it got to a point where it's lost most of the positive impact it (debatably) once had. Whatever, I could go on and on, but I'll spare y'all, since I imagine most of you reading this are shaking your heads and wondering what the fuck is wrong with me by now...