My first class on Thursday mornings is England since 1688. We recently read essays by John Stuart Mill, whom I like a lot, and whose work is similar to the ideas I wrote about last summer. In our most recent test, we were to write an essay about Mill's On Liberty. I defended Mill's ideas as I always did in class. And, as in most class sessions, it seemed a majority were against me. Dr. Kruse made me read my essay and the class discussed Mill afterward. Somehow, the issue of flag burning came up. Naturally, I defended it as within a person's rights, though it is a stupid way to demonstrate your feelings. I basically said that, for starters, a flag is one's personal property, which he or she can do with as they wish. This doesn't mean they can burn someone else's flag or burn it on another's property or in a dangerous manner. Secondly, I see the flag as part of a civil religion—nationalism, I suppose. I try not to get too caught up in symbols, as they lead to trouble. As with the flag, for example, people often lose and construe the true meanings of things. Therefore, thirdly and most obviously, the flag represents the rights America offers. If someone wants to spit on it or chooses not to recognize it during the National Anthem, that's fine. I'm not saying I necessarily like those ideas, just that an American has that freedom. I think any intelligent or well-informed American would understand this reality.

After my comments, I was promptly stomped into the mud by patriots. Seriously, there was a small uproar. After further discussion I was so frustrated that I left class. I didn't mind that they disagreed with me, but that it seemed almost impossible for my ideas to be heard in a fair manner. By this I don't mean that I wasn't allowed to voice my opinion—I was, even after my perceived unpatriotic speech—but that some people are so unwilling to hear ideas that counter their own. One conservative classmate in particular would probably not take a liberal's opinions seriously if those ideas disagreed with his narrow perspective, no matter how correct the ideas. This is not conducive to democracy and America, which he claims to hold so dear to his heart.

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