"Burn"about is fair play.

The burning of the American flag (all while citing 1st amendment rights) has been ever the trendy protest in proclaiming opposition to policies of the United States government.

My thought has always been that it is incredibly hypocritical (as well as stupid) for anyone to burn the very symbol of the land which affords you such free demonstration. Needless to say, it is not my protest of choice.

The most prevalent story over the past few weeks has been the attempt to reform immigration, with a heavy emphasis on Mexicans illegally crossing the borders into the U.S. As the matter has been discussed amongst members of Congress, mass protests by Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) have occurred throughout major U.S. cities. Part of the activities taking place has been the seemingly proud raising of Mexico’s flag while at the same time burning America’s.

That has to be the most convoluted message ever sent out. Some Mexicans risk life and limb to get into this country because it affords them a much better way to make a living. Yet they burn our flag in protest of our laws but hail the flag of the country they are fleeing.

I always wondered what would happen if fed up Americans burned the Mexican flag in protest.

Well…..


Dozens of protestors and counter protestors showed up in front of Tucson, Arizona's Mexican Consulate as a Mexican flag was burned in a heated debate that saw tempers flare.

Border Guardians, a group formed along the Arizona border to speak out against the estimated thousands of illegal immigrants that enter the U.S. every day through the Tucson sector, led the protest.

"Flags are symbols of government, not of people," shouted Roy Warden, as a member of his group, Border Guardians, set fire to the Mexican Flag.

One woman speaking out against the Border Guardians yelled, “This is not a gesture of humanity, this is a gesture that provokes.”


Oh, but if we take exception to the burning of our flag in our country by people who are here illegally, we’re intolerant, oppressive, racist, etc.


The demonstration began before the flag burning as protestors verbally sparred with ACLU members showed up to observe the event.

One man stomped, and danced on the Mexican flag. He also taunted the empty, Mexican Consulate to express the group's view:

"(This protest) is against the Mexican government and the Mexicans that are illegally present in the United States right now," says Laine Lawless, Director of Border Guardians, “I want the American people to know that we're going to stand up for them."


Again, the key word: ILLEGALLY!!! There has never been any exception taken to those Mexicans who have gone through the proper channels to become naturalized citizens.


A half-dozen observers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also showed up. Caroly Trowbidge, an ACLU spokesperson, said, “We are here to make sure that everybody's first amendment rights are respected."


Just so long as nobody was there that day to recognize Palm Sunday.

But I digress.


“I’m picking more on (Mexico’s) government than anything else, because their government promotes their illegal status here," said Lawless.


“Border Guardians” have said they will continue to burn Mexican flags at future protests.

I know I’m going to keep a watchful eye on these events!