History Main / BurningTheFlag

** Additionally, while not technically a flag, [[spoiler: the L'mantree, a symbol of the country's determination and livelyhood,]] is burned by [[spoiler: [[BreakTheBeliever Niki,]] previously one of the country's most loyal supports, after reaching her DispairEventHorizon]]

** Additionally, while not technically a flag, [[spoiler: the L'mantree, a symbol of the country's determination and livelyhood,]] is burned by [[spoiler: [[BreakTheBeliever Niki,]] previously one of the country's most loyal supports, after reaching her DispairEventHorizon]]

A flag is the symbol of the nation it represents, its principles, its ideal, and its people and leaders. So, how does someone who's an enemy of said nation demonstrate that? You get one of their flags, and light it on fire.

* ''Film/TheRocketeer'': A Nazi propoganda film showing their rocket soldiers attacking America has a burning American flag falling to the ground as the Nazi banner rises in its place.

* Famously averted in 1991 as part of Wrestling/SgtSlaughter's heel pro-Iraqi sympathizer gimmick, in the midst of the Persian Gulf War. Shortly after winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, one draft would have had Slaughter and Gen. Adnan -- during a house show taping -- enter the arena with an American flag before cutting an anti–Wrestling/HulkHogan promo and then setting fire to the flag. Very wisely, Slaughter[[note]](who along with his family had been receiving multiple real-life death threats at this point)[[/note]] and the writers nixed the idea about as quickly as it was made, and decided the same point -- that Slaughter was bigger, badder, and stronger than Hogan and that he wouldn't stand a chance against him at Wrestling/WrestleMania VII -- could be made (and get the desired heel heat) by burning a Hulk Hogan T-shirt attached to a flagpole.
** That said, as Mean Gene Okerlund was interviewing Hogan after the 1991 Wrestling/RoyalRumble (wherein Slaughter won the World Championship), they "received word" that Slaughter was "defacing the American flag" ... implying (but not outright stating) the possibility that Slaughter and Adnan were burning the American flag. Slaughter, of course, was safely inside the Miami Arena where the event took place, under tight security and waiting to tape a month's worth of promos, before he could be led out of the arena safely ... long after fans had gone home.

* A variation in the Empire final cinematic in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3''. One of the Empire's King Oni mechs slices ab Akkued flag in half using its EyeBeams before replacing it with an Imperial one.

* A variation in the Empire final cinematic in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3''; one of the Empire's King Oni mechs slices a Soviet flag in half using its EyeBeams before replacing it with an Imperial one.

* ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'': As the Huns attack the Great Wall, a Chinese soldier lights a signal fire as he is confronted by [[BigBad Shan Yu]], and defiantly says, "Now all of China knows you are here." Shan Yu breaks a nearby flag off its pole and puts it in the fire. "Perfect!"

Compare TatteredFlag for when a ruined flag is shown.

-->-- Agent Burns, ''Film/JMenForever''

** That incident echoes Luffy protecting Dr. Hiriluk's flag from Wapol during the Drum Island arc for Chopper's sake. He takes several cannon blasts to the face and still raises it proudly, despite not knowing who Hiriluk was and what was the significance of the flag.

It is worth noting that to both prevent this from happening and to stop protesters from hurting themselves[[note]]many synthetic fibres melt as they burn - and now guess what many flags are made from today[[/note]], there are a small but growing number of fire-retardant flags on sale. [[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-nazi-filmed-spectacularly-failing-to-burn-eu-flag-in-protest-against-forced-immigration-10141197.html Trying to burn one of these]] tends to end [[EpicFail rather dismally]].

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* One controversial episode of Series/{{Seinfeld}} had a comedic example of this trope. While walking through the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto Rican flag on fire with a sparkler and immediately tries to stomp it out. HilarityEnsues when several Puerto Ricans see him stomping on the still- burning flag...

** In fact, this is part of their stage show in RealLife as well. To say that Penn And Teller have strongly held and expressed political convictions would be an understatement.
* In the ''Series/GameOfThrones'' third season finale, "Mhysa," there is a shot [[spoiler: of a Stark flag burning, symbolizing the defeat of the Northern rebellion after the Red Wedding.]]

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* Similar to the above example, Creator/PennAndTeller burn an American flag wrapped in a copy of the Bill Of Rights as one of the tricks in their Las Vegas show as seen [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHKObRq-iE here]]. They do the trick to make a point about how American's have the freedom to burn their own flag if they wish. Additionally, the Bill Of Rights is unaffected by the conflagration symbolizing how it is unharmed. [[spoiler: No they don't actually burn the flag. Teller has removed the flag before they ignite the flash paper.]]

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--> "It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag. And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

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* Famously averted in 1991 as part of Wrestling/SgtSlaughter's heel pro-Iraqi sympathizer gimmick, in the midst of the Persian Gulf War. Shortly after winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, one draft would have had Slaughter and Gen. Adnan -- during a house show taping -- enter the arena with an American flag before cutting an anti-Wrestling/HulkHogan promo and then setting fire to the flag. Very wisely, Slaughter[[note]](who along with his family had been receiving multiple real-life death threats at this point)[[/note]] and the writers nixed the idea about as quickly as it was made, and decided the same point -- that Slaughter was bigger, badder and stronger than Hogan and that he wouldn't stand a chance against him at Wrestling/WrestleMania VII -- could be made (and get the desired heel heat) by burning a Hulk Hogan T-shirt attached to a flagpole.

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* One of the heroic missions on Nar Shaddaa in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' involves invading a Mandalorian stronghold, killing their leaders and burning their clan flags.
* In the first ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' game, the parody [[StrawmanPolitical right wing radio talk show]] discuss flag burning. One of the hosts is quite positive to it, much to his co-host's confusion. [[BurnTheWitch Turns out he missed]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice the l.]]

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--->''[unbeknownst to Homer the flag is now on fire. Hugh gasps''

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fireflag_2183.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Fire Nation flag, [[{{Irony}} destroyed by fire]].]]

* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', PennAndTeller "burn" a flag at Zoe's birthday party after stuffing it into a rolled-up copy of the Constitution as an example of the rights given by the First Amendment: the flag is gone, but the Constitution is unharmed. Naturally, this causes something of a PR stir.

* Similar to the above example, ''Creator/PennAndTeller'' burn an American flag wrapped in a copy of the Bill Of Rights as one of the tricks in their Las Vegas show as seen [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHKObRq-iE here]]. They do the trick to make a point about how American's have the freedom to burn their own flag if they wish. Additionally, the Bill Of Rights is unaffected by the conflagration symbolizing how it is unharmed. [[spoiler: No they don't actually burn the flag. Teller has removed the flag before they ignite the flash paper.]]

* Famously averted in 1991 as part of Wrestling/SgtSlaughter's heel pro-Iraqi sympathizer gimmick, in the midst of the Persian Gulf War. Shortly after winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, one draft would have had Slaughter and Gen. Adnan -- during a house show taping -- enter the arena with an American flag before cutting an anti-Wrestling/HulkHogan promo and then setting fire to the flag. Very wisely, Slaughter[[note]](who along with his family had been receiving multiple real-life death threats at this point)[[/note]] and the writers nixed the idea about as quickly as it was made, and decided the same point -- that Slaughter was bigger, badder and stronger than Hogan and that he wouldn't stand a chance against him at WrestleMania VII -- could be made (and get the desired heel heat) by burning a Hulk Hogan T-shirt attached to a flagpole.

** That said, as Mean Gene Okerlund was interviewing Hogan after the 1991 RoyalRumble (wherein Slaughter won the World Championship), they "received word" that Slaughter was "defacing the American flag" ... implying (but not outright stating) the possibility that Slaughter and Adnan were burning the American flag. Slaughter, of course, was safely inside the Miami Arena where the event took place, under tight security and waiting to tape a month's worth of promos, before he could be led out of the arena safely ... long after fans had gone home.

* Famously averted in 1991 as part of SgtSlaughter's heel pro-Iraqi sympathizer gimmick, in the midst of the Persian Gulf War. Shortly after winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, one draft would have had Slaughter and Gen. Adnan -- during a house show taping -- enter the arena with an American flag before cutting an anti-HulkHogan promo and then setting fire to the flag. Very wisely, Slaughter[[note]](who along with his family had been receiving multiple real-life death threats at this point)[[/note]] and the writers nixed the idea about as quickly as it was made, and decided the same point -- that Slaughter was bigger, badder and stronger than Hogan and that he wouldn't stand a chance against him at WrestleMania VII -- could be made (and get the desired heel heat) by burning a Hulk Hogan T-shirt attached to a flagpole.

* In the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' Iroh, after defeating the Fire Nation forces occupying Ba Sing Se, burns down the Fire Nation flag hanging on the Earth King's palace.

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* ''Film/TheAmericanPresident'': President Andrew Shepherd's Republican opponent Sen. Bob Rumson attempts to smear him with a picture of his girlfriend, lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade, burning an American flag during a late-'80s anti-apartheid demonstration. (Presumably they were demonstrating against US inaction or something to that effect.)

It is worth noting that to both prevent this from happening and to stop protesters from hurting themselves, there are a small but growing number of fire-retardant flags on sale. [[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-nazi-filmed-spectacularly-failing-to-burn-eu-flag-in-protest-against-forced-immigration-10141197.html Trying to burn one of these]] tends to end [[EpicFail rather dismally]].

** That said, as Mean Gene Okerlund was interviewing Hogan after the 1991 RoyalRumble (wherein Slaughter won the World Championship), they "received word" that Slaughter was "defacing the American flag" ... implying (but not outright stating) the possibility that Slaughter and Adnan were burning the American flag. (Slaughter, of course, was safely inside the Miami Arena where the event took place, under tight security and waiting to tape a month's worth of promos, before he could be led out of the arena safely ... long after fans had gone home.)

!Examples

* In ''{{Hellsing}} OVA'' there is a brief shot of a Union Jack catching fire during Millenium's initial bombing. This symbolises that Britain is burning.

* One controversial episode of {{Seinfeld}} had a comedic example of this trope. While walking through the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto Rican flag on fire with a sparkler and immediately tries to stomp it out. HilarityEnsues when several Puerto Ricans see him stomping on the still- burning flag...

* MarilynManson's ''Burning Flag''.