The honor and respect of our democracy, and symbols of it, are often strongly defended. It is sometimes expressed that reverence is required for the rights and freedoms our democracy gives us. Parts of these proposed requirements claim that all school students should stand each day for the Pledge of Allegiance and that the United States Flag should be held as sacred. People who refuse to stand for the Pledge or burn the flag as a symbol of their dissatisfaction are severly frowned upon, and sometimes reprimanded. But, "reasonable participants in democratic discussion must have an open mind" (Young 24). Flag burners and others who express themselves through actions like this are seen as disorderly. "Disorderliness is an important tool of critical communication aimed at calling attention to the unreasonableness of others - their domination over ther terms of debate, their acts of exclusion of some people or issues from consideration, their use of power to cut off debate, their reliance on stereotypes and mere derision" (Young 49). It is true that flag burners, in particular, hold ideas that are outside the generally accepted views of Americans. "Reasonable people often have crazy ideas" (Young 24). This does not make them unreasonable.       To be reasonable is to be willing to change our opinions or preferences because  others persaude us that our initial opinions or preferences, as they are relevant to  the collective problem under discussion, are incorrect or inappropriate. Being open  thus also refers to a disposition to listen to others, treat them with respect, make  an effort to understand them by asking questions, and not judge them too quickly.  (Young 25)      I do not know if flag burners are reasonable. But, in order to be reasonable ourselves, we should take the time to try to understand them. One member of rock band Rage Against the Machine occassionally burns an American flag on stage during the band's concerts. This is often seen as a sign of respect. But, when asked about it the musician says that this is an act to honor the flag - the ideals behind the symbolism of the flag guarantee his right to express himself even by burning the flag. Burning the flag is then an acknowledgement of its power.       This disorderly symbol of dissatisfaction actually strengthens our democracy. "Without creative protest action and mass mobilization, a democracy is insipid and weak" (Young 48). We should not look down upon or persecute those with ideas that are so radically different from our own.       "A pluarlistic democratic order 'is based on a distintion between enemy and  adversary. It requires that within the context of political community, the opponent  should be considered not as an enemy to be destroyed, but as an adversary whose  existence is legitimate and must be tolerated. We will fight against his ideas but we  will not question his right to defend them'" (Young 49).       Being reasonable imparts two responsibilities on an individual. The first is to truly listen to others and be open to their differences. Included in this first responsibility is that we allow them to try to persuade us towards their way of thinking. The second responsibility is that we express our differences to others and try to make them see the validity of our thinking, as they do for us.       These responsibilities come simply with the desire to be reasonable. But, they are also the conditions on which a succesful democracy depends. Back to review of Iris Marion Young's Inclusion and Democracy Back to Current Affairs page Back to Philosophy page Ryan's Writings main page