This is something that was mentioned in my Government class. I know that it was ruled that burning the American Flag is protected by the First Amendment (it's considered symbolic speech) and that it's perfectly legal as long as it doesn't lead to violence.
I'm sorry, but to me, burning the American Flag is a selfish, ungrateful, and disrespectful act. If people hate America enough to burn our flag, then why don't they just get out of the country? I don't see why this isn't considered an act of treason - people who do this obviously have no love or respect for their country. (Please note that by "flag burning," I'm referring to American citizens who burn the flag, not people in other countries.) I know that the government's job is to try and adhere to the Constitution as much as possible, but this is ridiculous. Flag burning should be outlawed!
I completely agree with you. If you live in this country you should respect it.
"You should respect it" and "you should be FORCED to respect it" are two different things. How genuine is the respect people have for the country if they know they'll be punished if they don't?
The flag is an acknowledged symbol of the country. Opposition to the country is a political attitude. Burning the flag is an expression of this attitude and can not be censored. It doesn't harm anyone, and a flag someone bought or made is their own private property to handle as they please.
If a country has to censor those few who burn its symbol because the flag itself and an absolute respect for it is essential to the function and cohesion of the nation, that's a pretty weak democracy. The USA is stronger than that. It's more disrespectful toward the country to claim that flag burning is a real problem or threat than it is to actually burn a flag.
I just feel that people who burn flags are taking advantage of their country. It saddens me that citizens of a country that allows us to be so free, that protects our rights through law, can burn their nation's flag.
Although the flag is a symbol of the country as a whole, not its government, many people don't see it that way. Often when someone burns a flag it's not to express opposition to America but to express opposition to the American government or something it did or does.
I'm not sure this makes their views very clear, but that's OK - let them try their best to express themselves.
It's OK to be sad that people burn the flag. I wouldn't do it. But I'm glad I made the choice not to burn the flag, rather than being forced not to.
I think people who wear the flag as a bikini should be deported too.
The flag is a flag.
People should be focused on why they are burning the flag.
Ooh, flag for bikini? I haven't seen that one yet.
Oooh yes, they exist. I've seen them being sold at Target.
Yay! Someone who agrees.
I do believe that we should be able to express ourselves without fear of the consequences, but burning our nation's flag? That's just completely wrong.
The problem with that kind of attitude is that you're willing to place a "but" after "we should be able to express ourselves without fear of the consequences." Allowing any qualifications on free expression justifies more, which might be arbitrary. In order to allow everyone to feel like they can express themselves without FEAR, we must not punish anyone for a method of expression that doesn't cause direct physical harm to another.
I think people have the right to burn the flag. But people are more focused on the flag burning than why they are burning the flag in the first place, so it isn't very effective.
My first statement was to point out far more degradating instances in which the flag is used.
I guess my main point would be, there are better ways.
Yeah, true. To elaborate on my first comment, I've never been much of a "flag waver" myself, so to speak, and I simply see the flag as a symbol of our nation, but the whole flag burning thing is a little extreme.
I guess I'm too conservative. :P
Disrespectful? Yes. Outlawed? Nah.
Some people see it as an effective way to make a point.
People who burn the flag are just looking for cameras to get their 15 minutes of fame. Yes, this type of speech is allowed. Do I agree with it? No. Should they leave the country? No. What makes this country great is the ability to express your views without fear of imprisionment.
A single voice among many.
Well, I'm not sure where the flag-burning happened, but it's getting kind of cold in my area. Maybe they need the fire for warmth.
I'm not aware of any flag burning that's happened recently. My post is completely random; it's just that we'd been having a discussion on Civil Rights in my Government class, and the subject of flag burning came up.