Flag burning vs. free speech

[Cast]

I have a problem when I see people from other countries and (US citizens) burn an American Flag. It doesn't make any sense to me how someone from another country can come to the US and burn our flag while protesting. I saw a picture, which was taken in Los Angeles, Ca, where a male was burning an American Flag and was holding his country's flag high up in the air. I don't think this has anything to do with "Freedom of Speech", this guy, in my eyes, was disrespecting our country. I guarantee you, that if I went to this guys country and burned his country's flag, I would be shot to death. I feel that there is a difference between "freedom of speech" and disrespect.

Many people would say that this is why we are a great country and people should have the right to burn the flag. I totally disagree with them. Let's be realistic, many immigrants come to the US because their countries have a horrible government and have no opportunities. I have never seen anyone from another country come to the US and burn their countries flag. Even though their country was so horrible that they had to come to the US, they still have respect for their "Flag". Why do many Americans lack the pride?

[american_flag_uk]

cast - i agree with you.

i do believe flag burning is NOT free speech... and should therefore NOT be protected by the 1st amendment
flag burning is an action - that when done in public - is done purely to gain attention and offend and upset people. WHY on earth is THIS seen as freedom by some Americans???

its illegal to hurt other people physically so why shouldent it be illegal to hurt people mentally aswell?? that hurts just as bad - if not more

[Peter Ansoff]

flag burning is NOT free speech... and should therefore NOT be protected by the 1st amendment

I disagree. (But, you knew that, right? {-: ). Burning an American flag is a political statement that most Americans (including me) strongly disagree with. However, this is a free country, and we do not prosecute people for making unpopular political statements. That is precisely what the First Amendment is there for.

WHY on earth is THIS seen as freedom by some Americans???

Because that's exactly what it is. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to say and do things that are politically unpopular -- it if doesn't mean that, then I'm not sure what it does mean.

its illegal to hurt other people physically so why shouldent it be illegal to hurt people mentally aswell?? that hurts just as bad - if not more

Oh, come on now. Burning a flag is upsetting and offensive to many people (again, including me), but we manage to carry on. I get far more upset with people who want to put an asterisk beside the First Amendment to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

Peter Ansoff

[Cast]

I agree with you that this is a free country and that our country doesn't prosecute people for making unpopular political statements. That's fine, but burning an American flag, in my eyes, it's just wrong. Seeing other people from other countries come to the US, waive their flag around and burn ours, it's just wrong. Burning an American flag shouldn't be protected by the first amendment. We are taught, in school, to salute and respect our flag. In ball games, we stand up and salute our flag. In my eyes, The American flag represents this great country we live in. The flag doesn't represent the (BS) politicians that sometimes slide under the cracks and make our country look bad. Don't mix the American flag with politics, Respect the great American Flag.

[CultureGeek]

I guarantee you, that if I went to this guys country and burned his country's flag, I would be shot to death.
Depends on the country. There are countries of which this is true. America is not one of them and I aim to keep it that way.

I feel that there is a difference between "freedom of speech" and disrespect.
No, there isn't. If I were to say "you can't use racist epithets anymore," the same people who want to ban flag-burning would be up in arms. In fact, they fairly consistently freak out when I say "racist epithets are obnoxious," even though I absolutely do not believe they should be banned, actually for the same reason that we absolutely do not want flag-burning banned.

The First Amendment is not just a protection for good ideas. It's also a safety valve for bad ones. I mean, I've said before that those (bad) ideas are going to be out there and we can choose whether or not we want to know who subscribes to them, not so that we can prosecute thoughtcrimes, but so that we can keep an eye on them, which makes it much harder for them to put their their beliefs into practice.

However, it's more than that. Our system of government is based on two principles: majority rule _and_ minority rights. This is a key protection for domestic tranquility-- people holding minority political opinions must be allowed to express them-- if they cannot try to advance their views legally (even if no sane person will share those views), they will be much more likely to try to advance their views illegally, through violence. Let them shout on street corners or radicalize them and make them much, much more dangerous.

This country's Constitution is a very carefully thought-out document and we really ought to think about why the Framers put a protection in place before we decide that we don't need it.

[ihatethiswebsite]

I'm confused, is the flag code a set of laws? Because I don't think it should be. I know that the American flag symbolizes freedom and justice and equality, but i think no matter what it symbolizes, people should be able to treat a piece of cloth however they like.

[american_flag_uk]

The flag code is not law - You cannot be prosecuted for breaking it

However it is a guide as to how you should properly treat the flag..


To be honest - if you just view the flag as a 'piece of cloth' perhaps this isnt the best place for you

[ihatethiswebsite]

The flag code is not law - You cannot be prosecuted for breaking it

However it is a guide as to how you should properly treat the flag..


To be honest - if you just view the flag as a 'piece of cloth' perhaps this isnt the best place for you

It isn't that i view it as a just a piece of cloth, but many people do, and that is technically what it is. And to be honest, i only came to this website because it seemed controversial.

[NAVA1974]

Those who view the flag of the US as just "a piece of cloth" are forgetting thier history. The flag became more than just a symbol or marker during the American Civil War - The flag not only symbolized the ideals for which the soldiers were fighting, it became a living thing (not just my words, but the words of those who fought for it) that was worth sacrificing one's life for. There are countless instances where flag bearers were wounded or killed, and a comrade would step up and proudly carry the regimental flag even though it meant near certain death. Nowadays we say that our armed forces fight for the things the flag symbolizes, not the flag itself. And I suppose that is true since flags do not lead them into battle anymore. Yes, the flag has evolved, even to the point of symbolizing the right to desecrate it in the name of freedom of speech.