The usual argument against it is that it would violate freedom of speech, but IMHO it goes much deeper than that. Burning is the time-honored way of respectfully destroying a soiled or tattered flag (ask any Boy Scout), so the enforcement of this law would require a judgement of what the person was thinking when the act was performed. George Orwell coined the term "thoughtcrime" to describe this, and it was one of the most terrifying aspects of the totalitarian govenment in his famous novel 1984 (a book that should be required reading for all Americans). If we ever get to the point where we can be punished for even THINKING we disapprove of our government, we will have lost everything our forefathers fought to secure for us, and the flag will no longer have any meaning.
The flag is a symbol of our freedom, but the Constitution IS our freedom. Which would you rather preserve?
2006-07-16
07:16:13
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11 answers
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asked by
ConcernedCitizen
7