Should flag burning be illegal?

Question

Four countries in the world which prohibit burning their national flags are Cuba, China, Iran and Iraq under Saddam Hussein. All are repressive or communistic. Doesn't this say something about the need for freedom of expression, even if it includes burning the national flag? How about burning state flags? Or city flags?

I clarification, there are other countries which prohibit the burning of national flags. But, the main idea here is whether prohibiting it in the U.S. is a restriction of freedom of expression. People swear openly and use gestures which indicate lewd or obscene intent. These are covered by the Bill of Rights. Are they any more important than flag burning that they should be allowed and burning the national flag should not be?

Answer 1

It comes down to the way you want to see things. The flag is nothing more than a peace of multi color cloth. That's all! It has no meaning other than the meaning you give it. But that is true for absolutely everything else in life.

You may associate the burning of the flag as something negative and degrading, while others may see it as exercising their right to free expression or freedom. A freedom that the US brags so much about having. Hey, why not illegalize bad talking or making fun of the US president while you are at it?. You can't do either, because you would be talking the freedom of speech and expression away form "the people."

Patriotic symbols are nothing else than just that...symbols! They are like borders, they create division by separating the "us" from the "them." In a similar way that in sports uniforms separate one team from another. Since these precious symbols don't guarantee freedom, world peace, comfort, happiness, and prosperity, I find it useless to waste so much energy in worrying about a hand full of people burning flags. Patriotism is similar to religion, it's something that you carry with you in your heart, something that you feel inside, without the need of an outside object to remind you where your heart is.

You may not like it and totally opposed to it, but the truth is that just like you have to right to take pride in your "wonderful" symbols, other have the same right to think differently. That's what freedom is all about!

But I don't see why not illegalize it. The truth is that there isn't such a thing as a free country, and the US is by far a free country. There's much less freedom in this country now days compared to just after WWII. Freedom is a illusion that most people in the US mistakenly think that they have. I would not doubt that the US has more written laws than any other country in the world. Just fact that the US has more attorneys than doctors, says a lot about it's complex and dysfunctional legal system.

There's a law for just about everything now days and if there isn't one, someone is either already working on it or is thinking about it. There are a lot of other things that you should be worrying more about because they affect your freedom more than any fool burning a flag. I'll give you an example. If you are given a traffic ticket on the streets of LA and you want to plea not guilty to the charge, you have to pay the full bail (fee) up front before you go to trial. There are no buts nor way around it. If you don't have the money, then you must please guilty. That means that only the people who can afford to pay the ticket have the right to trial. The constitution gives the right to everyone to a speedy trial...I think...I don't remember anything in the constitution referring only to the rich.

Stupid laws like these threaten all of our freedom a whole lot more than some guy burning a flag. As long as I see those guys burning flags, I'll feel that we still have some freedom. I don’t support it nor I like it, but I respect the freedom of others.

Answer 2

Flag burning should not be illegal, no matter what kind of flag it is. If a person is burning a flag as a representation of what their political views are, then that is free speech and should not be violated. If it does not hurt someone or something, which is true of flag burning, then it is ok. Plus, the correct way to dispose of a damaged flag is to burn it, so even though that is different than burning a flag as a demonstration of speech, it's still burning.

Answer 3

im sure there are other countries that do not allow flag burning...not just those select few you chose to name.

Now to answer your question...I think flag burning should be illegal. Burning flags in this country is like spitting on the poeple who died to give you the freedoms you have. They fought sweat bled and paid the price so you can protest...and practice whatever religion you want.....you can Choose to be gay...ALL of which are privileges that in some other countries you are not allowed to have or do. I think its such a small thing to not burn the flag.

Also if you are to the point where you are going to burn the flag...obviously you hate this country and need to go find citizenship elsewhere.

Answer 4

Nope, it is the ultimate form of protest. No, I never burnt a flag nor do I want to. If I did I would have to be totally disgusted with our government to destroy something I hold dear. I also feel that most politicians use this just as a simple ploy to get votes and in my humble opinion they are wiping their butts with the flag by whoring it. How often do you see people burning flags in THIS COUNTRY? It's a non issue as far as I am concerned. Compare this act to all the criminal acts committed every single day it's microscopic. Once again politicians sucking people in while they guard the hen-house.

Answer 5

No, flag burning is part of the Freedom of Speech, the second amendment to the constitution. You should be able to burn the flag if you want to. Unless what you say endangers national security, you can say what you want, and that is what makes this country great.

Answer 6

Flag burning should not be illegal. It is an important part of freedom of speech. You have to take the good with the bad. I think that it just terrible how this issue has been taken up by the politicians in this election year. Its just another issue to divide our country and make us forget about other issues.

Answer 7

Of course.. what does that have to do with the freedom to speak? There is nothing stated anywhere to indicate freedom of expression other than you have the freedom to not be restricted in how many people you can talk to. In case you wonder why that idea was ever introduced; under the rule of England, you were not allowed to speak if there were more than 3 paople gathered around you. Where that freedom to speak has gone since then, has surpassed the radiculous.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, no I don't. The first ammendment does not just protect the speech that we believe in or support. It protects ALL speech-even that which we don't agree with.

As a veteran, I do think that you should be required to have a permit to burn a flag. And the only way to get one is to apply through an able bodied Army or Marine veteran who has served in a combat zone. Maybe they could "talk" you out of it, or "persuade" you to change your mind about burning something so many have sacrificed and served under.

Answer 9

No....

The flag is already burning......burning it is just a sign, an icon, a representation, of is real burning, :

The constitution is ripped more everydays....Patriot Act

This is freedom of speeches, when we won't be able to do this, we won't be able to say anything, even if it's true against the administration in power. It will be terrorism, and you will be shiped to Guantanamo, or Abu Gra'ib....Nice country...

Read that and you may at least understand why I think like that ...

Answer 10

No, I think it shouldn't be illegal to burn the national, city, or state flag. We have the freedom of speech, if that's how you want to express your opinion, go ahead. However, I personally believe that this is an act of disrespect and of selfishness.