Should it be illegal to own or fly the confererate flag in America?

Question

It is illegal to burn the American flag, because that amounts to a desecration. That is according to many politicians. By that same logic, shouldn't the possession of a confederate flag be outlawed, since that ALSO amounts a desecration of the American flag? Our union is threatened by the burning of the American flag much as it is by the flying of the flag of our previous civil enemy.

Answer 1

Good point, but then I would think that by your logic the state flags of all states that seceded would need to be abolished. I doubt that would ever happen.

Answer 2

Actually, the Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson ruled that flag burning was legal.

I think that flying the Confederate Flag, much like burning the American Flag, should be legal. You shouldn't infringe on freedom of expression because the action in question offends you or the country.

Of course, government buildings shouldn't display Confederate Flags, nor should they have flag desecration ceremonies. But that's different from you hanging a Confederate Flag somewhere.

Granted, I'd never burn our flag or hang a Confederate Flag. But the fact that people *can* do these things is a key part of freedom of speech.

Answer 3

Regardless of the fact that most Americans think it is only right to talk about "good" history, it is just as important to talk about the bad. The civil war brought about changes and exposed problems that have been around since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. By turning our back on what was learned because of the civil war, we will only allow them to fester until it becomes too large to ignore. That is what the forefathers tried to do until it consumed the nation and caused a major rift in this country. One that is still felt today by many. I say memorializing the soldiers on both side of the war is not in anyway promoting hatred of America or anyone. The only hatred would be to suppress the ideas that those people and create again the atmosphere of tension which caused the flag to fly in the first place.

Answer 4

No, it shouldn't. It's not a great idea to fly a Confederate flag, but it should not be illegal to own it. In fact, there's still a lively debate going on about whether it should be illegal to burn the American flag, or whether it should just be frowned upon... also because of the free speech issue.

Answer 5

First of all, it is NOT illegal to burn the American Flag. It is desrespectful, and, in my neck of the woods, will get your butt kicked.

The confederate flag, depending on who is flying it, stands for southern pride. It is a symbol to many of us that the southern states stood up for what they believed in, regardless of the costs.The South was greatly outnumbered, and out gunned, but they still fought for their beliefs.

I am proud to be a Southerner and take offense that some racist slime desecrate my confederate flag by attaching it to their racist agenda.

The flag is not about race, but about heritage, southern, not slave.

It SHOULD be illegal because the only reason that someone burns the flag is inciting to riot, which IS ALREADY illegal.

Answer 6

It's not illegal to burn nor desecrate an American flag and it's not illegal to own or display a confederate flag because both are protected by the 1st amendment

Answer 7

No, it shouldn't. This country was established with certain freedoms which should be guaranteed. You can't choose when and to whom those freedoms are granted. They are either absolute or they count for nothing. If you want to be free to make any statement you want, then others have to be free to fly the confederate flag. Besides... it gives an easy way to identify the inbred rednecks in the world.

Answer 8

The accomplice conflict flag stood for the concept the guy states were separate entities loosely grouped less than the structure. evaluate correct right here 2 prices. "If the Union would properly be preserved with slavery i am going to do it for the conflict isn't about slavery, that is about saving the Union." Abraham Lincoln, in his first Inaguaral handle. "If i concept this conflict become about slavery, i might want to provide my sword to the different area." U.S. provide, 1862 evaluate also the timing of the Emancipation Proclamation. If the Lincoln administration really had to wrestle a conflict to free the slaves, Lincoln does no longer have waited till 1862 to launch the Proclamation. finally, statisitcs coach that decrease than 2% of the Southern inhabitants were the tremendous plantation vendors depicted in Uncle Toms Cabin. in case you requested any 10 accomplice squaddies why they wore the grey, properly, a cushty Alabama boy placed it maximum acceptable after being captured at Shiloh. "Im fightin because you all are down right here." might want to the questioner have us burn the flag of england, a former enemy? How about Japan? Or Mexico? i am going to close with yet another quote from a Lincoln speech, made presently earlier his lack of existence. "With malice in direction of none, and with charity for all....." the concept of a democracy is the right to dissent. you actually have the right to trust as you do, yet no longer to the point the position you desecrate the memory of close to to one/2 a million youthful adult males who gave their serious about what they believed..

Answer 9

Displaying a Confederate flag is part of speech - expressing yourself and views. For me, displaying a Confederate flag means that one supports the goals of the Confederacy - maintaining slavery. I think it's abhorrent, but people are entitled to express their opinions.

Answer 10

No it shouldnt be illegal.
Its Heritage, Not Hate!
Some states have done away with the confederate flag, & its wrong. Because the black people dont like it. Well I say dont like it, dont look at it.
White people dont like some of the black things, but does anything get said about them, no way! There's no big thing to make them disappear or get removed.