Poll: Do you think it should be illegal to burn the American flag? Yes? or No? Write a well thought opinion...

Answer 1

Yes it should be, seeing the flag stands for our soldiers that's been killed for fighting for our freedom. They tried passing a bill a year ago, and the Dems shot it down.

Answer 2

This is a togh question. But, even based upon the constitution and the freedoms offered by America, the burning of the flag should definetly be illegul and punished harshly. The reason is simple, when one burns the flag he/she demontrates that the are against America! This would make that person an enemy, if they dont' like it here there are other ways to show displeassure, or if people are so disccusted then they can leave and move to a diffrent country. But berning the flag is a declaration of war, and thus poeple who do such things should be treated as enemies.

Answer 3

As someone (I forget who) once said, old glory stands tall even when someone burns a copy.

Since there will be a lot of posts on the free speech issue, here's my understanding of why the Supreme Court ruled a flag burning law was unconstitutional.

The official and approved way to dispose of an old flag is to burn it. Typically that's done in a military or military-like ceremony with proper respect.

What's the difference between that type of flag burning and the one outlawed? In both cases the flag is burned! The difference is that in one case it's surrounded by people in uniform saluting, in the other it's surrounded by people waving signs and shouting.

So it isn't the burning itself that was made illegal, it was the signs and shouting that were outlawed. Therefore a violation of free speech.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. This country was created on the premise that people should have the freedom to what they want to do, without repercussion from the government (that is supposed to be of the people, which of course is no longer). Burning the flag is a sign that our we have abandoned the principles upon which the inception of this country was based, including freedom and democracy. Burning the flag doesn't mean you hate American or that you aren't proud to be an American, it means that our government is robbing us from the very freedom guaranteed by the constitution, mainly freedom of expression - making it illegal to burn the flag robs us of our freedom of expression (speech).

Answer 5

Of course you should be able to burn the American flag, it's a basic right of free speech. While I can see how others might be distraught about it (and I am a former combat veteran), you have to consider that the very thought of "people died defending it" is the exact reason that you should be allowed to burn it.

I think that most major political issues (and even minor ones) can be solved by looking at it objectively. If somebody burns a flag and it makes you angry, do something about it. Counter-protest. As Howard Zinn once said, "dissent is the highest form of patriotism". Never forget that the very rights that allow people who burn the flag to do so unimpeded may someday allow you to do something which offends the majority, but to you is a justified action.

Answer 6

No, it should not be illegal. I don't approve of govt censorship.

Let's analyze this. There are two parts to the flag. The physical components (cloth and ink) and the symbolic aspects.

Nobody really objects to burning the cloth and ink. I mean, if I had a piece of white cloth with pretty red and blue tie-die swirls on it (same physical materials) and tried to burn that, nobody is going to get upset -- except where any burning of anything is illegal because of wildfire concerns. But aside from that, it's not the physical material that people care about.

So, the issue is the symbolic nature of the item. But all communication is symbolic. Whether we're using words, or pictures, or gestures, or logos, or flags -- everything we express is a symbol that represents something.

Now, if you proudly display the flag, you are using that symbol to express one type of message. If you burn the flag, you are using the same symbol, in the same context (same topic), to express a different message. The only difference between the two actions -- burning versus displaying -- is the content of the message. Both are using the same symbol, and both are discussing the same topic.

It's like the difference between saying "America is great" and "America is horrible". Again, we're using symbols (words) to express an opinion, using the same primary symbol (the word) and within the same topic. And again the only difference is what opinion we are expressing.

Now, if we made it illegal to say "America is horrible" but legal to say "America is great" -- that's called viewpoint discrimination. It's saying that you can only express your opinion on a topic if we agree with that opinion.

It's exactly the same with the flag. Making it legal to display the flag, but not to burn it in protest, says that you can only express your opinion using that symbol if we agree with that opinion.

That's the absolute worst kind of censorship, and the form that is most strongly protected under the 1st Amendment. As soon as the government can dictate what opinions we can express on a subject, we've crossed the line irreversibly from a democracy to a fascist dictatorship. We've lost the ability to freely express ourselves, and we've reached a point where not agreeing with the opinion of the majority is punishable as a crime. In other words, we've lost everything that makes this country what it is.

I may not agree with someone's opinion, but I will defend to the death their right to express it. If we made it illegal to express opinions we don't like, we would be betraying everything this country stands for -- and everything the flag stands for. That's why we need to always allow any opinion to be expressed, whether we like it or not.

Because the alternative is to betray the principles that this country was founded on -- which makes the flag worthless.

Answer 7

Illegal? Absolutely not. If the day ever comes when one can't express one's displeasure with some aspect of American life by burning the flag, the freedom that the flag represents will have ceased to exist. It's an extreme form of expression and I can't see any reason to do it myself but I will certainly defend the RIGHT to do it.

Answer 8

To the Americans, yes but to other countries it might be yes or no depending on their motives.To burn a symbol like the "American flag" is a sign of lack of respect to the nation and an insult to its people. It is also an expression of anger and a desire to destroy to put an end of everything not pleasing to ones eyes, etc. It is also a sign of provocation that will lead to destruction, etc.. Why not then follow the "Golden Rule" that says, 'Do unto others what you do not want others do unto you.'

Answer 9

Why would desire to or not that's unlawful to burn flags? Why would desire to human beings honor their flag especially? A flag would not incredibly do lots by itself, that's in basic terms a chunk of fabric or paper with a particular development on it. or perhaps while reported development is a few form of image utilized by something properly worth helping, why would desire to we pay interest to helping the logo as quickly as we would desire to be paying interest to helping the element itself? Get the data directly: A flag is in basic terms a chunk of paper or textile with coloured ink on it, and patriotism is a incorrect ideology. Now, i don't anticipate you suspect any of this or provide me terrific answer, yet a minimum of no you possibly can blame that on me.

Answer 10

I don't like it one bit. However, it is an expression of free speech so that have the legal right to it. I don't understand what they are trying to prove by burning their own country's flag and not doing something constructive to change whatever is bothering them. I don't understand people and never have, and I probably never will. Americans must be the most confusing people to try and understand.

Not that I really care, but I wonder what other countries really think of us?

Answer 11

Yes, it is indeed illegal to burn the national flag of any country and America is no exception. America as a nation may have lost its credibility and become the most unpopular nation in the world today, but that does not imply the country should be condemned in every way and its sacred sign - the National Flag - be burnt!