Should residents of the United States be compelled to respect the flag of the United States by law?

Question

Should residents of the United States be compelled to respect the flag of the United States by law or would this constitute a denial of their first admendment rights as American citizens.

Answer 1

Adam S has the right position on this question, IMO.

I remember the Communist countries with flags and banners of the self appointed, glorious leaders hanging from every building and flying from every pole.

It is the country, our history, and the sacrifices made by our people that we must respect and remember.

It is possible to respect our country and be completely disappointed in the job a current government is doing.

The government, especially the current one, with so few accomplishments to its credit and so many abject failures, will attempt to associate itself with honorable institutions within the country such as the military (especially disgusting with this current bunch of shirkers), our proud history and great past statesmen . This attempt only succeeds with the uninformed and below average true believers within our ranks. It is nevertheless very disgusting.

If a citizen, which, by the way, out ranks any government official employed by the citizenry, chooses to demonstrate his/her disapproval with a standing government and feels that the only option he/she has is to burn a flag in protest, that right cannot be overridden by legislation, especially by a group of freeloaders posing as government functionaries such as Congress or the White House.

I would not choose to burn our flag so, I agree with Pink. I reserve the right, however, to demonstrate my disapproval with what now infests Washington in any manner which does not harm someone or their property. Anyone who would approve of a group of politicians making a law which violates our Constitution deserves neither the freedom we have left nor the right to make any rules whatever.

Sorry I got a bit windy.

Jim D

Answer 2

No! No one should be COMPELLED to respect anything. And, in fact, no one CAN BE compelled to respect anything, since that is a function of thought. One may be compelled to go through the motions of respecting something without actually respecting it.

But, I would sincerely hope that residents of the United States who benefit from the type of government it has (which by the way allows enough freedom to disrespect it's flag), will willingly respect the flag.

Respect can truly only be willingly given. When force is applied, it becomes fear rather than respect.

Answer 3

It is a flag. On the internet you can purchace american flag thongs. What is your point of view on that? It is a totum that only has meaning to the person or individual who wants it to mean something. Why waist Congresses time with such trivial drivel when there are very important issues at hand. For example, educating our children, the oil crisis, and many many others. By compairison the flag is not really that big of a deal. How to you propose to "make" the residance of the USA "respect" the flag?

Answer 4

That has already been addressed by a Constitutional amendment. No, residents should not be and, by law may not be compelled to respect the flag.

Answer 5

No. At the point that people are legally *compelled* to respect a flag that supposedly represents freedom, the symbolism becomes completely hollow.

Answer 6

It does not make you much less of an American, even though it is going to reason human beings to question your loyalty, who will you factor with if a conflict breaks out between the united statesand Mexico? Why is flying a much off places flag on united statessoil so improtant to you? What could ensue in case you flew the united statesflag in Mexico? i became born right here, and that i'm of Irish and varnish good. i'm very happy with that reality. although i do no longer desecrate the Flag that I secure by utilising flying their interior of sight flags. human beings question your loyalty by way of fact there are maximum of Mexican flags being flown above or equivalent to previous glory, they are pushed around superb out the window or draped over the hood of a vehicle, even as the human beings interior throw beer bottles or worse out the window. that is flown, in this count no longer in basic terms on Mexican holidays yet on the Fourth of July. that is given greater appreciate by utilising maximum Mexican human beings then our flag. I have fun St. Patrick's day like all different good Irishmen, and that i attempt to have fun Polish Independence day like all different good Pollock, yet i do no longer provide those international locations greater appreciate even on those days then I try this one. that is large which you're happy with your history, and you're able to be able to no longer be like the human beings I defined above, yet maximum folk of human beings with Mexican history have spoiled it for something. thank you for what you probably did. And rundevelt, he did no longer ask so you might spew your anti-united states of america crap. Too undesirable you haven't any longer have been given the balls to let us know the place you're from so we permit you to recognize procedures crappy your united states is.

Answer 7

Why? If someone didn't respect it, what are they going to do, send out the guys with the jackboots to goose step? I think we have first Amendment rights that protect that. I am not one who would burn or tear up a flag, in fact, I have one hanging outside my house during the day, but if I needed to give it to someone who was homeless and needed a blanket, or I needed it to save someone's life who is bleeding to death, then I wouldn't hesitate to do that. It's a SYMBOL, not the body and blood of Jesus.

Answer 8

It would be a denial of 1st amendment rights. It is also impossible. How can anyone possibly pass a law that would require something that comes from the heart? You really can't legislate beliefs or feelings.

Answer 9

If we're to be compelled to show our "respect" for this country by respecting some piece of cloth it would only show the depths of fanaticism and jingoism this country has sunk to. The day we are compelled to show our respect to a flag is the day I burn one.

Answer 10

when you look at our flag....just think of all the men and women in the military throughout the years who have died for our freedom, and if nothing else, respect the flag for that.