If Burning the Flag Is Protected Free Speech..Should'nt Hanging A Noose Out Of A Tree Also Be Protected Speech

Question

Both are despicable acts why is one protected and the other is not?

The white students in the Jena case were suspended for that action.

Shon...burning the American flag is not illegal...it is protected as "free speech"..now go back to your studies for that GED.

African Americans take offense at the noose...American veterans take offense at the burning of our Flag...who is more offended?

raretofindd...burning the Flag is not speech either...

univee...where do you bury your dead tough guy...what will you do hit us with your man shoulder bag?

Answer 1

I applaud you for bringing this up. And I actually partially agree. I am by no means, a bigot, racist, biased person. I am a veteran so obviously I have a biased view on the burning of our flag. While it is an act of the 1st amendment to burn the flag, I reserve my first amendment right to call the person burning it any name I can think of under the son including and not limited to slurs against them in order to try to get them to attack me so I can beat the hell out of them in defense. Anyhow back to the question. If the 1st amendment right of free speech is a fundamental right in our country, spitting on the koran, using the bible as toilet paper, burning the flag, hanging a noose are all protected acts. HOWEVER, these acts are extremely tumultuous in that someone WILL get offended. By excercising your right to free speech and demonstration you are simply being a good citizen, nowhere does it state you are protected from the outrage caused by an act. Yes, if someone assaults another person over their use of their 1st amendment rights the assaulter will be prosecuted and arrested but other than that situation you reap what you sow.

Our flag represents our country, good or bad, rich or poor, thick or thin. It has been paid for in blood make no mistake, many men and women have fought and died for the flag and the rights of our nation so that others may be free to committ acts such as hanging a noose in a tree or burning the flag. These holier than thou media hookers (I call them hookers because they are selling their beliefs for time in the media spotlight, and they deserve no better title) are trying to take away fundamental rights of people in this nation by condemning 1 act of free speech while blessing another. I feel that both acts are equally offensive but I do not believe people should be punsihed by the laws of this nation for them. To do so would be to spit on the memories of those who have fought so hard to give the people of our country these rights.

Answer 2

It depends on how open minded you want to be. Burning the flag is a political statement. You can criticize the burner for their actions or you can ask them why they are so upset with their government that felt they had no choice but to take such an action. Odds are it's an issue that affects others as well, maybe even you.
Hanging a noose is not a political statement. It's provocative, even threatening. Threats are not protected speech. It's against the law, for example, to threaten the president.

Answer 3

I can't believe the first response. If flag buring was illegal, why would there be some much discussion about passing a law to ban the act?

Hanging that noose was more of a threat than a free speech expression. The fact that the tree is on public property should render the act illegal. Remember, you can burn your cross on your property; but on someone elses, it is a crime.

Answer 4

I'm not agreeing with either, but I think the burning of the flag is symbolic, it can't really hurt anyone by doing it, so it is freedom of speech since you are not hurting or infringing upon other's rights. A noose on the other hand, could be considered a weapon, specifically made for murder. I think it would be comparable (in the government's eyes) to waving a gun around in public; it is a direct act whose sole purpose is to strike fear, and go beyond that, to threaten harm/murder.

EDIT: Anyone who says freedom of speech has to be voiced by words is wrong.. Freedom of speech isn't limited to speaking.. you have the right to protest, and have the right to express yourself, which doesn't always involve words.

Answer 5

Both are protected. No one has been arrested for hanging a noose in a tree. In addition, the Supreme court has ruled on similar matters regarding cross burning feel free to read the rulings.

Answer 6

thats a fair question about free speech rights, similar to one that was discussed in the Supreme Court Skokie case in the late 70's. the main argument against hanging ropes from trees would be the likelihood that it would create a riot (which is one of the cases in which free speech may be limited). the protesters, however, are not protesting the fact that ropes were hung from trees, but the fact that the six black boys are being held on pretty serious charges and that none of the white kids are being held for anything, though they are probably more to blame for the violence that ensued.

Answer 7

Without even reading the other Answers I can give you the one and only Answer. These things are not 'set in stone' by a constitutional amendment nor common sense they are a product of 200 years of court decisions and the courts have decreed that burning the flag is free speech ,in most cases, but hanging a noose in similar cases is not. We will have to wait for a decision on THIS case, as I said ' not set in stone.'

Answer 8

You must understand the significance of the noose over the tree branch, in the southern states. It was a common practice for the KKK to apprehend black men for the slightest of reasons, and hang them from trees.

The suggestion by the white students was telling, by the act and message they attempted to deliver to black students.

This was racism and a very provocative form of racism. It's no wonder they were angry (black students) and felt justice was not served, so decided to take matters into their own hands. This is where they made their mistakes, by taking matters into their own hands. By doing what they did, put them on the same playing field as the white kids, as far as guilt is concerned.

How this will be resolved is any body's guess. Can't we all just get along !

Answer 9

Simple. How many people have been murdered by a burning flag versus a racist's noose?

The fact that you would make such a comparison speaks volumes. It depicts a person that equates the unlawful murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children by a noose, to that of burning a piece of cloth.

Is this the value that anyone should place on human lives?

Answer 10

Well... both ARE protected by free speech. The white studenst were suspended for it (as they should be) because the school is allowed to set rules for students. Like refraining from racists remarks or actions.