Desecrating the American Flag?

Question

Why is this not against the law? Or, am I just mis-informed? Please enlighten me.

Answer 1

It's freedom of speech.

I am a staunch America loving conservative but, I do not want to ban any form of freedom.

Now, let someone do it around me and see how quick I am to shove my boot up their rear. That's my freedom as well (although the assault charges would surely suck).

(Also, make a note of who burns the flag. I guarantee it is never anyone on the right-center, flag burners are ALWAYS to the Left.)

Answer 2

It was illegal to desecrate the flag in 48 of the 50 states until 1989 when the Supreme Court held that flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment.

Answer 3

If you make burning the flag illegal, you take one step forward towards a dictatorship. One of the things that makes this country great is that this country give you the freedom to burn it's flag in protest without reprocussions.

A person burns the flag for 2 reasons. One, they hate what America is doing to them.

The second reason is because one feels that the American Government is not living up to the ideals that made America what it is and therefore burns the flag because it is no longer valid.

That said, I don't agree with flag burning, because too much blood was shed on our behalf for that emblem to stand tall.

America may not be perfect, but it is still the best and I thank God that I am lucky to have been born in the United States.

Answer 4

What do muslim citizens do to the flag in protest as well as others , how about the terrorist with muslim faith, or let's see what american middle school stopped a student proudly displaying the american flag on veterans was told not to do that because of not being political correct it might hurt the latino community feelings oh baby

Answer 5

Desecrating the flag is shameful, in my opinion, but not against the law.

Answer 6

A flag distinguishes one country from another, that is all a flag is, a tag to a country. It is no more or no less then that. Ships used flags to define which country they originate from, lest they be attacked by a friendly nation or their own on the high seas. Armies used flags for the same reason. We flag or tag our countries in a show of difference from others.
To burn a flag is freedom of speech.
To idolize a flag, well, that's up to you. After all it's only cloth, paper, plastic, rubber, paint....

Answer 7

The flag is just a symbol to represent the ideal. The symbols are not important except as a reminder. When you get too wound up about symbols it is what the religious call IDOLATRY (worship of idols). So if you get all wound up about the "desecration" of a flag you have lost sight of the ideal and now the flag (symbols) become idols.

Answer 8

The American flag is a symbol of America. Great because of the freedoms guaranteed to American Citizens. One of those freedoms is freedom of speech whereby the government cannot (within reason) censor our speech.

Should the symbol of the freedom be held in higher regard than the freedom itself?

Answer 9

Desecrating our flag is shameful to me, but this is your freedom to do so, if you feel this is the only way to make your statement then you must do what you must, but don't think for a moment it's going to make Americans cheer your cause....

Answer 10

First of all, we have allowed the total destruction of the original meaning of freedom of speech. Although, I'm not overly bothered by people too stupid to realize that they're burning the very symbol of the Nation that now allows them to do that.

Secondly, I'd be much happier if they also ruled that beating the crud out of those burning the flag was considered free speech.

Answer 11

I'm a conservative Democrat, and unfortunately there is no law that specifically prohibits desecration of the flag. Let anyone try it in front of me, however, and they will eat with a straw for the rest of their lives. Promise; and I will argue that it was my freedom of expression in return.