I'd appreciate your views.
I believe in the Constitution, especially Freedom of Speech and Expression as provided in the First Amendment. MANY DON'T, BUT I DO.
I'm going to get a lot of jeers, but I believe in a free nation........ .......If someone burns a flag, it is a protected right.
2007-11-06 11:51:22 · 20 answers · asked by Villain 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
PS-I'm NOT advocating Flag Burning.
2007-11-06 11:52:12 · update #1
FREEDEM....That is a perfect answer.
2007-11-06 11:56:20 · update #2
Some folks would support the Constitution by burning the flag, others would support the flag by burning the Constitution.
One is a symbol the other is the reality, without the symbol the reality is little effected, but without the reality, what is the value of the symbol? Particularly if the symbol is perverted by those who would destroy the reality.
2007-11-06 11:55:19 · answer #1 · answered by Freedem 3 · 11⤊ 9⤋
I dont believe it is. I use a rule to determine such things-Did the framers and Founding fathers intend for the Constitution to cover such things. I dont think a person can reasonably assert that they considered flag burning to be acceptable or legal.
It is like abortion, NO WHERE in the Constitution can any non ideologically driven person find anything that can be remotely claimed to cover abortion. Having said that, the fact that it ISNT in there means that the federal government DOESNT have a right to control it- the Constitution lays out what the fed can do and whatever ISNT mentioned is for the states or people.
In my state they used a clause in the state Constitution that deals basically disallows the creation of a monarchy to validate Civil Unions- anyone who reads the clause KNOWS exactly what it means and it has NOTHING to do with marriage.
I am not expressing support or condemnation of any of the things I mentioned but rather am noting that people are too willing to CHANGE what the Constitution(s) say inorder to advance an ideological agenda and that is wrong. We were left and amendment process to make changes and that is how we should make changes NOT just make up things
2007-11-06 12:03:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, flag burning is considered a form of freedom of speech today. When the Constitution was written, we didn't even have a flag! But, if we had, I don't suppose that anyone would have considered burning it publicly in those days! Burning the flag is considered the way to dispose of it but, not along with trash! You can take it to the VFW or the American Legion & they have a flag burning ceramony in which they burn all the old, tattered flags with reverance.
2007-11-06 12:04:16 · answer #3 · answered by geegee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the Bill of Rights states:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
So it would depend on whether it's speech.
2007-11-06 11:58:33 · answer #4 · answered by Zardoz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well... yes... but it's not a matter of rights, it's a matter of responsibilities... Just because one has the "right" to do something doesn't mean that he should do it. Do you have the "right" to use foul language any time any where? Sure... the moronic hippie movement of the 60s &70s proved that ad nauseum ... big deal.. but should you express that "right" in front of small children?... I've found that those that those that scream rights the most are usually selfish self-centered boobs.
2007-11-06 12:07:54 · answer #5 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If flag burning as a protest isn't exactly the kind of act we want to protect then we have really lost our way and no longer know what we stand for.
2007-11-06 11:59:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
To the poster "By One For . . . " burning the flag and burning your car are two different things. Freedom of Speech is what flag burning is all about. Burning your car on the other hand is just . . . stupid.
2007-11-06 11:57:41 · answer #7 · answered by commonsense 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I think it is repugnant, I fly the flag every day at my house and put 50 little ones out on my lawn on patriotic holidays. But I will defend a person's right to do it. I think it makes them look like *******, given what they are saying and all the people they are offending (including those who died defending it). But hey, if they feel that is a means of expression, then they should be allowed to do it. When I see a person doing this it really makes me sad and feel that the person doing it is one of the ugliest people on earth. It's better we get to see it and that we are reminded that there are people like that out there. Same goes for other forms of hate speech.
A far better means of protest would be for them to wave the flag, remind us that it's theirs too and tell us what their issue is. But that's not what they are trying to do, they are just trying to make people mad.
2007-11-06 11:56:39 · answer #8 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Although not specifically stated it is protected under the 1st Amendment.
2007-11-06 12:17:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure, they should be allowed to do it.
But not on the Courthouse steps. There must be some burn law that violates.
If they want to be a total tool, they can burn it in the privacy of their back yard. If there is no "No burn" law in effect.
2007-11-06 11:57:47 · answer #10 · answered by Philip McCrevice 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
While I wouldn't take part in a flag burning, I do believe if you want to do it and you don't endanger anyone's life, you have that right.
2007-11-06 11:57:25 · answer #11 · answered by slykitty62 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋