Flag Burning

Charlie P · 06-23-2005, 07:54 AM

Should the Senate pass this bill or is it a form of speech?

tardfarmer · 06-23-2005, 07:58 AM

It is not speech, although SCOTUS has said so in the past. I however don't think this law should pass - it's retarded.

But they should have provisions for reduced penalties for kicking the crap out of anyone that does burn/desecrate the flag. May something like a $1 fine.

kevin1 · 06-23-2005, 08:17 AM

Burning the flag as a political statement is wrong because it desecrates a national symbol . Why not just fry up a side of Bald Eagle with it while you're at it ?

Burning a tattered old flag privately so that it may be replaced with a new one is ok and is already allowed . It really used to piss me off when I was a kid and saw those disgraceful hippies burning our flag on tv as a form of protest , and it still does when I see foreigners do it overseas for the same reason .

No , it bloody well isn't an acceptable form of free speech . Protest this country if you want , that's what your mouth is for , but don't burn the flag around me . [:@]

Charlie P · 06-23-2005, 08:22 AM

Quote:

but don't burn the flag around me

I was surprised this morning when I heard some Vets saying that this is what they fought for, the right of the people to do things like this.

Who said the first Amendment isn't their to protect popular speech?

Deleted User · 06-23-2005, 08:33 AM

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Charlie P · 06-23-2005, 08:50 AM

One guy put sort like this not an exact qoute. why take a away a freedom to protect a synbol of freedom?

Aught Six · 06-23-2005, 08:59 AM

Yes, flag burning is and should remain protected speech. There is no clause in the Constitution that states anyone must love or even appreciate the country. Burning a flag doesn't violate any individuals civil rights, so there is no reason to ban the practice.

Tazman · 06-23-2005, 09:09 AM

Speech is one thing, destruction of a symbol is totally different.

Many of the laws on the books today protecting the Bald Eagle are for the most part on the books because it is the National Bird, a symbol and not to protect an endangered species.

It is illegal for me to posses a feather from a Bald Eagle which is no longer endangered, but perfectly legal for me to posses a feather from any other endangered species as long as I did not kill it to get the feather! The whole reason for this is because it is our National bird and not an endangered species, it is a symbol and it is protected, why not the flag?

Charlie P · 06-23-2005, 09:13 AM

It's not illegal to burn a cross. That's a symbol isn't it?

Maybe burning the symbol is to show just how upset the group is with what's happening with in the goverment.

etothepii · 06-23-2005, 09:16 AM

People who burn the flag to make a political protest don't understand what they're doing. The flag has nothing to do with political trends. The flag represents the country. If you burn it, you are saying you hate the country, and hope it is destroyed. I can see why enemies would do it. I can see why a Native American might do it. But for a citizen to do it, and claim that they're just protesting this, that, or the other, really shows ignorance.