Flag burning

From Campaigns Wikia

Flag burning is the act of burning a country's flag out of disrespect, protest, as a literal demonstration of freedom of expression, or simply to keep warm.

In the United States, a proposed amendment to the Constitution would allow Congress to prohibit the burning of our national flag. So what does everyone think about this?

Contents 1 In Opposition to the Amendment 2 In Support of the Amendment 3 Election year theory 4 How did your Senator vote? S.J.RES.12 5 Perspectives 6 Links

[edit] In Opposition to the Amendment

The United States proclaims itself to be "The land of the free", and the American flag is supposed to be a symbol of that freedom. This makes the proposed constitutional amendment to ban flag burning particularly hypocritical, as it would be a further erosion of those freedoms. As Scott Adams said in his blog:

I consider myself a highly patriotic guy and I understand how people can get worked up over the flag being burned. I love my flag. But symbols are personal things, and everyone is free to interpret them however they see fit. For me, a flag that I’m NOT allowed to burn is a symbol that the government is too intrusive in my life. And it’s an insult to anyone who died to defend freedom. But that’s just me. You might prefer your symbols of freedom to have as many restrictions as possible.

United States Constitution protects freedom of speech, however it does not protect your feelings. This is a good thing because you'll always find people that are offended by different things: opinions, sexual orientation, life style, personal choices, etc.

The flag, is a symbol. In the U.S.A. it is a symbol of our great country and the freedoms we enjoy, freedoms that countless Americans have fought and died to defend. One of those freedoms is the freedom of expression, and while I find it personally abhorant, ignorant, and hypocritical to use those freedoms to burn the symbol of those freedoms, making it illegal to burn the flag, infringing on those freedoms, is just as hypocritical. Midian 16:19, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] In Support of the Amendment

The American flag is a very powerful symbol to many people, particularly those people who have risked their lives while being identified by that symbol. To desecrate it can cause emotional pain to people who have been in this situation. Since it was we, as a country, who asked these people to risk their lives like this, it would make sense that we, as a country, could repay them by not desecrating the symbol they fought under.

[edit] Election year theory

The recurring of the "Flag Burning" law right before the election period suggest that some politicians want to score political points with their electorate by showing how patriotic they are and how unpatriotic are the politicians that oppose the law. Some people claim that there are more important and pressing issues that should be taken care first in order for politicians to be entitled to call themselves "patriots".

[edit] How did your Senator vote? S.J.RES.12

On the joint resolution (S.J.Res.12 as Amended) June 27, 2006, 06:14 PM

• California: Senator Dianne Feinstein was the main Democratic supporter of the amendment.
• Maine: Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins not only cosponsered the bill(!) but also voted for this recent amendment.

[edit] Perspectives

I am a 21 year old male and I believe that if our governemnt makes it illegal to burn the flag then it's time to move out of the country. Outlawing flag burning goes against the principles this country was founded on and is an issue that our government should not be wasting its time on. --Jeffers0n 13:42, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

• I am an independent, have served in our military proudly, and believe that our elected representatives are way off the mark if they think that concentrating on such a measure that effectively restricts freedom of speech and reinforces some simulacrum of nationalistic patriotism while our nation ought to be addressing many more important issues then they need to be voted out of office. Flag burning is such a very minor issue this really raises my ire.

It's got me believing the new American campaign slogan for some candidates (see below) may well be "Save a flag, burn a gay"

--Robert 03:40, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

I believe that while burning the flag is wrong, and have little respect for someone who does, there is no grounds for limiting free speech in such a way.

--Millenniumman 17:03, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

When it becomes illegal to burn the flag, the flag becomes worthy of being burnt.

--The Prophet 03:42, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

I wholeheartedly agree with the previous statement. I cannot stand the hypocrisy of calling the flag a symbol of freedom and trying to outlaw its destruction in the same breath. The current administration would have us believe that patriotism is nothing but blind loyalty and obedience, but in a nation founded on the principles of freedom and democracy, there's nothing more patriotic than dissent.

--Whosawhatsis 09:43, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

When does it become illegal to burn a picture of the Presidential Seal? Or a state flag?

--S.C.

Robert, you've got it wrong, we need a compromise. Burn a gay wrapped in a flag. --Queue

I am an Eagle Scout and I have always been taught that burning the flag (in the sense of cremation) is one of the acceptable ways to dispose of the American flag. I understand that this is out ofthe context of buring it in protest, but I also believe that it should not be illegal. I do believe it is disprespectful, and often it is not the country or ideals that people are are protesting but rather individual policies or policy makers. Those in prostest would be better off to burn images of the specific people or policies with which they are upset. The burning of the flag, especially on American soil is one of the most extreme displays protest and it is my belief that if you are that upset with the country that it would come to burning the most powerful symbol of the nation, you should change citizenship and move. It is my understanding that if you are so fed up with the country, at this point, there is nothing (save a revolution) that could change your opinion of the country (at least not in any reasonable amount of time). Burning the flag doesn't do anything to change the opinions of those in power, but rahter reasserts their resoning behind doing whatever it is that they are doing. While this all may or may not be true, it should definately NOT be considered treason, it is still an expression of your beliefs; and last I checked, we were still entitled to freedom of speech. "TheProfet" is right on this one.

I doubt that most people consider the flag burning issue a major factor in their upcoming political decisions. There are much more important issues to deal with, such as the Middle East, yet politicians waste our time and money bickering over a piece of cloth that is actually SUPPOSED to be burned to dispose of it. However, many times I have seen tattered and faded flags, most likely from the aftermath of September 11, and no action is taken against the people who do not care to replace the old flags with new ones. Perhaps, however, the tattered and faded flags symbolize a new era of American political involvement-shabby, noncommittal, and rather dull.

Jfingers88 17:17, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

I understand that our flag is a symbol of our great country and as such is held to a higher standard than some other items. However, it offends me greatly that people are willing to get so riled up about burning a symbol but can hardly find the time to be involved in our political process to the point where the principles the flag represents are being actively attacked and undermined. Anyone who does not vote has no philosophical grounds on which to complain about someone burning a flag. It makes me upset to see my flag burning. It gets me downright irate to see someone with an obvious lack of understanding about the founding of our country and the Constitution profess to be offended by the act of a burning flag.

anewvoice 21:14, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Links

• Flag burning@Everything2.com has several more perspectives on the situation in the USA.
  • Flag burning ammendment@Everything2.com