Converation thread

The act of burning a flag, for some, is a form of political protest and symbolic speech. The Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson (1989) actually upheld that flag desecration is protected by the First Amendment, stating that the government couldn't prohibit this expression simply because it disagrees with the message it conveys.

Consider the civil rights movement or the Vietnam War protests; the act of flag burning was used to express deep dissatisfaction with government actions. An argument could be made that it is an American principle to question and challenge our government when it's believed to be in the wrong. So one might say, those who burn the flag in protest are expressing a very American sentiment

Why would any one want to burn a flag! It symbolizes America as a whole. Angry at someone, burn their picture. Angry at a organization or country, burn their logo. Unless you are truly unhappy with America and want to see it burn (then you are not an American) then you should not burn a flag. Let them go to jail for a couple of weeks to reconsider moving to another country because they are NOT wanted here. I support FREE speech, but not HATE SPEECH against America.

Do not reduce the flag to a mere “logo”. The soldiers that dies for it, the emigrants uprooting their life for it, and its the perfect country in most of the world’s eyes. A flags represents and is a central part of the American identity and culture.