Flag Burning

[Lost Soul]

Although I would never burn any countries flag, (as I find it to be disrespectul)..I'm concerned about the ban on flag burning being put forth in the legisative branch.

My problem is that they're not against the action of burning the flag, what they're against is peoples action of protesting by burning the flag.

As anyone who's been in the military or the scouts will tell you, the proper way to retire a flag is via incineration.

Thus, the action of burning the flag is not what the government is against.

What they're against is people's burning of the flag for reasons of protest.

This is a bad precedent.

What next? Should we make the speech of dissidents illegal? Where does it stop?

What do you guys think?
 

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

That's a tough issue. I'm glad you do see the real reason behind the law. You would be surprised how many people don't. I don't think flag burning should not be allowed, but making a law about it will cause more issues. One thing is for sure when the government gets involved, things get way worse. Next thing you know someone will lose their home and maybe even their family because the only thing the person had to put out a fire was a flag and didn't use it because they didn't want to go to jail. People tend to forget that life is not only Black and White, it has Grey too.

[cain73]

I have a feeling this is gonna be another lond thread, but here I go anyway.
I believe that we all have the right to protest under the constitution as long as it's not done illegally. I understand that in the Military flags are retired by incineration, but burning one in effigy is far different. People that would burn the flag in protest are making a statement (I can't see why else they would burn one in protest) that they are against the USA. For this reason I believe flag burning sjould be illegal. Want to protest fine, but fostering anti US sentiment is not necessary. Instead focus on the particular issue you are protesting, not USA in general. If you are so against the US that you want to burn the symbol that represents the nation then I would recommend that you relocate to a country that also hates the US and do it there. That way you will be among others that hate us and we can at least avoid dealing with you. I'm all for the rights and freedoms of the individual, but there has to be some boundaries or we'll be in total chaos. Demonstrating can be effectively done without desicrating our nation's flag. The government is not (IMO) trying to say don't protest, but saying protest without burning our flag in effigy.

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Check your second sentence Chuck 

[bluesman]

 I say if people want to burn our flag in protest its ok with me...




BUT THEY SHOULD BE WRAPED IN IT WHILE HE BURNS IT.!!!!!!

[PureLogic]

Retiring a flag by incineration should be done privately and discreetly. I think the military has a ceremony when Retiring there flags. Also the field of stars (The blue section with the stars) has to be removed when they are incinerated.  Any military personal with color guard training please correct me if I am wrong. In a protest the field of stars are not removed and is not done discreetly and privately.