Neither does it prohibit such. I am offended when I see the flag desecrated, but the Constitution does not protect us from being offended, nor should it. It has been ruled many times that freedom of speech includes freedom of expression. Burning a symbol is clearly freedom of expression. If you burn an effigy of me, you are making a statement, not actually burning a person. Likewise if you burn a flag, you are not destroying the nation that it represents, you are just making a statement. Making such a statement can get you ostracised, cost you business and loss of respect from the rest of us, but it is not and should not be a crime. Not in the United States of America. We must be vigilant not to allow emotions to let some people try to chip away at the First Amendment in any way. It will only lead to more loss of freedoms.
Exactly. If Homer Simpson decides to burn a flag in his front yard to protest something, then fine. He's exercising his rights. I have the right to be offended and ignore him. But if he does it in a crowd and causes a disturbance, then charge him for creating a disturbance or inciting a riot. If he catches the grass on fire, then charge him for arson. If someone gets burned charge him with negligent injury. But don't try to charge him with offending Americans. To do so is, in fact, un-American.
i am not offended when the flag is burned. i think "that guy has problems with america". fair enough. perhaps they are fed up with high taxes or government waste or somethin. you wanna burn a flag, be my guest. expressions of opinion arent usually offensive. violence is offensive.
Absolutely. The best way to protect the Constitution is to defend the rights that it grants us. The flag is a symbol of those rights. It just does not make any sense to defend the symbol at the expense of the rights it symbolizes. "I may not agree with what a man says, but I will defend to the death his right to say it" - Voltaire.
Sorry, but while I defend someone's right to burn the flag I think it is a disgraceful thing to do, and is an obvious act of disrespect toward the flag. I respect the flag and what it stands for too much to be guilty of such an act.
It is a first amendment issue. The courts have consistently held that burning the flag is inherent in the right of free speech.
The First Amendment does not protect people; it protects people's rights. People are protected by laws governing criminality.
