is burning of the american flag !infringe on free speech

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 3:35 pm

More "feel good" legislation that serves no important purpose (excuse me but there's FAR more important things lawmakers should be working on) and will probably be legally shown to be unconstitutional in court anyway so it's a waste of time.

ALL OF US should have had a class on this in high school social studies (I did) ie: free speech versus public opinion.

The way it was taught to me in school was a test case with someone preaching neo-nazi beliefs on a public street corner.

The bottom line is that the constitution guarantees free speech EXCEPT where it would cause public harm, and it's up to the courts to decide that on a acase-by-case basis if necessary.

You and I may not approve of someone burning the flag (or pissing on it, or using it as a diaper), but it's their right of free speech and expression under our constitution and I will defend that right if not the act itself.

Or are we no better than a dictatorship where people can be executed for desecrating the tyrant's photograph?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 4:27 pm

Since when is the ACTION of burning the flag considered speech? To me free speech is exactly that , the freedom to say anything you want. Burning the flag is an action that does not require speech at all.

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 4:33 pm

Why would the "action" bother you?

FP - perfect post. So many real issues today in this country and we get this and Terri Schivo...

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:03 pm

Why would the "action" bother you?

It is a matter of what the Flag and the act of burning it represents. Is that concept too much for you to comprehend?

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:09 pm

To me free speech is exactly that , the freedom to say anything you want.

What would someone burning the flag be saying?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:01 pm

Originally posted by UberNeuman
What would someone burning the flag be saying?

Burning the flag does not "SAY" anything. What it represents is so obvious it needs no explanation. Kind of like your post

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:08 pm

What does burning the flag say to you? It sends a message to you that you do not like it - it imparts an idea to you that you do not like -

it..... says something to you.... that you do not like...

What you are doing is playing semantics....

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:16 pm

Originally posted by dadx2mj
What it represents is so obvious it needs no explanation.

Maybe now that it is in bold you will read it. You can choose to play stupid all you like that is covered under the right to free speech...just dont expect me to play with you

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:26 pm

So then you admit that is speech to burn the flag?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:34 pm

NOPE

Originally posted by dadx2mj
Burning the flag does not "SAY" anything. What it represents is so obvious it needs no explanation. Kind of like your post

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:36 pm

So burning the flag doesn't "SAY" anything to you, then what is the problem?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:11 pm

I'm sorry Ubber I tried to explain it in simple terms but I guess it is just a little too much for you to comprehend after all.

UberNeuman · Post by **UberNeuman** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:27 pm

hmmm.... Does burning the flag of the United States impart a message to you?

RubberDuckie · Post by **RubberDuckie** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:05 pm

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

BTW: I was kidding about the TX flag cause thats my home state and the best one

But where did you hear the papal flag shall be flown higher?

Any other country's flag can fly higher when on that counties soil...but on US soil all other flags must be at most on equal height on separate flagpoles or beneath on the same flagpole..same true of state flags.

By the way. This is all etiquette by government code. Nothing regarding the flag and how it is to be flown is law.

rogue · Post by **rogue** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:02 pm

I'm not a supporter of it, but I think it should be legal, and the fact that congress is actually proposing legislation to ban it is wholly ridiculous and short-sighted. George Carlin sums it up best for me, I believe:

"I don't get all choked up about yellow ribbons and American flags. I see them as symbols, and I leave
them to the symbol-minded."

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin

You and I may not approve of someone burning the flag (or pissing on it, or using it as a diaper), but it's their right of free speech and expression under our constitution and I will defend that right if not the act itself.

Or are we no better than a dictatorship where people can be executed for desecrating the tyrant's photograph?

QFT!

PCA Forums

is burning of the american flag !infringe on free speech

should it be allowed to show a sign of free speeech ?