NationStates Jolt Archive

Is Flag burning a way of Free Speech or a way to show peopole that you hate the freedoms that it stands for. That´s the problem, you could say that you are burning the flag only in order to preserve the freedoms that it represents, or you could say that you burning the flag would be a smack in the face to the countless men and women who died so that flag could symbolize freedom and prosperity. They wouldn´t want that. What is your imput? You be the Judge...

You have to ask, what is the reason people do it, it is to show their contempt for a nation, and what it stands for, I hope they carry out the plan and make it illegal in the UK too.

I assume your talking about the American flag?
Heck, torch it.

Flag burning is a recognized and protected form of free speech. Move on.

Flag burning is a recognized and protected form of free speech. Move on.
No it isn't, in the UK it doesn't matter, in the US I believe it is against the law, it isn't speech to burn the object the represents what the US stands, no more should people burn the bill of rights, or the constitution.

Burning the US flag doesn't show disagreement or expression of an opinion it shows downright ingratitude.

No it isn't, in the UK it doesn't matter, in the US I believe it is against the law, it isn't speech to burn the object the represents what the US stands, no more should people burn the bill of rights, or the constitution.
No, flag burning is legal in the United States, I believe this has been the subject of many a Supreme Court case and in most cases they have ruled it legal.

It still shows a supreme ingratitude, why do you believe people do it?

How is it free speech? They are just degrating what the U.S stands for.

Flag-burning is legal in the united states. her is a supreme court case that decided as such:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=394&invol=576

It would take an amendment to the constitution to change that. period. end of story.

How is it free speech? They are just degrating what the U.S stands for.
Because it is. I don't agree with it, but that is what the SC says, so...

Burning of flags should be a legal, as in free speech, way of expressing ones opinions.

Personally I think it shows lack of respect and that it's an immature way of expression that is only appealing to peoples hatred. But I am for free speech for everybody, not only for those I agree with.

How is it free speech? They are just degrating what the U.S stands for.
I agree very much


I didn't know it was actually legal in the US, ah we must be fed some rubbish in the UK :D

Dosen't the idead of setting a large peice of fabric on fire in a crowded protest just seem a really stupid thing to do?

I feel that we should have the freedom to burn the flag if we want, but I also say that folks such as myself should have the freedom to kick you're commie a$$ for doing it :)

Exactly!

it isn't speech to burn the object the represents what the US stands, no more should people burn the bill of rights, or the constitution.Different issue. From what I understand, if someone wanted to there's nothing stopping them burning a copy of the bill of rights or the constitution.

Besides surely stopping people burning a flag is restricting their rights to do what they want with their private property?

Yep.

I think there is absolutly no point to it, it just strikes of insolence, and ingratitude. Is futile and should not be made acceptable in any way.

Lets be somewhat like the adults we will one day become huh?

Flag burning is legal in the USA. Fine. Whenever I see the flag, I feel pride for my nation. No matter how junky my government, no matter how stupid my politicians, no matter how slow the people, we try to be free and equal. I love that flag. I cry when I participate in the final flag retiring ceremony which includes burning the flag, totally destroying it.

However, I have great reverence for God, but I would never live in a country that forbayed people from dissing the Big Guy if they wanted to. In America, if you want to hate America, go nuts. Cuss out our often violent foreign policy and incredible militarism. You have that right. Therefore, America has to open itself to disgrace and criticizm in order to be great. Anyone who has ever tried to earn respect knows that.

R. S. of UC

Yeah, I agree I think it's great that a country allows you to say what you want,. allows you to hate your leader. But at least has something that unites it, the UK has the monarchy which represents what the country stands for, the US has the flag as it's figurehead.

Yeah, I agree I think it's great that a country allows you to say what you want,. allows you to hate your leader. But at least has something that unites it, the UK has the monarchy which represents what the country stands for, the US has the flag as it's figurehead.I don't consider the monarchy to represent me. I certainly don't think it can be seen as a universally unifying force.

Flag burning is legal in the USA. Fine. Whenever I see the flag, I feel pride for my nation. No matter how junky my government, no matter how stupid my politicians, no matter how slow the people, we try to be free and equal. I love that flag. I cry when I participate in the final flag retiring ceremony which includes burning the flag, totally destroying it.

I feel the same pride when I see the flag, weather it is being raised or burned, because I believe in the ideals this country was founded upon, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


However, I have great reverence for God, but I would never live in a country that forbayed people from dissing the Big Guy if they wanted to. In America, if you want to hate America, go nuts. Cuss out our often violent foreign policy and incredible militarism. You have that right. Therefore, America has to open itself to disgrace and criticizm in order to be great. Anyone who has ever tried to earn respect knows that.

R. S. of UC

I could not agree more. It exactly this freedom that the flag represents. It may or may not be patriotic to burn the flag, but it is decidedly unpatriotic to pass laws making it illegal. It is that we are willing to recognize our mistakes that makes our system of government admirable. Efforts to undermine this willingness are doing great damage to our country's original spirit.

I don't consider the monarchy to represent me. I certainly don't think it can be seen as a universally unifying force.

All I was saying is it is there as a figure head, and as we don't have a consitution as such, is head of state, and so represents us.

Dosen't the idead of setting a large peice of fabric on fire in a crowded protest just seem a really stupid thing to do?

No, the stupid thing to do is to put so much power and symbolism in a piece of fabric with som colours on it...

How is it free speech? They are just degrating what the U.S stands for.

Ahm? Isn't that also Freedom of Speech?

Once you start defining "acceptable" speech and expression; do you have the freedom anymore?

No, the stupid thing to do is to put so much power and symbolism in a piece of fabric with som colours on it...
I hear you on that one.

As much as I hate seeing the American flag burnt, the fact is that it's freedom of speech. Saying that the flag is "one thing you shouldn't be able to attack" is saying because I disagree with you, i'm going to pass a law to stop you. The rationale people use to support a Constitutional amendment is laughable.

I assume your talking about the American flag?
Heck, torch it.

What about the flag of your country?
(Assuming you're not an American)

While I find it distasteful, I believe it is free speech.

i think flag burning is stupid, but i support any person's right to do it if they want. after all, i think going to church is stupid, as is eating cheese curds, smoking, and riding a bike without a helmet. but people have the right to be stupid, so long as they don't hurt anybody else in the process.

Lets be somewhat like the adults we will one day become huh?

Flag burning is legal in the USA. Fine. Whenever I see the flag, I feel pride for my nation. No matter how junky my government, no matter how stupid my politicians, no matter how slow the people, we try to be free and equal. I love that flag. I cry when I participate in the final flag retiring ceremony which includes burning the flag, totally destroying it.

However, I have great reverence for God, but I would never live in a country that forbayed people from dissing the Big Guy if they wanted to. In America, if you want to hate America, go nuts. Cuss out our often violent foreign policy and incredible militarism. You have that right. Therefore, America has to open itself to disgrace and criticizm in order to be great. Anyone who has ever tried to earn respect knows that.

R. S. of UC

I'm with him. Yeah, you can burn a flag, but if you hate America so much, why do you live here? And if you don't, well, that's your choice, but you're going to have to wait in line if you want to destroy America.

See, that's the right that so many people take for granted and choose to ignore, the RIGHT TO LEAVE!
If you don't like it here, shut the hell up and leave. Stop making an ass of yourself. If you just sit there and complain, but don't do anything, you're only causing problems. Burning the flag doesn't help, it shows that you hate the country. If you hate whoever is president, that's one thing, but the president isn't the country. You shouldn't be burning what represents your country for no good reason. And very very few people have good reason.

There are so many better things to burn rather than a piece of cloth!

I am a very patriotic person, but I don't take flag burning personally. It isn't an act of free speech it is an act of stupidity. When I think about flag burning I just assume that whoever did it was a complete idiot if they thought that burning an American flag would scare or intimidate anyone.

I'm not going to get into the history, events, and laws about flag burning that you all seem to be so interested in, but I'll give you my opinion.

There are hundreds of ways to protest something other than burning something that means so much to millions of people. If you go out and burn the flag of any nation, you aren't practicing your rights...you're being an ass.

Flag burning is legal.


Then again, so is being an idiot ;)

Yeah, you can burn a flag, but if you hate America so much, why do you live here?
Ther are various reasons why people don't leave, such as:Age(I'm only 15, do you think my parents would move out of the US just because I wanted to?), finances(moving is expensive), friends & family(since I doubt they'd move with you...), the US being a better choice for living than many places(despite how screwed-up it is), etc.


Anyway, I support flag-burning. There may be better ways to show that you're not pleased with the US, but all you're hurting with flag burning is the flag, and anything that catches on fire because of the flag. Some people just think that burning something is the best way to show disliking of it or what it reprisents(such as the people who do book burnings).

If you want to burn the flag, go for it. However, keep in mind that you'll be losing the respect of many good, smart people.

No it isn't, in the UK it doesn't matter, in the US I believe it is against the law, it isn't speech to burn the object the represents what the US stands, no more should people burn the bill of rights, or the constitution.
it is legal to burn the flag in a manner that consists of doing it to make a point, freedom of speech

texas v johnson

This is a hard question to answer, because I think that it should be legal because it is free speach, but I also strongly dislike it. I look at it like I would look at the right of the KKK to meet, I hate the organization, but I have no right to tell them they can't meet. And its only a flag, really, burning a flag doesn't hurt anyone.

You have to ask, what is the reason people do it, it is to show their contempt for a nation, and what it stands for, I hope they carry out the plan and make it illegal in the UK too.

Actually, when a member of this country burns a flag, it is generally because they *do* agree with what it stands for, but are fed up with the fact that the government has forgotten. Thus, basically saying that if the government and the American people aren't going to live up to what this country stands for, they have made the flag a uselss piece of cloth.

http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeechlist.cfm?c=50

Of course it's free speech. It's a stupid and irresponsible use of free speech, guaranteed to overshadow whatever point you are supposedly making, but it's still free speech.

Flag Laws and Regulations Sec. 4.
That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America -- the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

1. The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

2. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

3. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

4. The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

5. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

6. The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

7. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

8. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

9. The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

10. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

11. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Well, burning is alright, but wearing it isn't. Nor is embroidering it onto something. There are a lot of people out there violating that code. ;)

Well, burning is alright, but wearing it isn't. Nor is embroidering it onto something. There are a lot of people out there violating that code. ;)

Yeah, just think about all those paper napkins people buy for 4th of July cookouts. I never realized that was a political protest before. I wonder if they do...?

So how about the C.S.A. flag, and the C.S.A. battle flag... when flown in the U.S.A., is it treasoin?

10. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.

So Captain America is unamerican!!! :eek:

I assume your talking about the American flag?
Heck, torch it.

Word... :)

Flag burning is legal.


Then again, so is being an idiot ;)


Uhm, flagburning is illegal in Norway, and is considered an act of treason. I think it can be punished with 21 years in prison, which is the worst punishment in Norway.

... the UK has the monarchy which represents what the country stands for, the US has the flag as it's figurehead.

...under current UK legislation it is a crime punishable by death if you try to burn the monarchy (although due to the UK having been signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights the UK could not legally carry out this sentence)...

No, the stupid thing to do is to put so much power and symbolism in a piece of fabric with som colours on it...

Spoken like a person who has never been in the military..tsk..tsk..things like the flag, and the fancy ribbons...are all that separates we military types from the common mercenary..it is pride..it is honor...it is the long line down the ages of men who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country..in times past the color guard was actually that..a unit devised to keep the National Standard aloft and seen by the troops as a rallying point..now that color guard is one of somber reflection on the importance of what men have died for.

Laws that forbid the mistreatment of a flag which is the legal property of the person who would be mistreating it amount to government enforced idolatry. added: Laws that would increase the punishments for illegal property damage if the flag belonged to someone else are ligitimate forms of hate crime statute, comparible to laws that punish neo-nazis for property damage with aggrevating circumstances when they piss on a Torah scroll.

Spoken like a person who has never been in the military..tsk..tsk..things like the flag, and the fancy ribbons...are all that separates we military types from the common mercenary..it is pride..it is honor...it is the long line down the ages of men who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country..in times past the color guard was actually that..a unit devised to keep the National Standard aloft and seen by the troops as a rallying point..now that color guard is one of somber reflection on the importance of what men have died for.

It's a god damned rag. Don't even try to compare it to a human life.

As I've already said before: The moment flag-burning becomes illegal in this country, I will ignite the largest union flag I can find (in my coal-powered heating system, where people can't be clever dicks and accuse me of environmental pollution). You will not force me to worship your icon, and I don't care how much service you have or haven't done. Were you fighting for freedom, or for the right to bully the rest of us into obediance?

--
Moonshine
CrystalDragon on Espernet IRC
People > Flags

If someone wants to burn a flag.. let them burn it.
Assuming that the flag is/was their property and the burning isnt inflicting on any other laws (ie, arson) then if someone wants to show how they disagree with what the flag stands for, let them!


From most of the replies in this thread, I'm guessing that most here are american.
America no longer stands for the things that 'America stands for'.
There is no freedom, there is no equality, there is nothing left of what America was founded as.
The only way to be free.. is through anarchy, and the only way to be equal.. is communism.
and since the US leadership is completly against these two things, and seems to always be at war with them... then saying that the US stands for these things, is a lie!

I believe it is a freedom issue. People should be free to do so, I wouldn't or at least not at this time things would have to be pretty damn out of hand and even then I'd prefere other means of protesting than violence or flag burning

Flag burning is a recognized and protected form of free speech. Move on.
Admittedly, but the US flag stands for freedom of speech, does it not? In essence flag burners are anti-Free Speech.

That's why I believe that flag burners are treasonous. Not because they're burning all that our nation stands for. It's their lack of intelligence.

Admittedly, but the US flag stands for freedom of speech, does it not? In essence flag burners are anti-Free Speech.

That's why I believe that flag burners are treasonous. Not because they're burning all that our nation stands for. It's their lack of intelligence.
They are stupid people, but they have the right to be stupid.

Admittedly, but the US flag stands for freedom of speech, does it not? In essence flag burners are anti-Free Speech.

That's why I believe that flag burners are treasonous. Not because they're burning all that our nation stands for. It's their lack of intelligence.I don't know about you, Don Cheecheeo, but the flag represents a lot more than just freedom of speech. Sure, it represents that, but it can also represent imperialistic power used recklessly, it can represent a country that refuses to extend equal rights to homosexuals, it can represent a country that has on its books a law that allows the President to hold, without charges
and without the ability to consult an attorney, anyone designated an enemy combatant. If the flag represents the good of a nation, then it represents the bad also, and if you disagree vehemently enough with your government, then you ought to be allowed to express that by burning the flag that represents that government.

Waste of a good match.

It's not treason because you are only burning a flag, not the country.

It's not freedom of speech because it doesn't have to do with speech.

Waste of a good match.

It's not treason because you are only burning a flag, not the country.

It's not freedom of speech because it doesn't have to do with speech.
Would you go with freedom of expression?

I definitely think flag-burning should remain legal, but it's a dumb way to protest. If you're going to use the flag in your protest, fly it upside down. That's the signal for distress, and it is quite appropriate considering the state of the nation (I'm talking about America in this instance).

Agreed. Burning the flag is a legally protected right, but it's a stupid waste of a match.

Hang it upside down or argue your point- burning an object which most people practically worship is not likely to convince many.

Yeah--I tend to agree. I wouldn't personally burn a flag unless I was disposing of it in the prescribed manner, simply because there are too many people who will automatically dismiss you if you burn it in protest. It's hard to convince someone of the validity of your position if you can't talk because their hands are around your throat.

I'm with him. Yeah, you can burn a flag, but if you hate America so much, why do you live here? And if you don't, well, that's your choice, but you're going to have to wait in line if you want to destroy America.

See, that's the right that so many people take for granted and choose to ignore, the RIGHT TO LEAVE!
If you don't like it here, shut the hell up and leave. Stop making an ass of yourself. If you just sit there and complain, but don't do anything, you're only causing problems. Burning the flag doesn't help, it shows that you hate the country. If you hate whoever is president, that's one thing, but the president isn't the country. You shouldn't be burning what represents your country for no good reason. And very very few people have good reason.

see, here's the thing. i hate the government, hate the imperialism, hate the racism, hate the classism, hate the jingoist nationalism, hate the artificial borders that declare that some people are illegal, etc. all of that is what the stars and stripes represents. only flags i like are black and red.

but you know what? this is my land just as much as its anyone else's. i've been all over it. it's my home and i ain't leaving. and if you don't like it, you leave.

besides, flag burning is fun, easy, and makes some people get all twitchy. which amounts a good time had by all.

http://fileserv5.soundclick.com/fastgG%5CVIPD/davidrovics+theflagdesecrationrag.mp3

Is Flag burning a way of Free Speech or a way to show peopole that you hate the freedoms that it stands for.
What freedoms? The US flag doesn't stand for any "freedoms" - it stands for a country (or, more specifically, that country's government). Burning the flag is a way to show you disagree with something about that country. Maybe you disagree with some form of freedom, or maybe you disagree with the US government's destruction of some form of freedom.

Oh, and a little piece of advice to some of the Americans around here: Quit the "America stands for freedom" bullsh*t. 90% of the world believes America stands for oppression, and even in your own country you enjoy far less freedom than some people in other parts of the world.

Burning the US flag doesn't show disagreement or expression of an opinion it shows downright ingratitude.
Ingratitude?? The government should be grateful to us, not the other way around! We the people establish governments and countries, for our benefit.

The role of the government is to serve the people.

How is it free speech? They are just degrating what the U.S stands for.
The US doesn't stand for anything. It's just a country like all others.

Or, to be more exact, the US stands for different things in the eyes of different people.

Texas Vs Johnson, Read The Blood Opinion

It's a god damned rag. Don't even try to compare it to a human life.

As I've already said before: The moment flag-burning becomes illegal in this country, I will ignite the largest union flag I can find (in my coal-powered heating system, where people can't be clever dicks and accuse me of environmental pollution). You will not force me to worship your icon, and I don't care how much service you have or haven't done. Were you fighting for freedom, or for the right to bully the rest of us into obediance?

--
Moonshine
CrystalDragon on Espernet IRC
People > Flags

Ah...another person who has never served no doubt..it is not a rag..it is the physical representation of the sacrifices that have gone before me...it is Paul Revere on his midnite ride....it is Washington as he crossed the Trenton..Ben Franklin as he made his comment bout "hang together or we will most surely hang separately"...it is Jefferson who sent William and Clark on their epic journey, it is the defenders of Fort Henry who withstood British assaults to raise the standard in the morning...Andrew Jackson who repulsed the Highlanders at the Battle of New Orleans..it is the flag carried into Belleau Wood in France where the Marines earned the title Teufel Hunden for their ferocity in battle against the German....it is General Wainright reluctantly offering his surrender in order to save the troops in the Philipines...it is the American 101st Airborne commander who told the German officer at Bastogne when he was offered terms for surrender, he replied to the German officer "Nuts"....it is Lt Gen Chesty Puller who when surrounded by the enemy at Inchon told his staff.."Great..we have them just where we want them"..it is the valiant Army MP's and Marine Security Detachment who repulsed the Vietcong sapper attack against the US Embassy in Saigon, thus saving the lives of countless civilian employees..it is the sorrow of that same Marine Security Detachment when the last helicopter left Saigon, and a Staff Sergeant, the last American to leave the Republic of South Vietnam wept, just shortly before the North Vietnamese Army swept into the US Embassy Compound and took down our flag..all the while literally hundreds of South Vietnamese cried to be able to take them before the NVA made it impossible.
It is the look of anger on the faces of the US Marine who would have to watch as rescue personnel went over the bombed barracks in Beirut as a coward struck on an early Sunday morning...knowing that on Sundays the Marines were allowed to sleep in late, but sadly they would never wake up.
It is the faces of sailors on the USS Cole as damage teams worked feverishly to repair the damage and bury their dead.

No my ignorant individual...it is not "just a rag"..and if you'd spent more then a "god damn" second in uniform you'd know that.

Flag burning is a legitimate form of protest, however, I personally wouldn't burn one. It would make too many people who otherwise might agree with you turn against you, because of their allegiance to it.

I think burning your flag should be illegal, the flag represents the country and the people of the country, not just the government but ALL its people if you disagree and must torch something burn pictures of the government or something, not something that represents the country as a whole, its disrespectfull to every citizen of said country

see, here's the thing. i hate the government, hate the imperialism, hate the racism, hate the classism, hate the jingoist nationalism, hate the artificial borders that declare that some people are illegal, etc. all of that is what the stars and stripes represents. only flags i like are black and red.

but you know what? this is my land just as much as its anyone else's. i've been all over it. it's my home and i ain't leaving. and if you don't like it, you leave.

besides, flag burning is fun, easy, and makes some people get all twitchy. which amounts a good time had by all.

http://fileserv5.soundclick.com/fastgG%5CVIPD/davidrovics+theflagdesecrationrag.mp3

thats the kind of reasoning that makes me laugh when I see that video clip of that guy who is trying to burn a flag and sets himself on fire

No my ignorant individual...it is not "just a rag"..and if you'd spent more then a "god damn" second in uniform you'd know that.

But don't you think that when the government is totally disregarding the principles that all of those people sacrificed for, it has already defaced the flag? As a Native American, don't you think that when the government was handing out diseased blankets, it was defacing the flag much more than someone who burns it in protest of such actions?

Ah...another person who has never served no doubt..it is not a rag..it is the physical representation of the sacrifices that have gone before me...it is Paul Revere on his midnite ride....it is Washington as he crossed the Trenton..Ben Franklin as he made his comment bout "hang together or we will most surely hang separately"...it is Jefferson who sent William and Clark on their epic journey, it is the defenders of Fort Henry who withstood British assaults to raise the standard in the morning...Andrew Jackson who repulsed the Highlanders at the Battle of New Orleans..it is the flag carried into Belleau Wood in France where the Marines earned the title Teufel Hunden for their ferocity in battle against the German....it is General Wainright reluctantly offering his surrender in order to save the troops in the Philipines...it is the American 101st Airborne commander who told the German officer at Bastogne when he was offered terms for surrender, he replied to the German officer "Nuts"....it is Lt Gen Chesty Puller who when surrounded by the enemy at Inchon told his staff.."Great..we have them just where we want them"..it is the valiant Army MP's and Marine Security Detachment who repulsed the Vietcong sapper attack against the US Embassy in Saigon, thus saving the lives of countless civilian employees..it is the sorrow of that same Marine Security Detachment when the last helicopter left Saigon, and a Staff Sergeant, the last American to leave the Republic of South Vietnam wept, just shortly before the North Vietnamese Army swept into the US Embassy Compound and took down our flag..all the while literally hundreds of South Vietnamese cried to be able to take them before the NVA made it impossible.
It is the look of anger on the faces of the US Marine who would have to watch as rescue personnel went over the bombed barracks in Beirut as a coward struck on an early Sunday morning...knowing that on Sundays the Marines were allowed to sleep in late, but sadly they would never wake up.
It is the faces of sailors on the USS Cole as damage teams worked feverishly to repair the damage and bury their dead.

No my ignorant individual...it is not "just a rag"..and if you'd spent more then a "god damn" second in uniform you'd know that.

It is all of these things to you, apparently. To me a flag is a rectangular piece of coloured material, and if you're risking your life over a bit of cloth then you have less intelligence than I previously gave you credit for. You can bring up all of these examples of bravery if you like; I can gaurantee you attended none of them. So what does it mean, apart from you desecrating the memory of these men on a web forum trying to fight for the side of people wanting to put a legal penalty on burning a cloth?

Think about it. Putting people in prison for expressing their displeasure. For setting light to cotton. Is that your idea of a sound law?

Flag Laws and Regulations Sec. 4.
That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America -- the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

1. The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

2. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

3. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

4. The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

5. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

6. The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

7. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

8. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

9. The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

10. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

11. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Well, burning is alright, but wearing it isn't. Nor is embroidering it onto something. There are a lot of people out there violating that code. ;)

Hmmm - I seem to remember that big flag on the cieling of the Democratic Convention.... should they all be arrested?

;)

Frankly, I think that burning the flag IS free speech, but also a waste of a good match. There are far more meaningful ways to make a point.

That being said - it is done to generate an emotional reaction and it never ceases to generate one. It became a button that people knew they could press. So they do.

To me flag burning is fun.

A flag is NOTHING but a concept, an invention. Also the amount of places they have them in the US I think that I can perfectly understand people wanting to burn some.

Flag burning is a cheap way to draw attention, but a legal one.

Personally i dont give a shit about any flag, neither as a actual piece of cloth nor as a symbol. Taking pride in the colours is a rather stupid concept to me, as well as people saying they are proud of their nation. Sharing the same borders as people who did great things does not make you any better. You equally share them with people who did evil deeds. Take pride in what you achieve for yourself.
Considering the history of my country (Germany) i am very wary of nationalistic tendencies, to which reverence of flags and other symbols pave the way. A nation is the people that live in it, not the deceased heroes and villains of old, not its current government and especially not some coloured cloth.

Legally, the definition of speech is very inclusive, and may include other forms of expression. Flag burning is covered by this broad definition of speech

The message of this particular act would generally be "I hate the US!"

However, there are situations in which the freedom of speech may be legally restricted. Incitement and fighting words may apply to flag burning, although the courts have generally moved to restrict incitement and fighting words to a point where flag burning is not included. Other laws may restrict some flag burnings: tresspass, arson, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, nuisance, endangerment, or fire safety laws for example. Air pollution laws are another possibility.

So, as long as you obtain a burning permit, burn your own flag in a safe, non-polluting manner, without tresspassing, creating a public nuisance, inciting violence, or otherwise violate any other laws, then you are OK. Moonshine's plan would seem to fit those restrictions, so he should be OK.

Personally, I think it's a waste of a match and disrespectful to boot. I also find that the flag is often treated poorly even by those who claim to repect it.