hehe the most coverage on burning flags is probably in the middle east. and that doesn't give out the greatest of messages or role models, I'll say.

Well, where I'm from if any body ever wanted attention from the government.. most probably at the municipal level. they never did anything such as burning a flag. They went to city hall, called numbers, made petitions, held a rally, signed pettitions. Although burning a high profile flag such as the American flag, in public will get you attention from the media.. and 1 thing leads to another so all in all I agree with you. I'm not saying it's a good thing though..

Alrighty, so let me just pack up my things and move to another country. Just like that! I certainly have the money and a place for me to live. No need to learn another language, I'll wing it.

/sarcasm

It's not that easy to just move to another country. That doesn't work with this.

How is it disrespectful to the military? They aren't defending the flag. They are defending what they believe in, the people, their families. Some may defend the flag, but I bet if you asked a soldier who they are defending, the flag probably wouldn't be in their top three list.

And burning a flag does not equate to someone hating the country. It could be the government or their recent actions, maybe a policy or law they just made.

It would be hard to make flag burning illegal while keeping free speech laws intact...

I consider it extremely disrespectful and in no way condone it but I don't think anything can be done about it.

Now, should your job be able to fire you if they see you burning a flag in a video or in person? Sure. Most employers wouldn't want somebody who burned the flag representing them in any respect.

My grandparents did that.. I'm sure alot of people on this forum's grandparents.. great great grand parents have. Of course, because in north america there is more oppurtunity than most post war depressed european countries.
Of course they don't fight for the flag.. they fight for the country, and the flag represents the country. If someone is burning their flag.. it wouldn't be a really nice messgae..lol

OF COURSE IT'S NOT A NICE MESSAGE.

It's taking a stand and saying that 'America (or even just it's government) is wrong and you disagree with it' in a loud and graphic way.

If you want a 'nice message' go watch children's programing. Protests are not usually nice messages.

American troops who fight to protect the us are fighting to protect the people and the freedoms we have, such as the freedom of speech. Flag burning falls under that. Therefor troops fight to protect our right to burn a flag if we so choose.

The day the government makes it illegal to burn the flag is the day I pick up my things and move to
A- Europe, if I happen to have enough money.
B- Mexico, if I'm poor as hell and manage to learn the language by then.
C- Canada, if i'm as middle class as my parents are.

If burning the flag is ever against the law and punishable by spending even a single night in jail, then we'll know that this country has taken one more step in the general direction of fascisim (SP?)

Does burning the flag make the people who did it feel any better? Obviously it does, because they think it is disrespectful, otherwise why would they bother? They seek attention, to let ppl know what they think about their government/country. So how can you guys say it's ok to burn the flag when those who do it know themselves it is disrespectful? Why would they do it otherwise?

Burning a flag shouldn't be that much of a big deal to even offend people, IMO. It's just a sheet of fabric.

Let's see the other uses of the flag:






No one would be thinking of sending these to jail. Some of the pictures might even be thought of as being patriotic.

So, I don't think it's the disrespect of flag which is the issue with flag burning. I think it's the fact that these people are protesting against the government. I've heard many times how people who go against the government's decisions, especially on foreign policies, are often seen as being unpatriotic. You're treated as a traitor to your country. Those with dissenting opinions are told, "If you don't like it here, then move to another country" - not really thinking that these citizens have just as much right to live in the US as those who are happy with the way the government is run.

Title 4, United States Code Chapter 1, Section 8, sub-paragraph k:

WAIS Document Retrieval