See the first line of his response that you quote . . . "it's okay anyways."

No need to keep pushing. I think everyone's in agreement here that burning the flag is a shitty thing to do, but it's a protected form of free speech and is therefore legally fine.

Steve, there were some comments on the first page that are definitely not in line with that viewpoint.

i don't like it either oldkim, but it is "freedom of speech" there for "legal", but it's still "shameful".

If I saw someone burning a flag, I would beat their ass then shove the pole up thier ass. If you are going to burn a flag, you need to move somewhere else and not be an American.

It's kind of odd that the proper way to dispose of a flag is to burn it. I had to burn mine a few weeks ago, it felt really awkward.

Another vote for suppression of free speech.

The difference between Burning a loose flag, and folding then burning it, all boils down to one thing...RESPECT.

If you have none then you need your ass beat.
"But your Honor...I was trying to express my feelings under the first amendment...I just couldn't figure out a word that equated to, 'I'm going to punch you in the face, repeatedly until you understand that this act is not OK.'"

The flag is not:
A cape or any other form of clothing.
A wall hanging or any other form of decoration, especially a door mat/rug.
A blanket...well there's one exception, but if you don't know what it is...then no... its not a blanket.

I would like to believe that Ms. Hottie got her ass chewed out when she posed with the flag, and the lesson stuck.
If not...she's a hypocrite and need remedial training.

I give her points simply for standing for what's right, even in the face of the law.

In many matters, right and wrong are subjective. That is why unless actual harm is caused, most expressive actions are protected free speech (hell in Oregon nudity is protected free speech). So to say she was right in face of the law is to deny the first amendment.

It's a flag.

How many think burning a Koran is funny/valid protest?

Now how many of that same group think flag burning is OK?

Symbols are meaningless. They aren't the source of belief, they simply represent it. If your belief can't handle disagreement or destruction of symbols, you should examine it closer. This anti burning approaches literal flag worship, and that's creepy.

Imo... Burning the flag is probably one of the most patriotic things you can do. It symbolizes the freedoms that we have to do so. Other countries would have you shot for doing the same.

I never would, but it says something about our country.


As far as that specific issue goes..

I'd cite the flag idiots for littering.

Once an item is intentionally dropped on the ground, and trampled on, you've released ownership and have discarded the item. Much like throwing a winning lottery ticket on the ground then running back and trying to get it when some guy picks it up and realizes he won 2$

Imo. She took possession of a discarded item.. Don't see the issue.

Burning the flag isn't patriotic but it is expressive.

You can love your country while being dissatisfied or disappointed with it. Burning or destroying a nation's flag implies something greater than that. To me, it signifies the destroyer wants to clean the slate. It is a legally protected revolutionary act and should be treated as such.

And what would happen if someone came up burning a map of Africa or Quran? Fair game right?

In those situations...

One can't even draw a cartoon... without "literal" death threats...

Let alone set fire...

They burn the flag because they wanna destroy the system. I don't think they're burning it because they love the country. (I know they aren't)

What I'm saying is.. From a purely symbolic standpoint, burning a flag, merely because you can, is a fucking beautiful thing... Nationalism and retarded people aside.

I disagree with burning it, whole heartedly... But the fact that you have that right, is fucking awesome.

Just because it is "ok", does not make it right..That goes for things like the Quran, or a map of Africa as others have mentioned. Is it legal? Sure. is desecrating any of them intentionally right? Not in any way, shape or form!

*shrug* The images of Africa, the words of the Koran, the symbolism of the US flag. All those survive even if one is destroyed. Buy getting angry, and even threatening or violent as some in this thread have suggested they would be, you simply give power to people who think mere symbols hold and retain ideals, and that by destroying them, they destroy the ideals behind them.