If you saw two men attempting to burn an American flag, would you stop them?

Depends on the circumstances. If you're talking about something like the situation with the 2 guys trespassing on a baseball field, then sure, a someone who does have a right to be there, like a baseball player, is justified in getting them out of there.

However, the Supreme Court has ruled that in general, flag burning is free speech, akin to carrying a sign. So, I would no more try to illegally interfere with someone legally burning a flag then I would try to tear up a sign that I disagreed with.

If burning a flag is free speech, how about burning a cross?

I think they're both forms of hate speech. Burning is a violence, symbolic or real, that we should not tolerate.

[of course, burning a flag properly as a form of disposing of it with respect is another thing entirely]

Flag burning is in no way an expression of free speech. It is wilful and malicious DESECRATION of our national symbol, and by extension, a denial of this country and the ideals it was founded on.

Anon Y Mous,

Well, if burning a flag is free speech than the rescue of a flag about to be burned in a political display is also free speech.

Or can you explain how it's not? On second thought, don't even bother trying to explain otherwise....... asshat!

First off, I would never burn a flag. I love my country and what it stands for. One of the many things about it I love is our constitution, including the Bill of Rights. If I did want to go out and use my money to purchase a U.S. flag, and then set it on fire as some kind of protest, then I have the right to do so. It's called freedom of speech, and I am very grateful that I live in one of the few countries in the world where that right is protected so vigorously. As the Supreme Court said in Texas v. Johnson:

Recognizing that the right to differ is the centerpiece of our First Amendment freedoms, a government cannot mandate by fiat a feeling of unity in its citizens. Therefore that very same government cannot carve out a symbol of unity and prescribe a set of approved messages to be associated with that symbol . . .

The following year, in United States v. Eichman, they said:

Punishing desecration of the flag dilutes the very freedom that makes this emblem so revered, and worth revering.

I couldn't agree more.

People have their free speech rights. They also should have the exceptions that proactive and incendiary speech and gestures may provoke people to respond. I always find it funny the folks who like to push people buttons are surprised when someone pushes back.

If burning a flag is protected free speech, then I contend that preventing someone from burning the flag is also protected free speech.

If in the process, some flag-burners get socked in the mouth for attempting to interfere with *my* freedom of expression, then I suppose that would be an interesting test case.

Brett, sounds like you have much in common with this guy.

Anon Y Mous

Nice try at evasion, "I would never burn a flag. I love my country and what it stands for". Bit of a strawman there, isn't that? Did anyone ask you?

No, Brett's offer to flatten someone's face isn't free speech, but at the same time no one is under obligation to subordinate their own free speech to anyone else's. The expression of free speech is equal to all, not just the simple-minded and tasteless.

The concept (not the legal right) of free speech allows folks like the author of this post say these kinds of things:

"....thanks primarily to liberals who hate our country and try their hardest to make patriotic Americans ashamed for their love of country."

We'll see if that notion is followed on this blog as I say that the author is pretty stupid for making such an inane, moronic, factually incorrect, knee-jerk, simplistic, thoughtless, foolish, spittle filled comment.

Oh, and what have you done lately for our country you flag waver you.?

Well JFO, I teach at a college, I am the advisor to a group that raises money to send care packages to deployed troops. We took cookies and magazines (including puzzle books)down to wounded troops down at Walter Reed. We also write letters to soldiers over seas. I gave a two hour civic presentation about the geology and history of a nearby town (no renumeration). On earth day I picked up trash along the roads. This is all just this year.

What have you done lately?

David

I'm just one of those "liberals" who "hate our country" by volunteering to serve in the Army for 6 years - no great heroic feats, just someone serving as best I could at the time.

At my school one of my students just got out of the army and one of our progressives asked what has he done lately after he mentioned his service.

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JFO, if you're attempting to insult me, you're failing miserably. Please, put a little effort into it next time!

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JFO...were you biting a pillow during those last few posts?