So the question for the soc. st journal today was,
"Should we be able to BURN the U.S. flag? Why? Explain."
What I want to know is all of your opinions.
What do you think about burning the flag.
Honestly, I don't really know...
And, if you are not from here, I want to know what you opinons are on burning you countrys flag.

I'm going to move this to the Debate forum, which will surely encourage a more serious discussion.

I believe that you have every right to burn your flag, just as I have every right to hate you for it. It is an incredibly disrespectful, unpatriotic, demeaning, profane, and insulting act, but I have no right to stop you from committing it.

It isn't hurting anyone, and it falls under the realm of free speech. Those two reasons are enough to convince me that it should be legal.

• I wouldn't be offended by anyone burning a flag. It is only a piece of material after all.
  
  I'd actually quite enjoy burning the UK flag .. it's just an experience really. It's not going to hurt anyone physically, i wouldn't understand how it could hurt someone mentally though, but it's just what you believe.
  
  And it's not like it's a terroist attack. Not being rude or offensive to the attacks/victims/families and everything, but that is what is dangerous and disrespectful to a county.
  
  

Knerd. It's not that I, myself is going to burn the flag, it's just a simple question my social studies teacher was asking that. And mainly The flag burning legal thing is for protest.
Because when you 'dispose' of a beat up, tattered, old thing you are SUPPOSED to burn it. ((and thanks for moving the topic. XDD)

And Spring. You have a point, It is just a piece of material, but I guess it's what the flag symbolises (sp?) You know, the whole freedom to the country thing. I'm not so sure what I would feel if i burnt the U.S. flag. I don't think it really matters to me.

• I am a US citizen.
  
  
  Personally, I believe that we should be able to burn the flag. Even if it's disrespecting our country, it is a way of expression about what you think. At this point in time, lots of people dislike or hate the Bush administration. He just seems to have fucked up quite a few things.
  
  As it is, it's legal to burn a flag if it touches the ground. Supposedly you're supposed to do it respectfully. What if you don't want to do it respectively and want to make a point? It's pretty much part of the whole freedom of speech thing although it's more of an action. The action itself is powerful and part of that freedom in my opinion.
  
  So yes, I believe that flag-burning in the US for protest should be perfectly legal. There just would have to be precautions taken and such since I don't think we really want people to accidentially kill themselves when attempting to make a point.

Flag burning is a matter of free speech (as has been said). Therefore, it should be legal. (Is it legal right now? I have no idea.)

In counter to Knerd though, I think that burning the flag can be an intensely patriotic act, when done for certain reasons. Part of our duty as citizens of the US is to challenge and reform laws and social structures that are unjust, and if the flag stands for those laws, then burning it can be a dramatic way of showing patriotism.

The flag tends to get snatched up for any campaign that wants to appeal to people's patriotism, but in reality, it means only what you project upon it. Admittedly, mine view is a rather negative one. To me, because of how it tends to be used, the American flag stands for things that I don't like about this country, and for a brand of patriotism that strikes me as blindly obedient and ignorant.

I'm a Eagle Scout. I burn the flag lots of times. Most burnings of American flags are done to retire them. There is no way I'm digging a grave for my flag. I'm burning it. Burning the flag as a protest just gets you labeled as a moronic terrorist While you are allowed to do it, I feel your an idiot to do so for that reason. It quickly gets your views squashed as "Terroristic or Communistic". I see the flag as a thing many people die for and many people aim for. It should always be treated with respect. If you burn the flag in protest and I'm near I'll turn it into a retiring ceremony just to piss you off though.

I think you should be able to burn the flag.

Sure, some people believe it to be "un-patriotic", but we also are said to have freedom in this country, whether that's even a true statement I'll let you judge, but...I do believe it to be a right to do whatever you'd like to the flag...Especially if you own it.

Burning other people's flags...Not so much. xD

On that note, I don't see why the flag is that important to that many people, anyways. It's a flag, an object that one shouldn't have to like, nor respect if they do not feel the need, not to mention die for it. I sure wouldn't die for a flag, or this country.

Sorry if this isn't useful, but I'm not to happy with this country. xD

I think everyone has a right to their opinion and freedom of speech but of course there is always a consequence for an action. Burning a flag means an insult to the country, or thats what I believe that action to be. I feel that you are insulting the country's worth if you burn their flag as its a symbol of what they are.

Burning a flag (As long as you're not burning near something flammable :D ) is a perfectly acceptable form of protest. It expresses that you have a problem with that coutry's views and ways.
I've never burnt a British or English flag but if I felt the need to I would. It's a protest, just like a strike or march.
I've seen somebody burn a US flag here before. I didn't ask why but I assumed it was protest against what the US were doing at the time. Burning a flag doesn't equal terrorism.

Wow, great to see all the responses that this topic got. XD I never thought people would actually care... It was just a social studies Journal one day.

I'm sorry, but I will always get an angry feeling when I watch someone burn the American flag. I am American and that flag represents a whole lot.

On the other hand, I don't think it should be 'illegal' - that's a little too far...

It is an acceptable form of protest to burn a flag - it's just that I will never want to see my country's flag being burned - I will get angry (of course, it will also depend on what they are protesting)

I believe I might be one of the few that does not seem to mind. And I am an American.

Not that the American flag is the only flag that I have seen burn, but I have seen other flags being burn as well.

I honestly do not get furious over the matter. I take it as free speech and protest. Not to say that I do not have pride for my country, but I am not against those whom have the right to publicly state how they feel. As long as no one is getting hurt.

Burning your countries flag? It shouldn't matter. :/

Personally, if a single flag means so much to you that you'd arrest someone because they did, or you made it illegal, what does that say about your countries values? I don't know.

Could you imaging, having one of thoes little paper flags on a stick, and tossing it into the fire? It's really the same thing isn't it? Should you be arrested for that? I don't think anyone would bother, so, what does it matter if you burn a full-sized one?

Maybe if you were doing it just to PO the government, I could see there being problems. Really though, if you're burning it just because you're a piro.. better the flag than the house down the road. Right?

I really don't see why it's such a big deal, I mean.. "it's a symbol of our country! it represents us!! D<" Ok, maybe, BUT, as long as _you_ don't do it, and _you_ still believe in the country. Why does it bug you so bad?

If you think about it.. it's just like burning someones shirt, or a tree, or some coal and saying, "NO! It represents the company!!!!" and being scolded/arrested for that. Doesn't make a WHOLE lot of sense to me. XDD

That's just my two cents. :P

It's a matter of free speech.

And me burning the US flag will bring about far more reaction than me just standing up on a podium and screaming how much Bush sucks.

I couldn't care less if a Brit burnt a Brit Flag, but if someone else did it I'd have something to say. I guess it's just like when we yell alright Cock at each other it's fine but if someone from say London called me a cock I'd have something to say about it.

Better burned than eaten by bugs and rats, right? I'm in Boy Scouts, so I've seen the flag burned numerous times. It's the proper way to retire the "colors".

I believe that it should be legal. I also believe that anyone who burns the U.S. flag should be deported. But it wouldn't be a punishment, seeing as they hate their own country at all.

A little sarcasm there, but it's true. You complain about how terrible your country is when you live in it and you wouldn't live anywhere else.

It's the best country in the world, in my opinion. Excluding possibly the U.K. and Australia, which come close. Maybe Israel, too. Basically any country that supports a lot of freedom and is a main economic hub.

Here's what I say- If you hate America, go live in a crusade filled world with no light bulbs, major electricity of any time, and a severe lack of freedom and communication.

There's a quote from American President that says, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating, at the top of his lungs, that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free, then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest."

It's not about whether or not we should have the right to burn the flag. Of course we should have the right to burn it. Otherwise, we're, at the heart matter, no better than third world countries that imprison their citizens for saying one word against the administration.

On the other hand, should we burn the flag? I suppose it depends on circumstances. Certainly not just for fun or for spite, but if you have something you really think the country needs to hear and you feel you need a strong symbolic action to fully represent your point, I won't stand against you. I, personally, think it's a bit distasteful though.

This is supposed to be a free country and we are supposed to have freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully protest, if burning the flag is your way of expressing your displeasure with something in the country, go ahead. After all, the flag is only a big peace of cloth meant to symbolize those freedoms we are supposed to have. It is not hurting me or anyone else if a flag is burned, they burn them when they are old anyway or if they touch the ground, so what's the difference? [/u]

The only way burning a flag would bother me is if you set someone on fire with it =o. Think about it. Some guy would be burning a flag and waving it around but then it sets someone's hair on fire. I would be kind of pissed. I mean yeah go ahead and burn it if you feel obligated to, but becareful.
Watch for people who are watching you anf thinking "what the hell?"
Okay?
Does that really make any sense or even have a point? well I guess it does. A little.

Originally Posted by Knerd

I'm going to move this to the Debate forum, which will surely encourage a more serious discussion.

I believe that you have every right to burn your flag, just as I have every right to hate you for it. It is an incredibly disrespectful, unpatriotic, demeaning, profane, and insulting act, but I have no right to stop you from committing it.

It isn't hurting anyone, and it falls under the realm of free speech. Those two reasons are enough to convince me that it should be legal.

You put it very very well. That is pretty much exactly what I was thinking.